Good Samaritan vs. persona non grata
LG chief sets example for social responsibility
LG Group and its Chairman Koo Bon-moo are setting an example of social responsibility through donations.
Though the conglomerate usually does not make a fuss about its beneficence, its corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities are being hailed amid recent corruption scandals involving Korea’s major businesses.
According to industry sources, LG Electronics has been providing free repair services of its electronics devices for social welfare centers nationwide for more than a decade.
An LG Electronics official said, “We have provided such services for people in need since 2004 as a part of our CSR campaigns, not for public relations.”
LG Group has also awarded citizens who have done good deeds, through LG Welfare Foundation since 2015. The award was established under the chairman’s emphasis that corporations should reward those who sacrificed themselves for the country and social justice, according to the group.
The latest award was presented to Katabilla Ketiye Gedara Nimal Siri. On Feb. 10, the 39-year-old Sri Lankan worker in Gunwi, North Gyeongsang Province, jumped into a house that was on fire and rescued an old woman.
The company presented the award and donated 30 million won for burns treatment. “I have felt grateful for senior citizens in the neighbor- hood for being nice to me. I was so determined to jump into the flames to rescue her,” Nimal said.
LG Group said Nimal was the first foreigner to receive the award.
Besides the award, LG has donated 310 million, including 10 million won collected voluntarily from its employees, to the victims of a fish market fire in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, Jan. 15.
LG Group’s chiefs are also known for their clean sheets. Koo and GS Group chief Huh Chang-soo are the only two heads of Korea’s top chaebol who have not been prosecuted.
In January, Koo made a bold decision to quit the Federation of Korean Industries, the nation’s business lobby, before any other conglomerates with regard to the scandal involving former President Park Geun-hye and her confidant Choi Soon-sil.
At that time, Koo was summoned to a parliamentary hearing alongside other chiefs of conglomerates. They were questioned about their contribution to the fund-raising for two organizations whose operation was spearheaded by Choi — the Mir Foundation and K-Sports Foundation.
LG Group provided 7.8 billion won for the last two years to the two foundations, which is the fourth-largest following Samsung, Hyundai Motor and SK groups.
Koo, who hardly received attention during the hearing, said, “In reality, a business has to follow government policy,” hinting that the group was forced to pay the money. He also urged lawmakers to legislate a law that prohibits the government to force such donations from businesses.