Gwangyang Steelworks Launches Heart Connection Project for Elderly Living Alone... A Milestone for Empathy-Based Volunteering

Improving Welfare Blind Spots with Various Healing Programs Including Emotional Support

Gwangyang Steelworks: "We Will Realize the Value of Coexistence through Heartfelt Social Contribution Activities"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seonsik] Gwangyang Steelworks (Director Lee Jinsu) announced that on the 29th, it held a launch ceremony for the Lone Elderly Heart Connection Project at the auditorium of Jungma Senior Welfare Center in Gwangyang City to support the healthy lives of elderly people living alone in the region.

About 70 people attended the launch ceremony, including Jeong Inhwa, Mayor of Gwangyang, Lee Cheolho, Deputy Director of Gwangyang Steelworks, Seo Youngbae, Chairman of Gwangyang City Council, Kim Jaekyung, Chairman of Gwangyang City Love Sharing Welfare Foundation, and members of the Heart Connection Volunteer Group.

The Lone Elderly Heart Connection Project by Gwangyang Steelworks is a healing-type program aimed at solving the isolation issues of elderly people living alone, which has recently emerged as a social problem, and has been continuously operated since 2017.

This project is operated until August next year with the participation of Gwangyang Steelworks, Gwangyang City Hall, local social welfare organizations, and the Gwangyang Steelworks Talent Volunteer Group, funded by a designated donation of 35 million KRW from the ‘POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation,’ which is created from 1% of the salaries of POSCO employees.

Gwangyang Steelworks supports the healthy lives of the elderly through ▲ emotional stability programs (group matching exchange system, home visit check-ins) ▲ residential environment improvements (wallpapering, flooring, fire detector installation) △ close livelihood support (forming social networks, providing daily necessities).

In particular, this project is meaningful as a program that discovers and heals neighbors in blind spots with the goal of restoring community culture.

Additionally, the Heart Connection Flower Arrangement Talent Volunteer Group, which organizes the volunteer work at Gwangyang Steelworks, holds annual meetings and receives training from experts to strengthen elderly care capabilities, adding professionalism to their volunteer activities.

At the launch ceremony, Jeong Inhwa, Mayor of Gwangyang, said, “I believe this launch ceremony for the Lone Elderly Heart Connection Project will be a milestone in solving the isolation problems of elderly people living alone,” and added, “I am grateful to POSCO Gwangyang Steelworks for leading the spread of a sharing culture in Gwangyang City.”

Lee Cheolho, Deputy Director of Gwangyang Steelworks, said, “Discovering elderly people in welfare blind spots and ensuring they are not lonely is true social welfare,” and added, “Gwangyang Steelworks will continuously communicate with the local community and realize the value of coexistence through various social contribution activities.”

Gwangyang Steelworks is accelerating the realization of a company that works with the local community by presenting a model where companies and society develop together, helping elderly people in the region achieve physical and emotional stability through smart health management programs and exchange meetings for elderly people living alone, and supporting economic independence through a lunchbox delivery project.

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seonsik hss79@asiae.co.kr

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