[One Day Ten Thousand Steps, One Day Thousand Characters] Walking 227 Million Steps and Planting 500 Trees in Noeul Park

In Noeul Park within World Cup Park in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, there is a forest called ‘Yujin’s Forest.’ It is a 2,500-pyeong (approximately 8,264 square meters) forest created by Eugene Investment & Securities to promote mutual growth with the local community and to establish an ecological park in Noeul Park, Sangam-dong. Started in 2014 to commemorate the company’s 60th anniversary, about 500 employees visit regularly on a rotating monthly basis to plant and nurture the forest. Even in the barren soil of Noeul Park, which was once a landfill site, specially selected tree species that can survive naturally have been planted, and currently, more than 1,000 trees are thriving.

Eugene Investment & Securities divided the entire area into the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Yujin’s Forest zones and formed a volunteer group of about 50 employees every two weeks from March to October each year to carry out tree planting activities. Recently, the company’s employees participated in the ‘100 Million Steps Walking and Donation’ challenge. This challenge, held from April 17 to May 28, was designed with two goals in mind: environmental protection to overcome the climate crisis and improving employees’ health. If employees collectively walked 100 million steps over one and a half months, the company would donate 500 trees to Noeul Park.

Employees of Eugene Investment & Securities succeeded in the 'Walk 100 Million Steps and Donate' challenge and donated 500 trees to Noeul Park. On June 17, employees are planting the donated trees themselves.
[Photo by Eugene Investment & Securities]

As a result of the challenge, over 700 employees from Eugene Investment & Securities and its financial affiliates participated, achieving a total of 227.09 million steps, far exceeding the goal of 100 million steps. Converted into distance, this equals approximately 157,207 km, contributing to a reduction of about 36,156 kg of carbon emissions. Following the success of the challenge, company employees will personally plant a total of 500 trees in Noeul Park from the 17th of this month through November as a form of donation.

A company representative stated, "We conducted the walking challenge campaign over the past one and a half months with the purpose of reducing carbon emissions and promoting employee health. Thanks to the enthusiastic participation of our employees, we exceeded our target and achieved a meaningful result in the form of tree donations." The representative added, "We will continue to lead ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) efforts through various social contribution programs." For its contributions to ecological park development, Eugene Investment & Securities received the ‘Creating 100 Forests’ contribution award from the Noeul Park Citizens’ Association in both 2015 and 2017.

Yujin Garden inside Ansan Daebudo Badahyanggi Arboretum
[Photo by Yujin Investment & Securities]

As part of its social contribution efforts with the local community, Eugene Investment & Securities established ‘Yujin Garden,’ a 200-pyeong (approximately 661 square meters) garden within the Badahyanggi Arboretum in Daebudo, Ansan City. Employees from Eugene Investment & Securities, Eugene Asset Management, Eugene Investment & Futures, and other affiliates of Eugene Financial Group planted 120 trees, including birch trees, and have been continuously maintaining the garden. It is open to the public free of charge. The Badahyanggi Arboretum, created to preserve the ecological environment of Daebudo and provide a resting space for residents, boasts a large area of 112,000 square meters. Construction began in 2007, and it opened on May 10 of this year.

Since 2011, Eugene Investment & Securities has made ‘social contribution’ a core management policy, engaging in various activities such as creating Yujin’s Forest, sponsoring matching funds, and operating a ‘one employee, two volunteer activities’ system. Especially from this year, to guarantee employees’ autonomy and allow them to experience the joy of volunteering, the company introduced a ‘self-selected volunteer program,’ creating a new culture of social contribution. Employees wishing to participate in volunteer activities can choose one of the following: ▲caring for Yujin’s Forest ▲serving meals to the homeless ▲serving meals at local children’s centers ▲supporting art activities for employees with disabilities. Eugene Investment & Securities CEO Yoo Chang-soo said, "We will continue to actively carry out various social contribution activities, such as the creation of Yujin’s Forest, so that Eugene Investment & Securities can grow together with the community and lead ecological conservation efforts."