Asiana raises 7b won through passengers’ donation

Asiana Airlines has raised a total of 7 billion won ($6.3 million) through Change for Good, an in-flight currency donation partnership between UNICEF and the international airline industry.

It took the Korean carrier 18 years to collect the money since it joined the program in 1994.

Asiana Airlines held a ceremony at the United Nations headquarters in New York Tuesday to mark the collection of 7 billion won through the donation campaign.

Guests included United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake, Asiana Airlines CEO Yoon Young-doo, South Korean ambassador to the U.N. Kim Sook and South Korean pop sensation Psy.

Launched in 1987 by the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Change for Good began in 1994 in Korea. Asiana Airlines has since collected spare coins and notes from its passengers to be converted into life-saving materials and services for vulnerable children around the world.

The carrier collected 160 million won in 1994, 830 million won last year and more than 900 million won this year.

An economy-class passenger requesting anonymity has donated a total of over 50 million won so far, Asiana officials said. An increasing number of passengers have donated $10,000 at a time, though most give unused coins.

The 7 billion won fund can be used for diarrhea oral rehydration therapy for 120 million children, high-calorie protein meals for 15 million malnourshed children or polio vaccination to 35 million children. It is also worth AIDS tests for 2.23 million pregnant women, one week of antibiotics for 35 million AIDS-infected children or 700,000 mosquito nets to prevent malaria.

“The fund was used mainly for nutrition, health and education of children in such countries in need of emergency relief as Haiti and Afghanistan and other underdeveloped Asian and African countries,” an official said.

By Chun Sung-woo (swchun@heraldcorp.com)