Government, 17 firms join forces to improve indoor environments for vulnerable groups

South Korea's Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy and the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute signed an MOU Thursday with 17 corporate social responsibility partners and the Community Chest of Korea to improve indoor environments for groups vulnerable to environmental health risks. The ceremony was held at Korea JobWorld in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.

Under the agreement, the participating companies will donate eco-friendly materials and products — including wallpaper, flooring and air purifiers — free of charge, while the Community Chest of Korea will provide tax deduction processing and promotional support for the donated goods.

The 17 participating companies are Gangcheong, Kyung Dong Navien, Darae World, Lion Korea, Brush World, Seoul Wallcover, CESCO, Sugar Eco, Eden Bio Wallcover, SP Samhwa, LX Hausys, LG Household & Health Care, LG Electronics, Jaeyoung, KCC Glass, Coway and Hyundai L&C.

The indoor environment improvement project for environmentally vulnerable groups, launched in 2013, sends environmental health specialists to visit 1,000 households — those receiving basic livelihood benefits or just above the poverty line with children under 13 — to assess indoor air quality. Of those, 250 households identified as most in need receive renovation work using the donated materials. CESCO and LG Electronics are joining the program as new sponsors this year.

"We are grateful to the sponsoring companies for taking the lead in corporate social responsibility through their continued donations," said Geum Han-seung, first vice minister of the Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy. "We will continue to work closely with the private sector to further strengthen the environmental health safety net for socially vulnerable groups."