Participatory campaign held at Ulsan Industrial Festival from Oct. 7–11

5,000 messages of support from residents reach goal

Donation to flow through Ulsan Community Chest of Korea

Funds to support vulnerable groups, talent development, arts and environment

Ulsan residents write messages of support for their community at the Korea Zinc "thermometer of love" campaign booth during the Ulsan Industrial Festival. [Korea Zinc]
Ulsan residents write messages of support for their community at the Korea Zinc "thermometer of love" campaign booth during the Ulsan Industrial Festival. [Korea Zinc]

Korea Zinc has pledged to donate 50 million won ($37,300) to the local community after 5,000 Ulsan residents filled its "thermometer of love" campaign to 100 percent. The campaign, held at the Ulsan Industrial Festival, raised a giant thermometer display each time a resident left a message of encouragement.

Korea Zinc's Onsan Smelter announced Monday that 5,000 people took part in the campaign — officially titled "A thermometer of love filled by citizens' support, Korea Zinc joins you" — which ran at the festival from Wednesday through Sunday.

Visitors to the festival grounds wrote messages of support for Ulsan and the wider community, with each new participant pushing the on-site thermometer higher. The counter reached 5,000 at around 2:14 p.m. Sunday, the final day of the event, filling the thermometer to 100 percent.

Participants left a wide range of messages about local development and their neighbors. One wrote: "Thanks to Korea Zinc's contributions to social responsibility, the world feels like a better place to live. I am grateful for your efforts."

Korea Zinc said it would convert the public participation directly into a donation of 50 million won, to be channeled through the Ulsan Community Chest of Korea for use by vulnerable groups and social contribution projects in the region.

The funds will be allocated across four areas tied to Korea Zinc's corporate social responsibility framework, "KZ Clover": "Together Ulsan," covering donations and volunteer work; "Dreaming Ulsan," focused on nurturing local talent; "Joyful Ulsan," dedicated to culture and the arts; and "Coexisting Ulsan," addressing environmental initiatives.

The donation will support vulnerable residents, expand access to arts and cultural programs, help develop local talent, and fund environmental and biodiversity conservation projects.

"The encouragement of each and every Ulsan citizen came together to fill the thermometer of love," an Onsan Smelter official said. "Above all, it is deeply meaningful that citizens' participation translated into real sharing for the local community."

"We are grateful to all Ulsan residents who joined the campaign," the official added. "Korea Zinc will continue to communicate actively with the community and expand social contribution activities that citizens can take part in directly and share in the value of."

Korea Zinc has maintained close community ties centered on Ulsan, where the Onsan Smelter is located. Most recently, the company joined Ulsan city officials in an environmental cleanup at Suyeon Rehabilitation Center, a welfare facility for children with severe disabilities in Ulju-gun, with about 30 company employees and civil servants taking part.


kwater@heraldcorp.com