Hanwha expands philanthropic activities

Hanwha Group has launched yearly voluntary assistance activities for the underprivileged to commemorate the 60th anniversary of its foundation.

“About 5,000 executives and employees from a group of business units nationwide will participate in the social contribution activities until the end of October,” Hanwha said in a statement.

Under group chairman Kim Seung-youn’s initiative for social benevolence, the conglomerate has been widening the scope of philanthropic activities since 2007, according to group spokespeople.

Among the business units attending the activities to fulfill their “corporate social responsibility” this year included Hanwha Engineering & Construction, Hanwha General Insurance, Hanwha Chemical, Hanwha Hotel & Resort, Hanwha L&C and Hanwha Galleria.

“A one-time monetary donation often ended up going to a superficial volunteer activity,” a spokesman said. “In contrast, by providing financial compensation and encouraging individual participation, employees took matters into their own hands.”

Hanwha has been gaining fresh momentum in its humanitarian activities through the Hanwha Social Responsibility Center that was set up five year ago.

The establishment of the center extends the group’s social responsibility programs and activities to generate greater synergy by working with other social organizations and improving volunteer programs.

The Social Responsibility Center, in particular, supports children and teenagers from low-income families, and women and senior citizens in need.

Its corporate responsibility activities are best characterized as seeking a balance of welfare, culture and art. The projects not only provide people with financial assistance, but consider the emotional development of the beneficiary.

The Integration Program for Disabled and Non-Disabled Children is one of its major activities. Coordinated by Save the Children Korea, the local branch of an international children’s charity organization, and World Vision, a non-profit humanitarian relief body, the campaign supports some 3,000 children at 60 children’s welfare organizations across the country each year.

“Our child-welfare projects include not only supporting disabled children but providing boundary-breaking education for children with and without disabilities, in an attempt to overcome these kids’ prejudices against each other,” a spokesman said.

By Kim Yon-se (kys@heraldcorp.com)