‘Gift Donation in rural area’

KOSHA team up to help residents along remote country side

27^th April,

“After four hours, we finally reach the village to share our talent”

KOSHA’s union workers and management (President: Hun-ki Baek) teamed up to help residents living in a remote village with bad traffic in Gang-won Province on the 26^th for two days, who desperately need help.

The village called ‘Byeol-chunji’ located in Jidong-ri, Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province is one of the highest villages in Korea in terms of altitude, with only four stops of a bus a day. It takes thirty minutes to get a hospital in the downtown for one who gets sick. There’s even no one mom-and-pop store in the village.

The Byeol-chunji village is 1,256kms above sea level, nestled with Mount Cheong-ok where only 25 households are located. The average age of residents is 60, with the youngest adult of 40 year old.

Around forty staff members and physicians of KOSHA conducted blood test, liver function test, urine test, X-ray and electrocardiogram test for them.

Senior residents enjoyed free medical check-up and consultation service thanks to these volunteers, who have trouble going to hospitals due to rural location. Meanwhile, KOSHA’s staff members also improved the convenience by checking the status of electricity and gas, and installing lights.

After that, they helped the residents harvest wild plants and corns, and eradicate old green houses.

Grandma Kim (86) who lives alone, said “I am grateful for this day and all those who are helping us coming a great distance.” adding that she feels like having her own grand children. Mr Kim, the head of the village also expressed his thanks saying that what they need is continuous support for the rural area like the village where he lives.

KOSHA has been in the sisterhood relationship with the village since 2005 as part of its efforts to conduct socially responsible activities: giving a hand in harvesting crops, providing safety training on using agricultural machinery, inviting the residents to tour factories and running the farmers’ market within KOSHA so that people can buy agricultural produce directly from farmers.

KOSHA has been supporting rural areas located in In-cheon and Gang-hwa Island before it concluded the sisterhood relationship with this Byeol-chunji village. That’s why those villages in the In-cheon and Gang-hwa were on the list of candidates for the sisterhood relationship as they are not far away from metropolitan area to visit. However, KOSHA concluded the tie finally with the Byeol-chunji village which is isolated in terms of economic and cultural benefit, to be all the more committed to upholding the meaning of helping the remote areas whose residents are desperately needed.

President Baek of KOSHA said that sharing what we have is all about participation, adding that it was a very meaningful time for KOSHA’s staff members to lend safety knowledge and information to local communities. End.


                                           

                          <One of residents receives medical service by the physician of KOSHA>