More corporations opening wallets for victims

More Korean conglomerates on Thursday touted their donations aimed at mitigating the fast-spreading coronavirus.

Steel maker Posco and its affiliates gave 5 billion won ($4.2 million) to Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association, a non-profit organization devoted to helping those affected by pandemic diseases and natural disaster.

Four billion won came from the steel manufacturer. The other 1 billion won was donated by Posco ICT, Posco E&C and Posco Chemical.

Doosan Group offered 1 billion won to the nonprofit.

GS Group said it gave 1 billion won to Community Chest of Korea, one of the country’s largest welfare organizations. The company said it hoped the donation would be given marginalized groups living in Daegu, home to the bulk of Korea’s confirmed coronavirus patients.

“As the spread of the coronavirus has placed people under unprecedented hardships, we hope that [the fund] will be helpful for the victim and medical professionals,” GS Group Chairman Huh Tae-soo said in a statement.

GS Retail also donated 100 million won worth of relief supplies last month for those who have relocated from Wuhan, China, to Korea. GS Homeshopping, a TV home shopping network owned by the group, gave out 300,000 face masks last month for low-income children and elderly people.

Hyundai Department Store Group followed suit Wednesday by providing 1 billion won to the Community Chest of Korea. Cosmetics giant Amorepacific offered 500 million won to the same organization.

Retail and entertainment CJ Group also offered 1 billion won to Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association. CJ’s affiliates CJ Cheiljedang and CJ OliveNetworks took on their own role, offering relief products to affected people and medical staff in Daegu.

Chemical company Hyosung delivered a 500 million won fund and equipment to the Korean Red Cross.

The company delivered 50,000 medical gloves and hand sanitizer to medical staff. LS Group put out 300 million won to the Community Chest of Korea.

From the IT industry, the online platform Naver offered 2 billion won in donations to the same organization.

Food companies also chipped in. SPC Group, the operator of bakery chain Paris Baguette, announced Thursday it would donate 10,000 units of bread throughout the month of March. Nongshim Kellogg’s also offered more than 32,000 units of energy bars and protein shakes to Daegu.

BY PARK EUN-JEE [park.eunjee@joongang.co.kr]