'Quiet Donation' Gu Kwang-mo "Hope to Help COVID-19 Vaccine Development"... 1 Billion Won Personal Contribution

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyewon] Koo Kwang-mo, Chairman of LG Group(photo), donated 1 billion KRW of his personal funds to a research institute to support the development of a vaccine for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

According to the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) Korea Supporters Association on the 27th, Chairman Koo recently donated 1 billion KRW of personal contributions to IVI to support the development of a COVID-19 vaccine. Chairman Koo stated, "In a situation where humanity's health is threatened by the COVID-19 pandemic, I hope that supporting IVI, which is conducting COVID-19 vaccine research, will accelerate vaccine development and help us overcome this difficulty together."

Jerome Kim, Secretary-General of IVI, expressed deep gratitude for Chairman Koo's warm and timely support to aid COVID-19 vaccine development, saying, "IVI will do its best to work with partner organizations to ensure the vaccine is developed as soon as possible, and we will make sure that Chairman Koo's valuable donation has the maximum effect for people worldwide."

This donation was delivered to IVI through the IVI Korea Supporters Association. IVI plans to use the funds for research to understand the principles of human immune system prevention of COVID-19, studies to improve human immune responses to COVID-19 vaccines, strengthening IVI's capacity to measure important immune responses induced by COVID-19 vaccines, and preparing clinical trial sites worldwide for COVID-19 vaccines.

Park Sang-chul, Chairman of the Supporters Association and Distinguished Professor at Chonnam National University, said, "While our people and the global community are suffering greatly from COVID-19, Chairman Koo's donation will be a great support to IVI and its partner organizations' efforts to develop and distribute vaccines as quickly as possible," adding, "We sincerely thank Chairman Koo for his consideration and generous support."

IVI is a nonprofit international organization established in 1997 under the leadership of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), dedicated to vaccines and immunization for global health. As the first international organization headquartered in the Republic of Korea, 35 countries including Korea, Sweden, India, China, and the World Health Organization (WHO) have joined the IVI establishment agreement. Earlier this month, Kim Jung-sook, wife of President Moon Jae-in, was appointed as the 4th Honorary Chairperson of the IVI Korea Supporters Association.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.