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Orchestra of Dreams, sponsored by SK hynix, gives a joint performance with SK hynix employees at its headquarters in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, in October 2013. (SK hynix) |
Activities to become a socially responsible company have picked up momentum at SK hynix, the world’s second-largest memory chip maker.
Its parent company SK Group adopted happiness as a core corporate value under the campaign of “Happy Management” in 2012.
The chipmaker initiated the music program “Orchestra of Dreams” for students of low-income families from the second half of last year. The company supported musical instruments and lessons for 80 children in Icheon and Cheongju regions, where SK hynix is headquartered, in 2013.
The beneficiary will expand the program to 100 students this year. Some students who have musical talent were selected through auditions and given opportunities to participate in music competitions.
“Children who were emotionally vulnerable have changed by playing musical instruments,” said Chung Won-ha, head of a regional community child center.
“They became emotionally stable and saw their academic performances improved. Some of them now have dreams of becoming musicians,” he added.
Apart from the music program, SK hynix has served regional and global communities through diverse social programs.
The company signed a memorandum of understanding with the Community Chest of Korea in August 2011 to serve regional communities. It raised 2 billion won ($1.9 million) through donations from 16,000 employees in Korea.
Part of the fund goes to its “Breakfast Center,” which was set up in January 2011 to provide meals for millions of underfed children in Incheon as well as Cheongju, where SK hynix has production lines. The company changed the name to “Happy Plus Meal” in February 2012 and increased the number of beneficiaries to 1,000.
Further, SK hynix has held the “Robo Olympiad” involving 200 students from regional community centers in Incheon and Cheongju. During the event last year, 40 top-performing students were awarded scholarships as well as opportunities to go on overseas field trips focusing on science and technology.
SK hynix said it is also working on fulfilling its public responsibilities overseas. In Wuxi city, China, where SK hynix has sites, its employees serve regional communities such as schools for the deaf and nursing homes every month. The company has received awards for its voluntary services from the Chinese government in 2011 and 2012.
By Shin Ji-hye (
shinjh@heraldcorp.com)
