Blood Supply Shortage Due to Prolonged COVID-19... SK ICT Family Launches Relay Blood Donation Campaign

SK Telecom managers are introducing the blood donation app 'Red Connect,' created in collaboration with SK Telecom and the Korean Red Cross.

[Asia Economy Reporter Seolgina Jo] As the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis prolongs and blood donation shortages worsen, SK Telecom and other SK ICT family companies have launched a large-scale blood donation relay.

According to the Korea Red Cross Blood Management Headquarters, since the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Korea on January 20, blood donation participation has sharply declined, resulting in about a 12% decrease in blood donation performance compared to the same period last year, triggering an emergency in blood supply management.

In response, SK Telecom, SK Broadband, ADT Caps, and other SK ICT family companies have been conducting a blood donation relay starting from the Daegu regional headquarters on the 25th. The relay will expand nationwide, passing through SK Telecom headquarters, Wonju office building (June 3), ADT Caps (June 9?10), Daejeon Dunsan office building, Gwangju Usan office building and Cheongju office building (June 10), Mapo office building (June 11?12), Busan Buam office building (June 17), and Pangyo office building and Boramae office building (June 22).

This event was planned based on the judgment that a relay-style blood donation would be more effective than one-time participation whenever blood is needed, to ensure continuous and stable blood supply. It is carried out through voluntary participation of employees, and group blood donations will be promoted in the form of ‘regional matching’ with local blood centers at each headquarters and ICT family company nationwide.

SK Telecom expects that if about 8,000 employees, which is 20% of the family company workforce, participate, they can secure more than 1.5 days’ worth of blood reserves, significantly contributing to gradually resolving the national blood supply crisis. Additionally, SK ICT family members who attend the blood donation relay will accumulate donation points worth 10,000 KRW per person, which will be donated to year-end social contribution projects through the 'Happiness Credit' program.

This blood donation relay is conducted through the 'RedConnect' application jointly developed by SK Telecom and the Korea Red Cross Blood Management Headquarters. Regional headquarters, affiliates, and individual members who wish to participate can easily make blood donation reservations via the 'RedConnect' app. Using 'RedConnect,' participants can check the movement path of the donated blood at a glance through the blood location notification feature, and also verify their health status through blood tests and healthcare big data analysis.

Meanwhile, SK Telecom’s Daegu Marketing Headquarters is providing free WAVVE trial coupons to blood donors at three blood donation centers in Dongsung-ro and Gumi. The Busan Marketing Headquarters is also conducting various events, including a blood donation promotion and campaign in collaboration with the Korea Red Cross Busan Blood Center since the 11th, ahead of this blood donation relay.