Awarded 'Top Evaluation' in the 2024 Regional Contribution Survey
Dongbaek Sanghoe and Bada Ecological Forest ... Diverse Activities Every Year
Shinsegae Centum City has received the 'Best Evaluation' for the third consecutive year in the '2024 Regional Contribution Survey' conducted by Busan City, which targeted 15 major distribution companies and 146 stores, including department stores and large supermarkets in the region.
The Regional Contribution Survey, introduced and implemented since 2009 to protect small business owners and encourage voluntary cooperation between large retailers and the local community, evaluates the previous year's performance in eight items across two categories: local employment status, public interest projects and win-win cooperation, local business entry status, and hosting of local product exhibitions.
Since establishing a dedicated social contribution department in 2022, Shinsegae Centum City has consistently held the title of 'Best Evaluation' for contributions to the Busan region, and in 2023, was awarded a commendation by the Mayor of Busan for being selected two years in a row.
▲ Various Social Contribution Activities Conducted Continuously Every Year
To foster mutual growth with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Busan, Shinsegae Centum City utilizes its central plaza to regularly host events such as the 'Companion Festival' and 'Fashion Market,' promoting and developing sales channels for outstanding Busan companies. The company also supports a variety of artistic activities, including art fairs and orchestra performances for local artists.
In addition, Shinsegae Centum City sponsors a range of tourism and cultural content befitting 'Global Tourism City Busan,' including various concerts and civic events, as well as major local festivals such as the 'Sand Festival,' 'Light Festival,' and 'Busan Biennale.'
Furthermore, the company consistently supports underprivileged groups in the region through scholarship programs, year-end donations for neighbors in need, kimchi sharing events, and more. It has also established sisterhood relationships with traditional markets in the area, supporting small business owners through market revitalization and environmental improvement initiatives, thereby helping neighbors and students in need.
▲ Discovering and Implementing New ESG Programs Every Year... Including the 'Marine Ecological Forest' Project
In 2023, Shinsegae Centum City supported the opening of 'Dongbaek Sanghoe,' a shop selling excellent SME products from Busan, helping 28 local SMEs promote and develop sales channels for over 160 products.
Through 'public-private collaboration' with Busan City, Shinsegae became the first in the industry to host a local government-operated brand in a department store. Shinsegae covered all interior and operating costs for 'Dongbaek Sanghoe,' making it an exemplary model of 'win-win cooperation with SMEs' and drawing significant attention.
Entering 2024, Shinsegae Centum City continues to plan and implement various activities for the local community.
Last April, the company signed a business agreement with Busan City and announced it would invest 200 million KRW over two years to carry out the 'Marine Ecological Forest' project, a program to preserve the marine ecosystem along Busan's coast, thereby practicing marine ecosystem conservation and carbon neutrality as part of its ESG activities for a sustainable future.
Additionally, to attract 'Cirque du Soleil,' which was held in Busan for the first time earlier this year, Shinsegae Centum City provided its outdoor parking lot free of charge to support the performance and audience, offering Busan citizens the opportunity to experience international cultural and artistic content and attracting domestic and foreign tourists to help revitalize the local economy.
Park Sunmin, General Manager of Shinsegae Centum City, said, "We will continue to actively pursue win-win cooperation activities across various fields in the Busan community. Through content planning befitting the tourism city of Busan, we will not only attract more visitors from other regions but also work to bring in foreign tourists, taking the lead in revitalizing the local economy."
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