Vancouver, November 7 —The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Vancouver held a conferment ceremony on Friday to present the National Order of Merit to Lee Bo-sang, President of the H&N (Hear and Now) Community Society, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the welfare and inclusion of Korean Canadians with disabilities. The honor was awarded as part of the 19th World Korean Day, which celebrates individuals and organizations that have made notable contributions to overseas Korean communities.
For the past 15 years, Lee has dedicated himself to improving disability welfare and social integration in British Columbia. Since founding the nonprofit H&N Community Society in 2010, he has built a structured support system to help Korean immigrant families with disabilities overcome information gaps, language barriers, and cultural isolation.
His major initiatives include providing disability welfare services and information; assisting families with welfare consultations and applications; expanding community participation through cooperation with provincial agencies such as the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) and Community Living BC (CLBC); and promoting job training and employment for individuals with disabilities. These programs have enabled Korean immigrant families with disabilities to settle more securely and lead sustainable, independent lives within the local community.
Recognizing the challenges faced by families raising children with disabilities, Lee also launched consulting programs that help parents prepare for the long-term financial, legal, and social well-being of their children. The initiatives have earned strong trust from Korean-Canadian families and are cited as exemplary models of community welfare.
Building on this work, H&N Community Society is now pursuing the establishment of a Child Development Center to provide comprehensive and specialized services for children with developmental disabilities. Lee’s sustained commitment is widely regarded as not only elevating Korea’s reputation abroad but also embodying universal values of human rights and inclusion in global civil society.
Founded in 2011 as a registered nonprofit in British Columbia, the H&N Community Society provides counseling, education, day programs, and housing support for people with developmental disabilities and their families. The organization serves as an official welfare partner of both the federal and provincial governments, contributing to the advancement of welfare and community integration within the Korean diaspora in Canada.
