CU and S-1 Establish Nationwide Safety Infrastructure with Automated External Defibrillators

Lee Geon-jun, President of BGF Retail (left), and Choi Chan-kyo, Head of Security Service Division at S-1, signed a business partnership to install automated external defibrillators at CU stores nationwide as part of the "Establishment of Public Emergency Medical Equipment Services for Social Contribution." (Photo by BGF Retail)

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] CU announced on the 20th that it is partnering with domestic security company S-1 to install automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in more than 16,000 stores nationwide to build public safety infrastructure.

With growing public interest in everyday safety, CU, which has the largest offline network nationwide, will serve as a safety platform to save lives in emergency situations.

An automated external defibrillator (AED) is an emergency medical device that delivers an electric shock to patients in cardiac arrest to help restore heart function. Using an AED within the golden time of 4 minutes after cardiac arrest can increase the patient’s survival rate up to 80%.

BGF Retail, which operates CU, and S-1 signed a business partnership agreement on the 17th at the BGF headquarters located in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, to establish a public service for emergency medical equipment aimed at customer and public safety and social contribution.

The signing ceremony was attended by BGF Retail President Lee Geonjun, Sales and Development Division Head Min Seungbae, S-1 Security Service Division Head Choi Chankyo, and other officials from both companies.

Along with the agreement, BGF Retail and S-1 employees conducted joint CPR training and AED usage practice, and a specially produced safety education video was distributed company-wide to enhance internal capabilities for emergency response.

The AEDs installed in CU stores by S-1 automatically power on as soon as the cover is opened and can be quickly operated with a single button. A switch allows users to select between adult and pediatric modes.

The AEDs will first be installed mainly in CU directly operated stores located in densely populated areas of the Seoul metropolitan area, and installation will later be expanded to franchise stores nationwide after establishing detailed installation criteria. Depending on the store size, small stores will have wall-mounted units, while medium and large stores will have stand-type units.

S-1 experts will regularly visit the installed stores to maintain the devices in optimal condition and provide CPR and AED usage training to franchise owners and staff.

Shin Jongha, Head of BGF Retail’s Management Planning Office, said, “Through this collaboration with S-1 to install AEDs, CU will also be able to serve as an emergency medical safety net. We will continue ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management that contributes to the public good by carrying out various social contribution activities that protect lives as close as possible to customers using the nation’s largest store network.”

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