(From left) Geonjun Lee, President of BGF Retail; Sungyun Jeong, Mayor of Gangnam-gu; Oseung Yang, Director of Gangnam-gu Health Center; Pilho Song, President of the National Disaster Relief Association, are posing for a commemorative photo after the ceremony of delivering support kits for COVID-19 medical staff.
Delivery of 4,200 Items Worth 20 Million KRW Selected Through Needs Survey
Approximately 40 Emergency Relief Activities Supported So Far Through BGF Bridge
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Yuri] BGF Retail, the operator of CU, announced on the 15th that it delivered support kits to COVID-19 medical staff who have elevated the status of K-quarantine, in collaboration with the National Disaster Relief Association.
The delivery ceremony took place at the Gangnam District Office in the mayor’s office, attended by Lee Geon-jun, President of BGF Retail; Jung Soon-gyun, Mayor of Gangnam District; Yang Oh-seung, Director of Gangnam District Public Health Center; and Song Pil-ho, Chairman of the National Disaster Relief Association.
The support kits delivered by BGF Retail to the medical staff consisted of a total of 4,200 items worth 20 million KRW, selected through a needs survey conducted by the National Disaster Relief Association targeting COVID-19 medical personnel. Lotte Confectionery also contributed by donating Pepero worth 20 million KRW at this delivery event.
To support medical staff who work long hours standing in thick protective suits, the kits included calf patches and body peeling pads, as well as snacks such as nuts, cereal bars, and gum to ease hunger. Neck warmers and hot packs were also included to provide warmth in the cold weather.
The hot packs are CU’s “Heartwarming Hot Packs” introduced this year. The packaging features six artworks by children who won the “Child Safety Drawing Contest” held by BGF Retail in September, along with information on finding long-term missing children.
Since 2015, BGF Retail has operated “BGF Bridge,” supporting national disaster prevention and emergency relief activities based on a network of over 30 logistics centers and CU stores nationwide, after signing the industry’s first business agreement on disaster prevention and relief with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the National Disaster Relief Association.
Relief activities have been carried out about 40 times so far, including support for MERS quarantine villages in Sunchang-gun, Jeonbuk; earthquake damage in Pohang, Gyeongbuk; wildfire damage in Goseong, Gangwon; and support for repatriated citizens from Wuhan in Jincheon-gun, Chungbuk. This year, BGF Retail conducted a lunchbox support project for vulnerable elderly people with SK Construction and a self-reliance support project for children under protection with Duracell. Recently, a meal support project for migrant-background children and youth at risk of food insecurity was launched in cooperation with Hwaseong City.
Lee Geon-jun, President of BGFRetail, said, “We sincerely express our respect and gratitude to the medical staff who are doing their best on the front lines of quarantine for the health and safety of the people. We hope that the support kits, filled with the hearts of our employees, CU franchisees, and customers, will be a small encouragement to the medical staff who have raised the nation’s status through thorough K-quarantine.”
Meanwhile, CU ran a “Good Consumption” campaign through its membership application PocketCU, delivering citizens’ support messages to COVID-19 medical staff, gathering thousands of enthusiastic responses over ten days. On the recent Pepero Day, CU also sold special products featuring messages supporting medical staff.
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