Woori to invest $23 million in creating jobs for individuals with developmental disabilities

Jang Gwang-ik, vice president of the brand section at Woori Financial Group, speaks at a news conference at Woori's headquarters in central Seoul on Wednesday. [WOORI FINANCIAL GROUP]

Woori Financial Group will invest 30 billion won ($23 million) over the next decade to create 1,500 jobs for individuals with developmental disabilities as part of its social contribution effort, said Woori on Wednesday.

Woori last week partnered with Miral Welfare Foundation, a Seoul-based nongovernmental organization, to open a hundred new branches of Goodwill Store, where employees with developmental disabilities sell secondhand daily necessities like clothes.

Goodwill Store has been operated by Miral since 2011.

Woori will support accounting and financial affairs for the stores' openings, while Miral will manage and hire workers.

There are currently 26 Goodwill Stores nationwide, where 360 disabled workers have been employed. Locations include Gangnam District, southern Seoul and Geumcheon District in soutwestern Seoul.

Woori will also expand its support for children from multicultural families.

It will financially support the education of some 800 students from multicultural families next year, an increase from the 600 students this year. It will also support children from multicultural families that have left Korea.

Woori has also vowed to support self-employed individuals, children with visual and hearing disabilities and parents who are minors.

Woori said it has made a total of 52 billion won in social contributions this year.

BY JIN MIN-JI [jin.minji@joongang.co.kr]