From small communities in Korea to flood-stricken Nepal, Korean Air wrapped up its annual mission to support people in need around the world, fulfilling its corporate responsibility as the nation’s largest air carrier.

According to the company, it has completed a series of sharing projects to relieve the pain of people suffering from poverty and isolation through joint efforts by its senior executives and staff members.

One such program was the Global Planting Project ― aimed at combating global warming by planting forests in desert areas in Mongolia and China.

For 12 years, the air carrier has planted about 90,000 trees on 44 hectares of land affected by desertification in Central Asia. The projects, carried out with local residents, also helped the people in the two countries better understand the importance of preserving the forests and the dangers of global warming, the company said.

As a global air carrier, Korean Air also stepped up efforts to save people who have lost their homes and families to natural disasters. Since April, Korean Air has transported to Nepal 45 tons of relief items, including bottled water and blankets for victims of floods, and 35 tons of aid for earthquake relief. Korean Air is the only Korean carrier that connects Incheon and Kathmandu, the Nepalese capital. In September, the company also sent relief packages to Myanmar following a major flood.

To support children in remote areas in China and Mongolia, the air carrier has donated hundreds of books, computers, TVs and desks.

While sending the message of hope to people overseas, Korean Air staff have also been visiting small villages in Korea, opening a free English class for students from low-income families and providing medical services to the disabled and the elderly at care centers.

Earlier this month, the company delivered 10,000 briquettes to low-income families and seniors who live alone in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, in cooperation with a local charity organization.

By Cho Chung-un (christory@heraldcorp.com)