Major companies lend a hand to the hardest hit

Korea’s top conglomerates put out massive donations Wednesday to fight back against the national crisis provoked by the new coronavirus.

The support was mostly concentrated in Daegu and North Gyeongsang - the two regions hardest hit by the illness.

Samsung Group announced 30 billion won ($25 million) for purchases of disinfection products for medical staff and necessity kits for low-income families and quarantined people. The provisions were delivered to the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association.

“Samsung grew on top of national support - we should righteously stand by our society at a time like this,” said Lee Jae-yong, Samsung Electronics vice chair.

Hyundai Motor Group offered 5 billion won to the disaster relief organization. Medical staff in the two regions will receive disinfection equipment, for which Hyundai Executive Vice Chairman Euisun Chung ordered extra supplies.

Low-income families hurt by the loss of manual labor jobs will receive masks, hand sanitizers and two weeks’ worth of food and drinks. The food kit will be also supplied to people that were already asked to stay home.

Hyundai and the disaster relief organization will also visit nursing homes and hospitals in Daegu and North Gyeongsang to conduct disinfection and deliver heat detectors, hand sanitizers and masks to prevent further spread of the virus.

LG Group delivered 5 billion won to the Community Chest of Korea, asking for a particular focus to be placed on low-income families in the two regions that are relatively more vulnerable to diseases and job losses.

One billion won worth of hand sanitizers were offered to the area by subsidiary LG Household & Health Care.

SK Group put out 5 billion won in cash and 400 million won worth of goods. The cash donation was decided in a Wednesday meeting held by SK’s Supex Council, the group’s central planning unit. The fund was delivered to the Community Chest of Korea.

The 400 million won worth of supplies went to Daegu and North Gyeongsang by SK siltron, which manufactures silicon wafers. The delivered batch comprised of 100,000 face masks and 25,000 bottles of liquid hand sanitizer.

Lotte Group took part as well. It announced Wednesday it was offering 1 billion won to prevent further infection in Daegu and North Gyeongsang. The conglomerate put a priority on filling the gap created by welfare centers closing down. Children and elderly people staying at home will be supplied with food and necessities.

Lotte’s subsidiaries also offered help in their respective fields: Supermarket chain Lotte Mart supplied microwavable food, snacks and wet tissues in kits delivered to Daegu citizens. The conglomerate’s chemical subsidiaries, including Lotte Chemical, secured hand sanitizers for donation.

BY SONG KYOUNG-SON [song.kyoungson@joongang.co.kr]