BMW Korea, along with its eight dealerships, donated 1 billion won ($980,000) Monday to help the victims of the deadly sinking of the Sewol ferry on April 16.

BMW, the top-selling foreign car brand in Korea, is the first import car brand to donate money to help the ferry victims.

“We have collected 1 billion won in cooperation with our eight dealerships to offer our condolences to the victims of the Sewol sinking and their bereaved families,” said BMW Korea CEO Kim Hyo-joon in a statement.

The Korean unit of the German luxury carmaker also decided not to participate in the BMW Golf Cup International and canceled its Korean competition.

The BMW Golf Cup is a competition in which some 120,000 BMW owners from 50 countries are invited to participate in regional tournaments and then a world final.

BMW Korea said it also planned to seek ways to help the ferry victims in the longer term.

(jylee@heraldcorp.com)