Orion Group Donates 500 Million Won to Community Contribution Fund in Jeju-do

Orion Group executives and employees are taking a commemorative photo at the Seongsan Hope Together Fund Delivery Ceremony. (Photo by Orion Group)

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] Orion Group announced on the 29th that it has donated 500 million KRW to institutions and organizations in Jeju to promote mutual growth and development in the Jeju region. Based on the mutual growth agreement between Orion Holdings and Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, this donation was delivered to a total of nine places including Gujwa-eup, Seongsan-eup, Gotjawal Sharing Foundation, Jeju National University, Halla University, Jeju Society, Korea Federation of Arts and Culture Organizations, Yehyangwon, and Jeju Technopark.

Orion Group donated 110 million KRW to Gujwa-eup and 100 million KRW to Seongsan-eup respectively through the Jeju Community Chest of Korea. The donation will be used for elderly welfare and scholarships in the Gujwa and Seongsan areas. In particular, Gujwa-eup, where the Jeju Yongamsu factory is located, has been fulfilling a promise to support the Gujwa Love Hope Dream Project with 300 million KRW over three years since 2018, before Orion started the Jeju Yongamsu business. This year, additional support was provided to improve residents' welfare even though the promised implementation period has already passed.

The Gotjawal Sharing Foundation received 100 million KRW as a fund for the sharing of Gotjawal to protect Jeju's clean environment. The entire fund will be used to purchase private Gotjawal land. Gotjawal is a forest formed in an area where basaltic lava rock fragments are irregularly scattered, coexisting with flora and fauna of high conservation value. The Gotjawal Sharing Foundation is also dedicated to preserving Gotjawal, an environmental asset of Jeju, by promoting the Gotjawal sharing movement, conducting surveys on Gotjawal, and researching sustainable conservation methods.

Scholarships for local community development and talent cultivation were also prepared. Orion Jeju Yongamsu has signed business agreements with Jeju National University and Halla University respectively to support the Link Plus Project Group Capstone Design, an industry-academia cooperation linked curriculum. Funds were provided for the promotion of culture, arts, and academics in Jeju and the revitalization of the Yongam Seawater Industrial Complex, and funds were also delivered to Yehyangwon, a child welfare facility in Hallim-eup, for renovation to improve children's living environments.

Orion Holdings signed a mutual growth agreement with Jeju Special Self-Governing Province in May last year to promote regional economic development and revitalize the Yongam Seawater Industrial Complex. The main points include ▲allocating 20% of profits from products using Jeju Yongam seawater to a separate fund to be returned to Jeju Province ▲prioritizing employment of local workforce in Jeju ▲expanding investment within Jeju ▲promoting Jeju's clean image overseas ▲actively cooperating in developing overseas markets for Jeju local specialties. Among these, the social contribution fund is promised to be used for environmental protection support, social welfare, Jeju sea ecological conservation activities, scholarships for nurturing local talent, and the promotion of culture, arts, and academics.