Protecting Lives Nationwide: HiteJinro Leads Firefighting Support as a 'Safety Guardian'

Fire Agency and Non-Face-to-Face Sports Competition to Overcome COVID-19
Continuing Strong Ties with Support Funds for Firefighter Families
Biannual National Safety Campaigns on Fire and Water Accidents

Kim In-gyu, CEO of HiteJinro, performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation at a safety campaign event.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] HiteJinro continues its benevolent efforts to support firefighters who dedicate themselves to the health of the nation. Since signing a business agreement with the National Fire Agency in 2018 to improve the treatment of firefighters' families and raise public safety awareness, the company has annually conducted various programs to support the families of firefighters, including scholarships, consolation funds, healing camps, and sports competitions.

On the 13th, HiteJinro announced that it held a non-face-to-face sports competition, the "2020 tHere’s Race," on the 1st in collaboration with the National Fire Agency to help overcome the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) healthily, and will operate it for two months.

This sports competition was planned to promote a sense of accomplishment and strengthen unity and communication among members by improving the physical fitness of 60,000 participants, including HiteJinro employees, fire service workers, and firefighters responsible for public safety. Due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, firefighters have had fewer opportunities to improve their physical fitness, leading to higher rates of injuries and safety accidents. This non-face-to-face sports competition is expected to enhance physical fitness in daily life and help prevent injuries among firefighters in advance.

HiteJinro has decided to support 17 individuals with litigation costs, emergency living expenses, and firefighter development scholarships for children of firefighters to improve the treatment of firefighters' families. The company hopes to provide some help to firefighters who always work hard to protect the safety and lives of the public under harsh conditions.

HiteJinro supports litigation costs such as lawyer fees necessary for recognizing firefighters who have died by suicide due to work-related stress as line-of-duty deaths, as well as emergency living expenses. Additionally, it plans to provide firefighter development scholarships for children of deceased firefighters who dream of becoming firefighters themselves.

HiteJinro actively leads public safety campaigns. Since 2018, it has regularly conducted safety campaigns twice a year nationwide, focusing on fire prevention and water safety accident prevention.

In July, public safety campaigns were conducted across beaches in Chungnam, Busan, and Gangwon provinces. Safety guidelines were distributed to prevent water-related accidents during the summer and to encourage compliance with social distancing measures in daily life. Furthermore, to assist the rescue activities of the 119 Citizen Lifeguard Corps, a total of 1,000 items including life jackets, rescue tubes, and rash guards were provided to the fire headquarters in Chungnam, Busan, and Gangwon. A delivery ceremony was held at the 119 Beach Rescue Team at Daecheon Beach in Boryeong, Chungnam, attended by Kim In-gyu, CEO of HiteJinro, Son Jeong-ho, head of Chungnam Fire Headquarters, Bang Sang-cheon, chief of Boryeong Fire Station, and 30 citizen lifeguards. In August, supplies were also delivered to the Busan and Gangwon Fire Headquarters.

Starting with Jeonju City in December 2018, followed by Changwon City in July 2019, and Busan City's Bujeon Market and Seomyeon commercial districts in December, fire safety campaigns have been conducted targeting fire-vulnerable groups in stores and businesses. These campaigns included the installation and provision of fire safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, circuit breakers, and fire alarm detectors, along with training on their use.

In addition, HiteJinro is engaged in various social contribution activities in the firefighting sector, including national disaster emergency support, nurturing future firefighters, improving the treatment of deceased firefighters, and safeguarding the mental health of firefighters' families, with plans to expand these efforts further.

In March, upon learning of shortages of relief supplies at the Daegu Fire Safety Headquarters and Gyeongbuk Fire Headquarters, which have been tirelessly dedicated to preventing the spread of COVID-19, HiteJinro urgently provided 4,000 instant rice packs, 4,000 bottles of mineral water, and 1,000 Black Barley drinks. By identifying the essential needs of the fire headquarters, this support helped swiftly overcome the national crisis.

HiteJinro supported dormitory supplies and training programs for the "Korea Fire Meister" high school, a school established this year to nurture future firefighters. Together with the National Fire Agency, HiteJinro continuously operates programs to improve the treatment of firefighters' families, aiming to assist firefighters and their families suffering from depression, panic disorder, and other mental health issues. The company annually provides scholarships for children of firefighters who died by suicide, psychological stabilization programs, and supports litigation costs and educational expenses for families not recognized as line-of-duty deaths. HiteJinro also plans to sponsor forums to improve firefighters' treatment in the future. Mr. Lee also received scholarship and psychological treatment support through this program. In May last year, a "Beautiful Journey, Healing Camp" was held at Daon Forest Glamping in Sejong City for families of deceased firefighters.

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