Conglomerates donate to help victims of forest fire in Gangwon

Conglomerates including Samsung, SK and Hyundai Motor are stacking up donations to help victims of a major forest fire in Gangwon that killed one and left hundreds without homes.

Smoke goes up over remnants of a burnt-down building in Gangneung, Gangwon, on Wednesday, after a massive forest fire broken out in the previous day. [YONHAP]

Conglomerates including Samsung, SK and Hyundai Motor are stacking up donations to help victims of a major forest fire in Gangwon that killed one and left hundreds without homes.

Eight Samsung companies — including Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display and Samsung SDI — on Thursday said that they will donate a combined 3 billion won ($2.3 million) to help disaster victims and restore the damaged areas after a huge forest fire broke out on Tuesday in Gangneung, Gangwon.

The donated money will be used to support victims of recent forest fires in other regions as well, according to Samsung.

Hyundai Motor Group donated 2 billion won to Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association.

Hyundai Motor companies plan to deploy four mobile laundry trailers to a shelter for evacuees, as well as a vehicle for disease prevention equipment. Hyundai Glovis, a logistics company, is providing a free delivery service to bring Hope Bridge’s emergency supply kits for the Gangneung evacuees.

SK companies made a 2 billion won donation to Community Chest of Korea. SK Telecom and other SK companies are carrying out various disaster relief activities in the region, such as providing charging stations for electronic devices and WiFi connectivity, as well as emergency supplies. LG Corp. also donated 2 billion won to Community Chest of Korea for the Gangneung fire victims.

LG Electronics will provide home appliances for the shelter and LG H&H will donate daily necessities worth 300 million won such as bottled water and tooth brushes. LG U+ will provide electronics charging station and a WiFi connection.

Posco Group made a 2-billion-won donation as well, while Lotte Corp. donated 1 billion won and food for 1,000 meals to Community Chest of Korea.

The four major financial companies — KB, Shinhan, Woori and Hana — each made donations of 300 million won. KT&G also donated 300 million won to the Gangneung residents.

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday designated Gangneung a “special disaster area” after one of the worst wildfires in recent years.

An area of 379 hectares (936 acres) was turned to ashes, according to Gangwon Fire Headquarters. A total of 649 residents from 323 households lost their homes due to the fire. There were 17 casualties, including a man in his 80s killed during the incident.

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]