Companies Step Up to Aid Gangneung Amid Historic Drought
Upbit, Shinsegae, Coupang, Woori Financial, and IBK Donate Bottled Water and Support
As Gangneung faces the worst drought in its history, a national disaster has been declared for the first time due to a natural calamity. The water level at the Obong Reservoir has fallen below 15%, the minimum threshold for drinking water supply, and the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters has been elevated to Level 2, signaling a worsening situation.
With the entire Gangneung region suffering from severe water shortages, companies are stepping in to offer support. Dunamu, the operator of the cryptocurrency exchange Upbit, became the first major domestic corporation to provide emergency aid by donating 1 million bottles of bottled water. In addition, other companies such as Shinsegae Group and Coupang are joining efforts to support Gangneung’s recovery from the disaster.
According to industry sources on September 8, Dunamu met with representatives from Gangneung City and the Korean Red Cross on September 1 to discuss the severity of the drought and donated 1 million bottles of 2-liter bottled water to help overcome the crisis. The bottled water donated by Dunamu is valued at approximately 500 million won. Following Gangneung City’s plan, the water will be supplied to areas in need, providing tangible relief for urgent water shortages and aiding in drought recovery.
Dunamu has consistently taken proactive action in response to domestic disasters, fulfilling its corporate social responsibility. Major contributions include support for the 2022 Uljin and Samcheok wildfire victims, 2022 central region flood victims, 2023 Gangneung wildfire victims, 2023 flood victims, 2025 wildfire victims in Sancheong, Gyeongnam and Uiseong, Gyeongbuk, and 2025 flood victims, with total donations amounting to approximately 18.5 billion won. This recent bottled water donation to Gangneung is also part of Dunamu’s ESG vision and social contribution activities, aiming to benefit society through technology and empowering finance.
On September 3, Shinsegae Group donated 270,000 bottles of 2-liter bottled water to assist Gangneung residents struggling to secure drinking and household water. Emart provided 200,000 bottles and Starbucks contributed 75,000 bottles, all of which were delivered to Gangneung City Hall through the Community Chest of Korea and the Korea National Council on Social Welfare.
The bottled water donated by Emart is being distributed in phases to the most severely affected areas through September 10, while the water from Starbucks is being prioritized for vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities and the elderly. Starbucks store managers and supervisors in the Gangneung area are directly participating in the delivery, engaging in voluntary service to support the local community.
Coupang also supported Gangneung residents by providing 200,000 bottles of 2-liter bottled water through the Korean Red Cross. The bottled water donated by Coupang was delivered over two days to vulnerable groups, local residents, and small business owners in Gangneung who are struggling due to the drought.
This wave of solidarity for Gangneung has extended to the financial sector as well. On September 2, Woori Financial Group delivered 200,000 bottles of 2-liter bottled water to Gangneung City Hall via the Korean Red Cross. The bottled water donated by Woori Financial Group is being prioritized for vulnerable groups in the region to ensure it can be used for various needs. Woori Financial Group will continue to monitor the drought situation in Gangneung and provide additional support if necessary.
IBK Industrial Bank of Korea also donated 100 million won to the Korean Red Cross to support residents of Gangneung. The funds will be used by the Korean Red Cross to provide bottled water to Gangneung City Hall and, according to the city’s plan, will be used for residents’ welfare and emergency water supply support.
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