韩国零售企业高温季开展捐赠和避暑公益活动

As the summer heat intensifies, the retail industry is stepping up support to help vulnerable groups and on-site workers stay healthy through the summer. Companies are strengthening their social contribution activities, delivering nourishing foods such as samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) to mark the first day of the dog days of summer, providing relief supplies for those vulnerable to heat waves, and expanding cooling shelters.
According to the retail industry on the 18th, BGF Retail immediately activated "BGF Bridge," a national disaster emergency relief operation, together with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Korean Red Cross, and the Korea Central Volunteer Center, following an urgent support request from the Korea Disaster Relief Association. BGF Retail delivered a total of about 3,000 items (enough for approximately 400 people), including beverages and snacks, to the Seoul Station Jjokbang Counseling Center. The stockpiled items are set to be provided to residents of nearby jjokbang (subdivided single-room housing) neighborhoods in line with the heat wave situation.
Seven-Eleven signed a "business agreement for expanding the designation and operation of heat and cold shelters" at Sejong City Hall on the 14th. Through the agreement, 36 Seven-Eleven stores within Sejong City will be newly designated as cooling shelters. Seven-Eleven plans to closely manage the designated stores so that citizens and vulnerable groups who visit the stores to escape the heat can sit, rest, and cool off.
Lotte's distribution affiliates provided relief supplies and nourishing foods to those vulnerable to heat waves on the 15th, together with the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association. They delivered heat-prevention items such as electric fans and essential groceries to about 600 people, including elderly people living alone in jjokbang neighborhoods and low-income households. In addition, they separately prepared and provided nourishing meals for about 800 people to mark the first day of the dog days of summer.
NS Home Shopping held a "samgyetang sharing event" at the Sujeong Senior Welfare Center in Seongnam to help local seniors stay healthy through the summer, marking the first day of the dog days of summer. NS Home Shopping donated a total of 20 million won and prepared 2,500 servings of samgyetang. A total of 50 volunteer employees from NS Home Shopping and Homeplus Express participated in the event, which is in its 16th year this year.
Josun Hotels & Resorts also carried out a sharing volunteer activity, delivering "Josun Hotel Samgyetang" and "Josun Hotel Kimchi" in cooperation with local volunteer centers to mark the first day of the dog days of summer. Through this activity, a total of about 10 million won worth of samgyetang and kimchi were delivered to the Neunghyeon 2-tong senior center in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, the Sutgol senior center in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, the Sindang Day Care Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, the Suseo Complex 1 in Gangnam-gu, and the Ttaseuhan Chaeumteo in Yongsan-gu.
Support for on-site workers also continued. Coupang Fulfillment Services (CFS) served nourishing foods to on-site employees at major fulfillment centers nationwide to mark the first day of the dog days of summer. In particular, CFS CEO Jung Jong-chul visited the Coupang Incheon Fulfillment Center in Incheon to inspect on-site safety and health management conditions, including responses to the peak heat season.
The industry views the protection of vulnerable groups as becoming a representative environmental, social and governance (ESG) activity for companies as heat waves become a regular occurrence. "In the past, it was centered on one-time donations, but recently the scope of social contribution activities has expanded to practical living support, such as providing nourishing foods, operating cooling shelters, and supplying daily necessities," an industry official said.