Seoul-Based Elementary School Teacher Park Sang Min Will Launch 'Canstruction Seoul 2015', A Fundraising Event Where Participants Build Structures Using Canned Goods

Park Sang Min, a teacher at Kaewoong Elementary School in Seoul, is bringing the creative charity event "Canstruction' to South Korea.  Canstruction is a philanthropic activity where participants build different structures using cans and donate food to the poor.

"I saw a canstruction event when I was working at the southern education office under the Seoul Metropolitan Government," Park told Korea JoongAng Daily. "At the time, I was ... looking for ways to help develop creativity in students, and I realized that making art using cans could certainly help."

Park also said that the event will help boost students' creativity and personal development.

Canstruction Seoul 2015 will be the first Canstruction event held in Asia. Park obtained a license to organize the event last February, Korea JoongAng Daily reported Oct. 17.

The Sun Sentinel noted May 20, Canstruction Inc. was founded in 1992 in cooperation with design, engineering and construction industries to raise funds for feeding programs.

Oregon Food Bank spokesperson Myrna Jensen told KOIN 6 that Canstruction "brings awareness of hunger in a different way, in a creative way and in a fun way.'

Over the past 20 years, Canstruction events have been held in about 150 cities worldwide. In 2014, the contests generated 4.7 million pounds of food which were later served 3.4 million meals to struggling families below the poverty line.

"An average of about 1,000 to 2,000 cans is generally used for each art piece, and about 6,000 food cans can be used for a large-scale structure," Park said.

Since its inception Canstruction ideas have included various designs from competitors such as can-made buildings rising up to 10 feet tall.

The competitors themselves purchase the canned goods and supplies, and everything will be taken down and distributed to food banks after the event.

An important Canstruction rule is that all can labels must remain in place, the Sun Sentinel noted.

The winner will be voted by the public through social media.

Canstruction Seoul 2015 will take place on Nov. 28 and 29 at the Gwacheon National science Museum. The participants are divided in 10 professional teams consisting of adults and university students and 20 junior teams consisting middle and high school students.

The professional teams will have 12 hours to finish their projects, while the junior teams will get eight hours.

Park said, "Learning to be creative can be achieved through sharing ideas and cooperating with your teammates. Once the [canned food] display is distributed to people in need do they have the chance to see the true meaning of helping others."