Role of Public Platform to Overcome COVID-19
'Areumin Library', 'Euljiro 3-ga Project', etc.
Promoting Coexistence and Development with Local Communities
[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] Shinhan Card announced on the 28th that it has won the Grand Prize in the Social Contribution category at the '2020 National Industry Awards.'
The 2020 National Industry Awards recognize companies and public institutions that contribute to national industry and economic development and provide sustainable growth engines. The awards are hosted by the Korea Institute for Industrial Policy Studies and sponsored by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.
Shinhan Card received the Grand Prize in the Social Contribution category in recognition of its sustainability, sincerity in social contribution, and efforts to promote coexistence with local communities.
Shinhan Card carries out social contribution activities based on the ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) strategy emphasized by Shinhan Financial Group. ESG is a strategy that highlights corporate social responsibility, including environmental, social, and governance factors, beyond financial indicators.
During the COVID-19 crisis, Shinhan Card focused on the 'Social' aspect of ESG and played a public interest platform role in national disaster relief projects. It provided financial support for vulnerable groups, such as increasing sales for self-employed individuals and deferring payment claims for affected customers, and promptly and systematically supported social issues like fostering small and medium-sized merchant franchises and providing big data analysis support to local governments.
Additionally, since 2010, Shinhan Card has operated the social contribution project 'Areumin Library,' providing eco-friendly reading environments, recommended books for children and adolescents, and a book mentor program to children from vulnerable groups. Through this, it strives to address social issues like educational polarization and nurture future generations.
Furthermore, to broaden the culture of donation, Shinhan Card has operated the industry's first donation-only portal site 'AreumIn' since 2005, achieving a fundraising amount of 5.6 billion KRW as of May 2020.
For the mutual development and urban regeneration of the Euljiro area, where Shinhan Card's headquarters is located, the company has been conducting the 'Euljiro 3-ga Project' since 2018. This project creates tangible and intangible value by supporting small business owners through a culture map, operating the Euljiro3ga.com website, and providing convenience spaces for local residents and small business owners at the Seoul Youth Center.
A Shinhan Card official said, "It is very meaningful that Shinhan Card's social responsibility activities as a corporate citizen have been recognized externally," adding, "In the future, based on Shinhan Financial Group's goal of becoming a 'First-class Shinhan' and Shinhan Card's '3-second management,' we will further activate 'super-cooperation' activities that go beyond profit to coexist with society."
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