Orion, nurse team up to provide snacks to kid patients

Orion's strawberry Goraebab (Orion)

Orion, a South Korean confectionery manufacturer, has restarted production for a snack item that was no longer on the market, out of consideration for pediatric patients craving the product.

On Dec. 15, the snack company donated its snack products to the young patients at Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital in South Gyeongsang Province.

Among the child patients was a 3-year-old boy who had expressed a sincere desire to eat Orion's snack products after three days of fasting in preparation for a medical exam.

The medical professionals responsible for the patient’s care assessed the boy's health condition and said they approved of him enjoying the snacks.

Nurse Choi Da-jeong, however, noticed that the specific product the child desired was no longer in production and unavailable for purchase.

Choi submitted a request through the company's customer service center detailing the situation. At that time, the boy's parents were unable to care for him due to restricted access to the general hospital’s children's unit.

Upon learning of the case, Orion decided to deliver the requested snack to all the children in the unit.

Since the desired product, strawberry Goraebab, was no longer in production, the company's lab workers had to recreate the snack using the lab's available utensils and equipment.

“The laboratory, equipped with cookware and bakeware as well as essential ingredients, allowed the lab workers to craft the snacks at the laboratory,” said an official from Orion.

Orion not only delivered the requested Goraebab but also included three additional boxes filled with the company's other confectionery products, such as Market O Brownie and Swing Chips.

For those unable to consume such snacks due to their health condition, the company also sent a set of stickers featuring the company's characters.

The snack products Orion sent to Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital's children's unit (PNUYH)

First created in 1984, Goraebab is a fish-shaped cracker available in 16 sea animal shapes in various flavors.

Orion launched the strawberry version in the first quarter of 2023 as a seasonal special product. The company official said it had no plans to resume production.

Meanwhile, the boy was confirmed to have returned home after being hospitalized for six days, according to Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital.

“Not only the children patients but also their parents genuinely appreciated the snack gift boxes from Orion. The children hadn't expected to receive any snacks while in the hospital," said an official from Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital.

"Workers of Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital also appreciate the company's generosity in creating good memories for the children."

By Hwang Joo-young(flylikekite@heraldcorp.com)