KT chairman promotes corporate philanthropy

By Cho Mu-hyun

Lee Suk-chae KT chairman

KT Chairman Lee Suk-chae said Wednesday that it was important for companies to create shared value that helps both society and industry.

The chairman visited a childcare center called Dream Growing Playground at Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province to attend a “dream camp” where 40 children under care presented their dreams of what they want to be when they grow up.

“I realized that it was difficult for KT alone to balance the level of education for children at childcare centers after we built the Dream Growing Playground,” said Lee. “Now corporate philanthropy must transform itself to be about creating shared values that seek both corporate and social goals.”

“KT will actively pursue ways that will create shared values that solves problems in society in cooperation with other corporations,” he added.

The chairman participated in an arm wrestling tournament and planted vegetables with the children in an adjacent farm during his stay. Each of the 40 children also made presentations about their dreams while Lee gave advice and admonished them never to give up.

He also said that he would open up buildings and research centers owned by the firm for children to visit.

The company also announced a plan to help adolescents fight Internet game addiction by having its philanthropy group, KT IT Supporters, visit 4,000 centers and hold educational sessions. The firm will station counselors at its own 21 centers.

It will give guidelines in making games to app developers that it supports financially.

The center at Yangpyeong was completed in May and has been holding the dream camp weekly. The camp is part of the Dream Together project that 21 local companies including KT launched to help 100,000 children at childcare centers across the country.