S-Oil donates W560m to support firefighters

S-Oil, one of major refineries in South Korea, made a donation of 560 million won ($405,000) to the Korea National Council On Social Welfare to support its ongoing program assisting firefighters and their families, the company said on Friday.

According to the refinery company, the KNCSW, a charity organization under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, will allocate the fund to the Heroic Firefighter Protection program.

This program covers the medical expenses of injured firefighters, provides scholarships for the children of firefighters who passed away in the line of duty and recognizes the contributions of current firefighters through awards.

"S-Oil will always remember and honor the sacrifice and bravery shown by firefighters serving our society,” S-Oil CEO Al-Hejazi said in a press release. “We're committed to continuing our support for the charity program to benefit firefighters who safeguard citizens in various disasters despite challenging working conditions.”

The donation was presented during a ceremony held at S-Oil's headquarters in Mapo-gu, Seoul on Friday, with the attendance of National Fire Agency Commissioner Nam Hwa-yeong and KNCSW President Kim Soung-yee, alongside the refinery company's CEO.

As part of the ceremony, Al-Hejazi was also honored with the title of "honorary firefighter."

S-Oil has donated over 10 billion won since 2006, when it first established the partnership with the NFA, benefiting more than 3,000 firefighters and their families. In recognition of its contribution, S-Oil received an award from state-run broadcaster KBS earlier this month.