Employees volunteer at child welfare facility in Eunpyeong-gu; company backs Pusan National University Children's Hospital and meal support program for low-income families

HMM employees pose for a photo after taking part in a mural-painting volunteer activity at a child welfare facility in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. [HMM]
HMM employees pose for a photo after taking part in a mural-painting volunteer activity at a child welfare facility in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. [HMM]

HMM is stepping up employee-led corporate social responsibility activities aimed at helping children grow up healthy.

The shipping company said about 40 employees visited a child welfare facility in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, on Wednesday to paint murals, brightening the educational environment for the children living there.

Alongside the mural painting, HMM donated a total of 10 million won (about $6,550), which included supplies to improve conditions at the facility.

HMM has also been supporting Pusan National University Children's Hospital for four years, focusing on pediatric patients who receive comparatively little outside assistance. This year the company delivered 100 million won in medical expense and supply funding, along with 180 gift boxes that employees personally packed with bath products, insulated bags and handwritten get-well notes.

A meal support program for children in low-income households — providing balanced meals to children at risk of going hungry — is now in its second year, having launched last year.

The funds come from HMM's employee donation program: staff voluntarily contribute a small amount each time they use the company's morning breakfast service, "Hmm-orning." The roughly 20 million won collected through the program goes toward meal support for low-income children across the country.

All of HMM's child-focused social contribution programs — including the mural volunteering, meal support and pediatric medical funding — are carried out in partnership with Save the Children, the international children's rights NGO.

"We will continue to reach out to underserved members of our society and carry out sincere social contribution activities so that children can grow up bright and healthy," an HMM official said.

Meanwhile, HMM holds an annual "Children's Cargo Ship Experience" each summer vacation, giving children a rare chance to visit merchant vessels and ports and nurture big dreams about the sea and seafaring — one of many ways the company works to fulfill its corporate social responsibilities.


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