Hyundai Mobis releases endangered fish fry into Miho River for third straight year

Hyundai Mobis has been stepping up biodiversity conservation efforts near its factory in Jincheon-gun, North Chungcheong Province, with the surrounding ecosystem showing signs of recovery — including the recent appearance of an endangered species in the adjacent Mir Forest.

The company said Monday that it hosted a fish-release event over the weekend, inviting about 100 employees and family members who had signed up as volunteers.

Now in its third year, the event saw Hyundai Mobis release more than 4,000 artificially bred miho spine loach fry into the Miho River, bringing the cumulative total to more than 10,000. The miho spine loach, a member of the loach family, was designated a natural monument in 2005 in recognition of its ecological importance and cultural value.

Hyundai Mobis established a biodiversity protection policy in 2023 and has since partnered with Jincheon-gun, the Han River Social Cooperative and the Korea Freshwater Fish Conservation Association to lead restoration efforts for the miho spine loach and improve its habitat. The company also conducts habitat surveys after each release to monitor the fish's activity.

From 2012, Hyundai Mobis spent a decade planting Mir Forest — spanning 1.09 million square meters — along the Miho River before donating the land to Jincheon-gun. The endangered yellow-throated marten has recently been spotted there.

Beyond the miho spine loach restoration project, Hyundai Mobis regularly invites specialists from six ecological fields — covering plants, birds, mammals and more — to conduct environmental surveys, compile data and run education programs together with local residents at Mir Forest.

The company also shares updates on its biodiversity conservation work transparently with stakeholders near its facilities and maintains regular consultative bodies with local governments and civic groups. It supports an environmental education center in Jincheon-gun and runs a range of ecological programs for local residents, drawing strong community interest.

This year's release event was organized as an orienteering activity — an outdoor exploration exercise in which participants navigate a natural environment to reach designated points — so that employees could enjoy it with young children. Participants observed the local habitat across six zones, deepened their understanding of the area's food chain and built shared appreciation for the biodiversity conservation values Hyundai Mobis pursues.

Meanwhile, Hyundai Mobis has been carrying out a range of corporate social responsibility and shared-growth initiatives across multiple areas. Since 2003, the company has held a seasonal fruit-sharing event for its after-sales parts supply chain partners as part of a 24-year effort to grow alongside its key suppliers.