Oil refiner plans to spend W10b through 2015 on social contribution


The social contribution activities of GS Caltex come in two forms: “green sharing” for an eco-friendly, sustainable future, and “regional participation” to help local communities.

The oil refiner set up a department exclusively in charge of social contribution in 2005 and launched the GS Caltex Foundation in 2006.

The company plans to infuse 10 billion won ($8.6 million) each year for 10 years through 2015 to carry out projects for the public good worth 100 billion won in scholarships, education, culture and arts. Construction of a culture and arts park in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, which houses performance halls and exhibition halls is at the center of the refiner’s social contributions.

Some 2,600 GS Caltex employees and their families have taken part in 98 volunteer programs over the six years to last year to help the underprivileged “fulfill their wishes.”

About 400 volunteers have visited the disadvantaged in Seoul, Busan, Daejeon, Daegu and Yeosu in the three weeks since Dec. 5 to enable them to eat what they want, go where they want and do what they want to. 

The GS Caltex families also delivered homemade kimchi and heating oil to senior citizens who live alone, and played Santa Claus for children in childcare centers.

The nation’s second-largest refiner also began an overseas environmental refugee aid program in Cambodia in August.

GS Caltex staff and a volunteer squad consisting of teenagers from the islands around Yeosu visited Cambodia to deliver water purifiers and complete the company’s project to increase access to drinking water, build public toilets and teach children in the program titled “Global Energy Plus.”

Next year, GS Caltex plans to develop energy for low-income households in Cambodia with the Korea International Cooperation Agency and a nongovernmental organization Good Neighbors, and continue to dispatch volunteer teams comprised of staff and underprivileged teenagers.

Also, the company has run “green energy” camps and schools to teach children about climate change and how to use energy since last year.

GS Caltex sponsors a program to allow disadvantaged children and children with environmental diseases learn about ecology in national parks.

The company will provide 400 million won for two years through next year in the program run by the Korea National Park Service and the Environment Ministry.

GS Caltex has offered English classes for students in the islands around Yeosu by hiring native speaking instructors since 2007 and has held an environment-themed drawing contest in May every year starting in 1994 with the Environment Ministry.

By Kim So-hyun (sophie@heraldcorp.com)