Korean Air bolsters community outreach with food, health care, donations

By Ko Dong-hwan, The Korea Times - Korean Air is strengthening its community outreach with food, free medical services and charitable donations, as the country’s biggest airliner has been investing more of its efforts than ever toward its social activities, according to the country's flagship airline, Thursday.

Korean Air’s recent corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives build on a strong showing last year, during which it donated over 15.4 billion won ($11.2 million) — a 501 percent increase from 2021’s 3 billion won. The airline also hosted a total of 142 charity events in 2023, with active employee participation. This year, the company aims to set new records in its CSR achievements.

One of the company's longest-running charity activities is its rice donation program. Since 2004, the airline, based in southwestern Seoul's Gangseo District, has been purchasing rice harvested in the district and providing it to local residents. To date, the program has donated a cumulative 98 tons of rice.

Employees with medical expertise have been helping residents in Hongcheon County in Gangwon Province since 2004. In April, 30 doctors and nurses from the company’s medical volunteer group visited the region and treated elderly residents, many of whom rely on agriculture for their livelihoods. In the same month, its employees also spent time on an outing with people with disabilities. In September, Korean Air Catering & Duty Free, which makes in-flight meals, dispatched employees to distribute traditional foods to senior residents in celebration of Chuseok, a major autumn holiday in the country.

Celebrating its 55th anniversary in February, Korean Air donated 55 million won to local communities in a company-wide walkathon in which participating employees’ achievements far exceeded the event's goal. The company had encouraged the participants to altogether take at least 155 million steps for 10 days to pool the target fund. They wound up making over 314 million steps, reaching a distance equivalent to 12 round trips between Incheon and Los Angeles. The company donated the money to nine social welfare centers in Gangseo District.

Korean Air also organized an environmental initiative, collecting plastic bottle caps to upcycle into 1,000 new plastic whistles for donation. Additionally, the airline participated in tree planting in Mongolia and collaborated with Delta Air Lines employees to build houses in the Philippines.

Source: https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/tech/2024/11/419_385408.html 

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