Coupang launches 'WOW Volunteer Corps' to serve local community

Coupang Inc said it held a launch ceremony Wednesday for its "Coupang WOW Volunteer Corps" — a volunteer group organized and run by its own employees — and carried out the group's first activity in the Guui-dong area of Seoul's Gwangjin-gu.

The WOW Volunteer Corps was established to bring structure to volunteer efforts that had previously been carried out informally through in-house clubs. An 18-member steering committee drawn from the company's workforce handles planning and operations.

About 40 people attended the launch event, including Jang Young-cheol, executive vice president of Coupang Inc's corporate social responsibility division, steering committee members, volunteers and other CSR staff. After sharing the corps' founding goals and operational direction, participants walked through the Guui-dong neighborhood surrounding Coupang Inc's headquarters, picking up litter in a "plogging" activity — a fitness trend that combines jogging with picking up trash.

"We will consistently continue our volunteer activities so that employees can engage with the local community and put the spirit of sharing into practice," a Coupang Inc CSR official said.