'Seumudol' SK Inno Participatory Volunteer Work Establishes Itself as Corporate Culture

SK Inno, Group Volunteer Corps 20th Anniversary Commemorative Volunteer Activities
Continuing Support for Vulnerable Groups

SK Innovation employees are preparing 'Happiness Dream Boxes' to be delivered to children at risk of food insecurity. Photo by SK Innovation

SK Innovation has consistently established participatory volunteering as a corporate culture over the past 20 years. It is evaluated that the systematic activities initiated by launching a volunteer group in 2004, aimed at transforming volunteering from an individual effort into a corporate culture, were effective.

The SK Innovation affiliates announced that on the 22nd, they held a 20th anniversary ceremony for the launch of the SK Group Volunteer Corps at the SK Seorin Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where they produced over 1,000 'Happy Dream Boxes' containing daily necessities to be delivered to children at risk of food insecurity. Additionally, 82 people participated in blood donation activities over two days until the 23rd.

On July 22, 2004, SK Group launched a volunteer corps involving SK Innovation and other SK affiliates to establish volunteer activities as a corporate culture. This reflected the will of SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, who declared the 'New SK,' defining the company's purpose not as profit maximization but happiness maximization.

At the volunteer corps launch ceremony, Chairman Chey stated, "It is time for companies to step forward to create a warm and happy society, and this should be achieved through volunteer activities filled with the sweat and efforts of each employee."

Since then, SK Innovation affiliates’ employees have consistently engaged in various social contribution activities to build social safety nets for marginalized groups over the past 20 years.

In fact, SK Innovation employees participating in the 20th anniversary event of the volunteer corps reflected on the meaning of the SK Group Volunteer Corps launch and its history of activities, read the volunteer corps pledge to support marginalized neighbors and create a happy world, and then carried out volunteer activities.

First, SK Innovation affiliates’ employees produced over 1,000 'Happy Dream Boxes' to be delivered to children at risk of food insecurity due to school meal suspensions during the summer vacation. About 100 participants, including Kim Won-ki, President of SK Enmove, and members of SK Innovation headquarters, packed boxes containing products made by social enterprises such as ready meals, snacks, vitamins, and stationery sets. Considering the environment, these boxes were packaged without tape and will be delivered to children at risk of food insecurity at five SK Innovation affiliate sites, including Ulsan and Incheon.

SK Innovation employees are attending the 20th anniversary event of the SK Group Volunteer Corps held at the SK Seorin Building on the 22nd, reciting the Volunteer Corps pledge and taking a commemorative photo. Photo by SK Innovation

Additionally, a 'Life Sharing Blood Donation Campaign' was conducted. Blood donation volunteers included executives and members such as Oh Jong-hoon, President of SK Energy, and Na Kyung-soo, President of SK Geocentric, who completed pre-screening and rolled up their sleeves at the blood donation bus set up in the SK Seorin Building parking lot and nearby blood donation centers. Blood donation activities will continue at the Daejeon Environmental Science and Technology Institute and SK On’s Seosan plant later this month.

Earlier this year, SK Innovation affiliates consistently carried out social contribution activities to build social safety nets for neighbors in welfare blind spots, with a total of about 6,500 employees volunteering for approximately 23,000 hours.

They visited about 1,000 elderly living alone near business sites in Seoul, Daejeon, and Seosan, providing companionship and teaching how to use electronic devices as part of care activities. Free meal service volunteer activities called 'Bapper' were conducted about 20 times in areas such as Jongno, Myeongdong, and Cheongnyangni in Seoul, providing approximately 7,800 meals to vulnerable elderly and homeless people.

In addition, SK Innovation uses the '1% Happiness Sharing Fund,' created from 1% of employees’ salaries, to support activities for the independence of future generations. Starting this year, it provides multifaceted support for housing, medical expenses, and job preparation for youth preparing for independence and children in family care. It has also started creating small libraries for children at 15 regional children’s centers located in rural towns and villages.