Shinsegae department store signs MOU with South Jeolla Province-Gwangju on biodiversity

Shinsegae Department Store signed an MOU with the South Jeolla Province-Gwangju integrated special city on Thursday to protect the ecological environment of the lower Tamjin River and the broader South Jeolla Province region.

The agreement links corporate ESG management practices, local resident and civic group participation, and government administrative support into a single framework aimed at building a sustainable ecosystem conservation system.

Shinsegae will provide 200 million won ($144,000) over the next two years to fund habitat creation and restoration of degraded areas along the lower Tamjin River. Local residents will open fallow farmland during winter as habitat and feeding grounds for migratory birds, while civic groups will handle on-site work including habitat development and ecological monitoring.

The company will also leverage its retail network to help market locally grown eco-friendly agricultural and fishery products from the region. The South Jeolla Province-Gwangju integrated special city will provide administrative support to help the project take root.

"It is especially meaningful that Shinsegae Department Store, having grown alongside Gwangju's retail sector, is now directly involved in protecting the ecology of the Honam region," said Park Ju-hyung, president and CEO of Shinsegae. "We will continue to pursue large-scale investment and fulfill our responsibilities as a landmark befitting the South Jeolla Province-Gwangju integrated special city."

Shinsegae also agreed to deepen cooperation with the city on "The Great Gwangju," the largest retail development project underway in the Honam region.

The project involves a mixed-use redevelopment of the Gwangju Gwangcheon terminal, beginning with a department store expansion in 2029 and continuing through 2033 to include a modernized terminal, a luxury hotel, a performance venue, office facilities, and residential, medical and education facilities. The company plans to invest 3 trillion won to transform the site into a landmark representing the Honam region.