[One Day Ten Thousand Steps] The 'Walking' Trend in Public Institutions Starts from Busan

Kibo's 'Cherry Blossom Plogging' at Gwangalli
KAMCO's 150 Million Steps Donation Campaign

With the arrival of spring, major public institutions are holding walking events in various ways. These events aim to promote employees' health through walking while also fostering win-win relationships with partner companies and contributing to local communities. They also signify the spread of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management. In particular, public institutions' activities are prominent starting from the southern city of Busan, where spring sunshine arrives early.

On the 2nd, the Korea Technology Finance Corporation (Kibo) held a 'Cherry Blossom Plogging' event around Gwangalli Beach. Plogging is an activity that involves picking up trash while jogging. About 70 employees from Kibo's Busan headquarters and branches walked 3.4 km that day, collecting and sorting trash from the beach.

This event, designed to raise environmental awareness and strengthen communication and cooperation with local communities, was planned to celebrate Kibo's 35th anniversary. Established on April 1, 1989, Kibo has supported and nurtured technology-based small and medium enterprises, serving as a safety net for the Korean economy during difficult times such as the global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the transfer of supervisory authority from the Financial Services Commission to the Ministry of SMEs and Startups in 2017, Kibo has transformed from a technology finance-centered support institution into a comprehensive service provider for the innovative growth and creation of growth engines for small and medium enterprises.

The Busan Port Authority (BPA) recently completed the walking challenge 'Sseurigo' (Walk, Stay Healthy, Receive Gifts) with employees from partner companies. This event challenged BPA and partner company employees to walk an average of 8,200 steps per day for 28 days in teams of two. Employees from the Busan Port Facilities Management Center, Busan New Port Facilities Management Center, Busan Port Security Corporation, Busan Marina, and partner companies from each institution participated in the challenge. A total of 91 teams took part, with 68 teams achieving the goal. To promote the benefits of walking exercise, BPA invited a professional instructor from the Busan Walking Association to provide guidance on proper walking techniques.

The Korea Asset Management Corporation (KAMCO) plans to run an 'Employee Step Donation Campaign' until the 2nd of next month. If employees collectively reach 150 million steps through daily walking, KAMCO will donate 150 million won. The donation will be used to create healing spaces for residents in the Busan area, including planting shrubs and flowers and installing benches.

Started in 2020, the step donation campaign has become a representative ESG activity of KAMCO, supported by enthusiastic participation from employees. Through daily walking, it has helped reduce carbon emissions while supporting social enterprises and urban forest creation projects through donations.