Companies pitch in to help flood victims, restoration

A total of 10 billion won ($7.9 million) was donated from four major conglomerates — Samsung Electronics, LG, SK and Hyundai Motor — to help regions impacted by the country's recent deadly downpours. Samsung Electronics donated 3 billion won to...

Samsung Electronics donated 3 billion won ($2.4 million) to the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association on Thursday. The picture above shows Samsung engineers providing free repair services for its home appliances to flood victims. [SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS]

A total of 10 billion won ($7.9 million) was donated from four major conglomerates — Samsung Electronics, LG, SK and Hyundai Motor — to help regions impacted by the country's recent deadly downpours.

Samsung Electronics donated 3 billion won to the civil relief agency Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association on Thursday, which was pooled together from its eight subsidiaries — Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display, Samsung SDI, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Samsung SDS, Samsung Life Insurance, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance and Samsung C&T.

The relief fund will be used to restore infrastructure, purchase relief packages, provide shelter and support farmers.

The company has also sent 1,000 emergency kits, containing towels and toiletries, and 270 tents to the Korean Red Cross for flood victims.

LG Electronics’ engineers provide free repair services for its home appliances in North Chungcheong on Sunday. [LG ELECTRONICS]

LG Electronics donated 2 billion won to the agency and will provide free repair services for its home appliances to areas in North and South Chungcheong.

Its subsidiary LG Household & Health Care will send daily necessities, such as water and toiletries, worth 5 million won to flood-ridden regions in Chungcheong and Gyeongsang.

LG Uplus will provide free Wi-Fi services and phone chargers to temporary evacuation centers in North Gyeongsang.

Hyundai Motor donated 3 billion won to Hope Bridge. It also sent three laundry cars to regions affected by the floods, as well as a bus containing massagers and emergency kits for evacuees and voluntary workers to rest.

The automaker will also provide free inspection services for its cars and give 50 percent discounts to victims whose cars are in need of repair.

SK Group donated 2 billion won to Hope Bridge. Its subsidiaries such as mobile carrier SK Telecom will provide free Wi-Fi and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) services to flooded areas. SK hynix has been providing mattresses and toiletries to evacuees since last Friday.

Posco Holdings said Thursday that it will donate 2 billion won, while its Pohang steel mill will send relief supplies worth 50 million won to victims in North Gyeongsang.

GS Group donated 1 billion won to the Community Chest of Korea. Subsidiaries GS Caltex provided 150 sleeping bags to evacuees through Hope Bridge over the weekend. It will also provide water and relief kits to evacuees from Monday.

GS Retail provided a total combined 6,000 Choco Pies, water bottles and energy bars to aid workers in the Korean Red Cross's headquarters in North Chungcheong, Yeongju and Yecheon in North Gyeongsang.

Hanwha Group donated 1 billion won to the Hope Bridge, gathered from six subsidiaries: Hanwha Corporation, Hanwha Solutions, Hanwha Aerospace, Hanwha Systems, Hanwha Life and Hanwha General Insurance.

Hanwha Life and Hanwha General Insurance will postpone the receiving of monthly insurance payments for six months and loan payments from their clients who suffered from the floods.

Celltrion Holdings donated 500 million won to flood victims nationwide, the company said Wednesday, 300 million won of which will go to evacuees in Cheongju, North Chungcheong, where some of its plants are located, and the remainder will go to Hope Bridge.

Hanjin Group donated 500 million won to the civil relief agency.

Tech giants Naver and Kakao each donated 500 million won to Hope Bridge. Both companies are also running campaigns to accumulate donations for the cause from their users. Naver accumulated donations of over 220 million won, and Kakao accumulated 370 million won, both which will also be sent to the relief agency.

Financial firms and institutions such as KakaoBank and the Korea Exchange also made donations.

KakaoBank donated 100 million won to Hope Bridge to help the flooded areas, according to the company on Monday. The Korea Exchange also donated 100 million won to regions in South Chungcheong and North Gyeongsang on the same day.

Food conglomerates and retailers are also pooling donations and sending supplies to help.

Shinsegae Group donated 500 million won to Hope Bridge, the company said on Thursday. Its subsidiaries such as Emart, Emart24 and Emart everyday sent relief supplies such as beverages and instant foods to the flooded regions.

Lotte Corporation donated 1 billion won. Lotte’s retail subsidiaries such as Lotte Wellfood sent 1,000 snack boxes containing Choco Pie and Mongshell snacks. It will also send 300 boxes of instant foods to soldiers dispatched to help in the restoration.

CJ Group donated 500 million won, while its subsidiaries such as CJ CheilJedang will donate 2,000 relief packages consisting of the company’s popular meal kits and snacks to Nonsan, South Chungcheong. CJ Foodville’s Tous les Jours will also distribute 6,500 pastries to soldiers dispatched to help in the areas.

Hyundai Department Store donated 500 million won. Tobacco firm KT&G also donated 500 million won, while its subsidiary Korea Ginseng Corporation will donate 100 million won worth of its red ginseng brand JUNG KWAN JANG prodcuts to flood victims.

Dongsuh Foods donated 100 million won and 1,000 relief packages with beverages and cereal bars to Hope Bridge.

Samyang Foods provided 5,000 cups of its instant noodle products to Hamyol Elementary School in North Jeolla on Monday. [SAMYANG FOODS]

Samyang Foods sent 5,000 cups of ramyeon to North Jeolla, the company said Monday.

Nongshim sent 2,500 packages of its ramyeon products and water to North Gyeongsang and North Chungcheong.

Maeil Dairies donated 240,000 units of its main products such as soy milk and corn soup to the flood victims through the Korean Red Cross.

Liquor companies such as Hitejinro and Oriental Brewery will each donate 360,000 and 20,000 water bottles to regions in North Chungcheong and North Gyoengsang.

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]