The Sharing Platform 'BPA Huimanggotgan' Already Opens Its 8th Branch

Sharing Refrigerator in Harbor Neighborhood, Food Ingredients and Hope Gifts

The number of ‘Hope Pantries’ where both givers and receivers are happy has already increased to eight locations. This pantry, located near Busan Port, is the name of the sharing refrigerator project run by Busan Port Authority (BPA, President Kang Jun-seok).

On the 18th, Busan Port Authority, in a joint effort with labor and management, opened the 8th ‘BPA Hope Pantry’ sharing refrigerator for vulnerable families in the local community at the Gamman Comprehensive Social Welfare Center in Nam-gu, Busan (Director Jin Dong-myeong).

From the left, Assemblyman Park Jae-ho, Kang Jun-seok, President of Busan Port Authority, Oh Eun-taek, Mayor of Nam-gu, Busan, and Jin Dong-myeong, Director of Gamman Comprehensive Social Welfare Center, are cutting the ribbon for Hope Pantry Branch No. 8.

BPA is conducting a project to install sharing refrigerators around Busan Port, where any local resident can donate food ingredients and those in need can take them for free, with budget support from the Public Coexistence Solidarity Foundation (Chairman Lee Byung-hoon).

The opening ceremony was attended by Kang Jun-seok, President of Busan Port Authority, Oh Eun-taek, Mayor of Nam-gu, Busan, Assemblyman Park Jae-ho, and local residents.

The ‘BPA Hope Pantry’ installed at the Gamman Comprehensive Social Welfare Center operates every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (excluding lunch break from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.).

Families who cannot relocate due to economic reasons or are experiencing financial difficulties in the housing development area mainly open the door to this pantry.

Earlier this year, BPA opened seven Hope Pantries in the Yeongdo-gu, Saha-gu, Sasang-gu, and Jung-gu areas of Busan, and recruited additional operating institutions from June to July.

Following the opening of the 8th location at the Gamman Comprehensive Social Welfare Center for the first time in the second half of the year, four more locations are scheduled to open in September in Jinhae-gu, Changwon, Jin-gu, Busan, Saha-gu, and Nam-gu.

BPA plans to further strengthen efforts to discover sponsors jointly and operate collaboration activation programs so that a culture of sharing and coexistence, where the local community takes care of neighbors centered around the Hope Pantries, can spread.

Kang Jun-seok, President of BPA, said, “BPA Hope Pantries installed and operated throughout the port-adjacent areas are becoming a catalyst for revitalizing the community,” adding, “We hope that the 8th Hope Pantry established in Gamman-dong, Nam-gu, will continue to receive hands that share affection and hope.”

The BPA Hope Pantry is a sharing platform installed throughout the port-adjacent areas, and individuals or organizations wishing to donate can contact the ESG Management Office of Busan Port Authority.