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| Kakao asks users on its online donation platform to write comments to support victims of the Turkey-Syria earthquake, saying the company will donate 1,000 won ($0.80) per message. Screenshot from Kakao's website |
By Park Jae-hyuk
Korean companies have joined international efforts to support residents living in earthquake-hit Turkey and Syria, according to industry officials, Wednesday.
Hyundai Motor's Turkish subsidiary will provide $50,000 worth of rescue equipment and offer an additional $450,000 to purchase more hardware and daily necessities for victims, in collaboration with the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency of Turkey.
The carmaker will also provide a 50-percent discount to repair vehicles which are not covered by insurance, as well as another 50-percent discount on regular inspections of cars owned by residents in the earthquake-hit areas.
"We hope our efforts will be helpful to the residents of earthquake-hit areas who are experiencing difficulties," Hyundai Motor Turkey President Kim Sang-su said.
Doosan Group will send Bobcat skid-steer loaders and excavators, as well as portable power generators and lighting equipment, collectively worth around $1 million, to help save lives and restore buildings and roads.
The construction equipment will be delivered as soon as possible through Doosan Bobcat's local dealer in Turkey, according to the group.
"We hope the equipment is used immediately to offer practical support for rescue and restoration efforts," a Doosan Group official said.
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| Doosan Bobcat's skid-steer loader / Courtesy of Doosan Group |
HD Hyundai, which owns construction equipment subsidiaries, will also provide 10 mid-size excavators for restoration works in Turkey.
"We hope the residents return to their peaceful daily lives as soon as possible," a HD Hyundai official said.
Kakao plans to donate money not only to victims in Turkey, but also to those in Syria.
If its users write comments on Kakao's online donation platform to support the earthquake victims, the IT firm will donate 1,000 won ($0.80) per message.
As of Wednesday morning, nearly 100,000 comments were written on the platform to support the victims.
"Please join us to help children and neighbors in Turkey and Syria, who lost their homes due to the massive earthquakes," Kakao wrote on the platform.
Hana Financial Group, which operates a bank in Istanbul, sent $300,000 in emergency funding to support the victims in Turkey and Syria.
"For the restoration of the earthquake-hit areas and for the victims suffering from the winter cold, Hana Financial Group decided to provide support," Ham Young-joo, chairman of the financial group, said.
Asan Foundation, chaired by HD Hyundai's largest shareholder Chung Mong-joon, delivered $300,000 to the Korean Red Cross for rescue and restoration works in Turkey and an additional $100,000 to the organization to help the victims in Syria.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will provide Turkey with high-resolution videos of the quake-hit areas, taken by the national land observation satellite so that rescue workers can assess the situations of inaccessible areas.
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