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Around 400 members of Kook Hak Won (Traditional Cultural Studies Institute) and its founder Ilchi Lee volunteered to help clean up one of the world's worst oil spills at Taean Peninsula, South Korea, December 17, 2007. Near-by is Mallipo, one of South Korea's most-famous resort beaches, important stopover for migrating birds (including snipe, mallards and great nested grebes), and abundant area for commercial fishing. The oil is around four inches deep on the beach.
In the face of this huge disaster, hundreds of thousands of South Koreans have volunteered for relief activities at Taean. The authorities are surprised by the fast clean-up activities by the large number of South Korean people. The sad news is that the complete recovery of the beautiful Taean area will take several decades.
The volunteers from Kook Hak won were joined in their relief efforts by volunteers from Dahn World Korea, Young Earth Human Association, among other groups that share the vision of a better Korea and world. in the hard-hit Taean zone, Ilchi Lee and the other volunteers gathered to labor for hours in this huge and arduous clean-up project.
All the volunteers were asked to clean the oil off of stones, which are everywhere in this once-full-of-fresh-seashells-and-sea-food beach. The best way to remedy this calamity is to use human hands to remove the oil from the stones. Because the tide rises every evening, the next day the volunteers must clean the oil off the stones again and again.
In urging the South Korean people to visit Taean and collaborate in the clean-up, Ilchi Lee said, "If we all could come here with one consciousness and create a future in which the Earth and humanity can co-exist, then today is not a time of despair but of hope."
Kook Hak Won members prepared a meal for all volunteers, meticulously organized the massive volunteer effort, and actively performed many burdensome chores. Also, they gave shoulder massages to volunteers who easily tired from the tough cleaning work.
 Young volunteers from Kook Hak Won at Taean  Kook Hak Won staff prepare a meal for volunteers at Taean  Ilchi Lee (standing, center) cleaning the Taean beach  Group picture Kook Hak Won volunteers at Taean
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