Korea’s major oil refiner GS Caltex is helping underprivileged children and youths by providing counseling services to them as part of corporate social responsibility, the company said Monday.

With the aim of boosting youths’ self-esteem and supporting them socially, the company has been running the program “Heart Tok Tok” since 2013. It involves sessions designed to help them heal psychologically such as through music, painting and ballet. 


Over the past three years, more than 7,400 children and teenagers have participated in the program, including those who were bullied in school.

From this year, GS Caltex has opened the program to teenagers who defected from North Korea, the company said.

The program is either run as part of schools’ regular curriculum or as a two-night camp at a public arts park in Yeosu. 

By Lee Hyun-jeong (rene@heraldcorp.com)