KRX enhances CSR program

Recipients of scholarships given by Korea Exchange pose for a photo at the main hall at the Korea Exchange in Seoul, Aug. 8. Courtesy of Korea Exchange

The Korea Exchange (KRX) Happy Foundation will have given two-year scholarships to about 130 students in 2018 as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) project to foster talented youngsters from underprivileged backgrounds, it said Wednesday.

Ninety middle and high school students selected in the first half of 2018 will be given 1.4 million won ($1,250) over the next two years.

The foundation will choose 40 university students by the end of the year to give them 2 million won scholarships for the two year program.

Since the foundation was established in 2011, 745 students have been given a total of 2.84 billion won as of the third quarter of 2018.

Besides the financial support, the foundation has organized various educational and training programs to help them with self-motivation.

They are required to regularly participate in volunteer work to form a positive vision for life and maintain a compassionate attitude toward others.

The foundation has helped delinquent minors and underage mothers complete academic work by offering financial help for them to earn high school diploma equivalency certificates.

Under the program, such a student is given free online training courses and learning material. The foundation will expand the program to the country's 10 youth correctional facilities.

This is in addition to other similar programs in place including overseas job training programs and volunteer work.

In recognition of such continued efforts, the foundation has won annual awards given by Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education for six consecutive years from 2012 to 2017.

“We will continue our mission of giving back to society our gains from the capital market, which we hope will contribute to making more people happy. Our work will focus on helping those in danger of being neglected,” a KRX official said.