SK Hynix Provides 'Haengbok GPS' Free of Charge... Establishing Social Safety Net for Vulnerable Groups

60% Increase in New Device Support Compared to Last Year

On the 5th, SK Hynix signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the free distribution of dementia patient and developmental disability wandering detectors (Happy GPS) with the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Police Agency at its headquarters in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province. The signing ceremony was attended by Lee Gi-il, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, and Kim Dong-seop, President of External Cooperation at SK Hynix.

From the left, Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, Lee Ki-il, 1st Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, and Kim Dong-seop, Head of External Cooperation at SK Hynix, are taking a photo on the 5th at the headquarters in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, to commemorate the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the free distribution of dementia patient and developmental disability wandering detectors (Happy GPS). / Photo by SK Hynix

Since 2017, SK Hynix has been conducting social contribution activities by distributing Happy GPS devices free of charge and fully supporting communication fees for two years to prevent the disappearance of dementia patients and individuals with developmental disabilities. The Happy GPS is funded by the 'Happy Sharing Fund,' voluntarily collected by SK Hynix employees.

Through this agreement, SK Hynix plans to support approximately 4,590 new Happy GPS devices, a 60% increase compared to last year. The newly supported devices are the latest models equipped with features such as user wear detection and alarms, as well as healthcare functions. The company also decided to extend communication fee support for the 4,131 devices previously distributed.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare will assist in selecting recipients and distributing the devices. The National Police Agency will utilize the Happy GPS for searching and investigating missing persons.

Kim Dong-seop, President of SK Hynix, said, "Over the past seven years, more than 31,000 Happy GPS devices have been distributed, leading to the discovery of over 2,230 missing persons, and the social value created by SK Hynix amounts to 5.3 billion KRW. We will strive to establish this project as a successful public-private cooperation model that contributes to building a social safety net for vulnerable missing groups."