▶ On Sep 22, KT&G and Cultural Heritage Administration signed ‘restoration support agreement for cultural assets damaged by earthquake’ and KT&G delivered 500million won restoration funds at Seoak-seowon in Gyeongu, North Gyeongsang Province. (from left) Jongkyu Kim(head of National Trust for Cultural Heritage), Sunhwa Na (head of Cultural Heritage Administration) and Bok-in Baek (CEO of KT&G)

KT&G (CEO Bok-in Baek) has offered KRW500million for the restoration of cultural assets in Gyeongju in the wake recent powerful earthquakes, which is the first case of donation from a private company.

At Seoak-seowon in Gyeongu, North Gyeongsang Province. Bok-in Baek, CEO of KT&G, and Sunhwa Na, Head of Cultural Heritage Administration, signed ‘restoration support agreement for cultural assets damaged by earthquake’ and delivered restoration funds on September 22.

As of September 19, more than 80 cultural heritage buildings were found to be damaged in Gyeonju area. National treasure No. 31 Cheomsengdae Observatory, the oldest astronomical observatory in East Asia, was suspected of being jolted and cracks were also found in national treasure No. 20 Dabo-tap Pagoda with damaged railing stone. 

Cultural heritage restoration support was fully funded from KT&G Sangsang Fund, a unique corporate social responsibility(CSR) fund raised by employees’ voluntary monthly donation and the Company with matching fund scheme which donates the same amount prepared by its employees.

Jinhan Kim, head of KT&G CSR division, said, “There was a general consensus among KT&G employees that KT&G with long history since its founding is supported to take the lead service to restore Gyeonju with a thousand years of history.

KT&G has participated in local cultural heritage protection via ‘one KT&G branch for one cultural heritage’ program and also supported ‘Sangsang, Pride of Korea’ which provides visiting sessions for Korean cultural heritages in Japan. Gyeongju restoration support will enhance KT&G’s cultural heritage protection activities.

KT&G spent KRW 80.8billion, equivalent of 2.9% of its total revenue, on CRS programs during 2015. The ratio, over 10 times of average 0.2% of 200 largest companies in Korea according to the Federation of the Korean Industries, is the highest among Korean companies nationwide.

▶ On Sep 22, KT&G and Cultural Heritage Administration signed ‘restoration support agreement for cultural assets damaged by earthquake’ and KT&G delivered 500million won restoration funds at Seoak-seowon in Gyeongu, North Gyeongsang Province. (from left) Jongkyu Kim(head of National Trust for Cultural Heritage), Sunhwa Na (head of Cultural Heritage Administration) and Bok-in Baek (CEO of KT&G)

▶ On Sep 22, KT&G and Cultural Heritage Administration signed ‘restoration support agreement for cultural assets damaged by earthquake’ and KT&G delivered 500million won restoration funds at Seoak-seowon in Gyeongu, North Gyeongsang Province. (from left) Jongkyu Kim(head of National Trust for Cultural Heritage), Sunhwa Na (head of Cultural Heritage Administration) and Bok-in Baek (CEO of KT&G)