'Genius Awards Winner' Chairman Gu Ja-yeol Donates $50,000 Including Prize Money

[Asia Economy Reporter Su-yeon Woo] Gu Ja-yeol, Chairman of LS Group, announced on the 30th that he was selected as the Genie Awards recipient at the 2nd Genie (Global Emerging Network In Economy·GENIE) Forum, jointly hosted by Jeollabuk-do Province, the National Balanced Development Committee, and 10 other organizations. This award was given in recognition of his contributions to spreading innovation and win-win entrepreneurship and expanding the global network of Korean companies.

The Genie Awards are given to domestic and international innovators or organizations leading global economic exchanges. Last year, the Obama Foundation was selected as the first recipient for its contributions to nurturing global community leaders and establishing international cooperation networks. The Genie Forum is a global economic forum hosted by Jeollabuk-do Province together with the National Balanced Development Committee, Jeonju City, the National Pension Service, and others. It was expanded and reorganized from the international finance conference held by Jeollabuk-do and the National Pension Service since 2018.

Gu Ja-yeol, Chairman of LS Group (right in the photo), received the Genie Awards at the 2nd Genie Forum held in Jeonju on the 29th and is taking a commemorative photo with Song Ha-jin, Governor of Jeollabuk-do. Photo by LS Group

Chairman Gu was recognized for contributing to building a sustainable society by focusing investments on renewable energy and eco-friendly businesses for ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management and launching an ESG committee within the group. Additionally, while serving concurrently as the Chairman of the Korea International Trade Association, he led public-private cooperation by supporting vaccination for small and medium-sized enterprises struggling with exports amid the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

Chairman Gu expressed his award acceptance remarks, saying, "As Chairman of LS Group and Chairman of the Trade Association, I will work harder on the ground to promote innovation in our economy and expand the global network."

Furthermore, Chairman Gu announced that he would donate the entire prize money of $10,000 to Jeollabuk-do for nurturing international finance professionals. To join this good cause, LS Group pledged an additional $30,000, and the Trade Association pledged $10,000 as matching donations. The total $50,000, including the Genie Awards prize money and matching donations from LS Group and the Trade Association, will be used to support students majoring in international finance at major universities located in Jeollabuk-do.

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