South Korea’s Woori Bank more effectively systemized its corporate social responsibility activities this year by focusing on different themes in each quarter ― multicultural families in the first, the disabled in the second, children in the third and elderly citizens living alone in the last.

The bank invited children from multicultural families on a day out at Seoul Plaza skating rink in January, and women from those families to traditional cooking classes in April. Also in April, more than 250 disabled people joined the bank’s employees to participate in a jump-rope competition in Seoul hosted by the bank. 

One of the main events held for children this year was the annual art contest held in May. About 700 kids have received prizes and scholarships through the event so far since it started in 1995. For elderly citizens, the bank plans to share briquettes and kimchi.

“Sharing with the community is the most basic role and duty of a bank that makes profit through people,” Woori Bank CEO Lee Soon-woo said in a statement.

One of the major CSR activities conducted by the 113-year-old financial institution is the “Woori Happiness Society Program” through which 30 operation departments and 1,000 branches of the bank help the disabled, child breadwinners, the elderly living alone and other less fortunate people.

The bank created the Woori Bank Volunteer Group, composed of its employees and executives, in 2007 to give more systematical support. Participants numbered 10,164 in 2007, but steadily increased every year to reach 25,657 last year. About 6,000 employees also donate a part of their salaries to raise a fund that helps out less fortunate neighbors.

Notably, the bank helps out farming and fishing villages by creating a win-win relationship for both the farmers or fishermen and urbanites, the company said. Woori employees visit the villages every year to give a helping hand, and also bring the products to the city and open direct-dealing markets.

Pro bono activities are another sector of the bank’s CSR. The bank has offered free consulting services since 2011 on corporate financing know-how to more than 300 small and medium-sized companies, nonprofit organizations and social enterprises.

The bank has been supporting those in financial difficulty through various small-loan finances. In 2011, the bank gave about 284 billion won in such support.

By Park Min-young  (claire@heraldcorp.com)