KT&G President Baek Bok-in.

KT&G has gained recognition for conducting social contribution activities corresponding to its rising global standing. In the past decade, the company has carried out projects to improve the environment as well as provide educational, medical and cultural support in such countries as Cambodia, Indonesia, Uzbekistan and Mongolia. 

KT&G is allotting more than 50 billion won, which accounts for 2 percent of its annual sales, to conduct social contribution activities in Korea and abroad. The figure represents about 10 times more than that of large-sized Korean companies, which sets aside an average 0.2 percent of their sales. The company plans to increase that to about 3 percent of its sales. KT&G says it is committed to fulfilling its social responsibility corresponding to its global standing. 

KT&G has established itself as a global top-five tobacco company. It exports tobacco to about 50 countries in the Middle East, Russia, the Americas and Europe since 1988 when the company made its debut on the global market. The company has exported 46.5 billion cigarettes, surpassing 40.6 billion cigarettes sold in Korea. 

Given the size of the Korean economy and KT&G’s global standing, there is the need to expand volunteer activities in foreign countries, a KT&G official said. KT&G plans to expand support to areas in need of help. 

Among the noteworthy volunteer activities KT&G has been implementing in foreign countries are projects to mitigate environmental degradation, improve living conditions and support education.

In August, KT&G sent a volunteer team to restore the ecosystem in parts of Mongolia, suffering from a severe desertification caused by global warming. The team consisting of 42 university students and 11 KT&G executives, 14 Mongolian students and staff members toured Mongolia. The volunteers planted about 1,000 trees at the construction site of KT&G Welfare Foundation’s forestry and agriculture education center. They participated in a Korean-Mongolian forum on the economic development of emerging countries and the protection of the environment. 

KT&G carried out projects to improve living conditions of residents in Cambodia and provide educational support. A combined 800 volunteers comprising of college students and KT&G executives and staff members have been dispatched on 31 occasions since 2005. In cooperation with local NGOs, the volunteers built or repaired schools and libraries, while conducting educational programs on health. 

An 810 million won village project in Surabaya, Indonesia, is noteworthy. Under the project, 40 houses, toilets and drainage facilities were built as part of efforts to improve living conditions during period between October 2014 and December 2015. 

KT&G spent about 1.8 billion won in carrying out medical volunteer services in such countries as Uzbekistan and Indonesia over the past 12 years. KT&G Welfare Foundation dispatched medical volunteers from Seoul National University Bundang Hospital between 2004 and 2015.

KT&G’s staff members volunteer a kimchi-making activity for the underprivileged. (Photos: KT&G)