BPA Selected for Public-Private Cooperation Support in ‘Love Sharing Refrigerator Project’ … Receives 100 Million Won Fund

‘Happiness Sharing Refrigerator’ officials are taking a group commemorative photo after the refrigerator opening ceremony in Sinseon-dong, Yeongdo-gu.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] Busan Port Authority (BPA)'s "Our Neighborhood Happiness Filling Love Sharing Refrigerator (tentative name)" was selected as a supported project for 2023 at the 5th Public Coexistence Solidarity Contest hosted by the Public Coexistence Solidarity.

The Public Coexistence Solidarity is a public interest corporation voluntarily established by public institution employees to support the vulnerable in the labor society and spread social values.

A total of 90 projects were proposed by public sectors and non-profit organizations in the 5th Public Coexistence Solidarity Contest.

BPA's entry, "Our Neighborhood Happiness Filling Love Sharing Refrigerator," is a project to install refrigerators at local administrative welfare centers and comprehensive social welfare centers where anyone in the community can donate food ingredients and neighbors in need can freely use them.

On September 27, BPA, together with Yeongdo-gu, opened the Sinseon-dong Sharing Refrigerator at the Happiness Center as part of a pilot project.

The project received high evaluations in the final presentation judging process of the contest for establishing a cooperative system with local governments, the sustainability of the project after support ends, and its ability to provide practical help to neighbors in welfare blind spots.

As the project was selected as a supported project in the contest, BPA will receive a fund of 100 million KRW from the Public Coexistence Solidarity next year.

Using the received fund, the authority plans to install and operate about 20 Love Sharing Refrigerators in cooperation with local governments near ports in Busan and Gyeongnam.

If the Love Sharing Refrigerator operates successfully, it is expected to generate a welfare fundraising effect of about 520 million KRW annually, assuming 10,000 KRW per household of four, benefiting approximately 200,000 people.

Kang Jun-seok, BPA President, said, "I hope the Love Sharing Refrigerator project will become a catalyst for a community sharing network that helps neighbors in welfare blind spots," and added, "BPA will continue to strive to share warmth and provide hope to vulnerable groups near Busan Port across Busan and Gyeongnam."

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