Samsung Raises Aid Pledge to Three Million Dollars

Big corporate moves to help relief efforts in tsunami-struck South Asian nations are gathering pace.

Samsung announced on January 5 that the group would increase its contribution to $3 million USD in financial support and would actively engage in relief and supporting efforts.

The group added that it decided to provide aid on a larger scale based on Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-Hee’s strong willingness to expand humanitarian aid and to complete restoration work at an early date in the hopes that the lives of those affected could return to normal as soon as possible.

In addition, Samsung dispatched a medical team of 10 to Phuket, Thailand, including medical personnel from the orthopedic surgery, emergency medicine and the family medicine department of the Samsung Medical Center on January 4. The team will engage in emergency treatment and infectious diseases prevention efforts for tsunami victims.

In addition, employees at Samsung`s local subsidiaries in the affected region collected money and material goods to support the five countries, hit: Thailand, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. Moreover, 200 Samsung employees from the Thai subsidiaries of Samsung Electronics, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Samsung Life Insurance, Samsung Engineering, and Samsung Corporation are organizing relief efforts with Korean expatriates in Thailand.

On the same day, Hanjin Group announced that it donated $500,000USD to the Red Cross for relief efforts in south Asian nations. In concert with Korea Food for the Hungry International, Inha University Hospital, which is under the direction of the Hanjin Group, is planning to send a team of volunteer workers to the region, including Indonesia.

Korean Air transported nine tons of medical equipment and a medical team from Seoul National University Hospital to Singapore on December 29 and 23 tons of relief supplies such as potable water and blankets from the Korean National Red Cross on January 31 without compensation.

Joong-Hyun Park Byong-Ki Lee sanjuck@donga.com eye@donga.com