▲ A member of the SK Innovation Ulsan Complex takes part in the “SK Relay Blood Donation Campaign” on January 13, 2022.

Due to the prolonged Covid-19 and social distancing, the amount of blood donation in South Korea is dramatically diminished. If the current situation persists, it will result in a severe blood shortage, posing a dilemma for adequate blood availability in the event of a disaster or large-scale emergency accidents. Currently, South Korea’s blood stock is only 60% of the optimum range, reaching the “attention and warning level for national blood stock,” necessitating more blood donations from the public.

Being fully aware of the current blood shortage issue, SK Group is conducting a large-scale “SK Relay Blood Donation Campaign” as part of its “Life Sharing, Warm Contact” project. The campaign is set to be participated by all SK affiliates, subsidiaries, partners, social enterprises, and the general public. SK Innovation members have also been actively taking part in this meaningful campaign.

Since early December of last year, SK Innovation headquarter and SK Incheon Petrochem members have taken the initiative to roll up their sleeves for blood donation. Furthermore, beginning with SK Innovation Ulsan Complex (hereinafter “Ulsan CLX”) and the Institute of Environmental Science & Technology, business sites/logistics in Seosan, Jeungpyeong, and other regions have pledged to voluntarily participate in regular blood donations throughout the year.

▲ Members of SK Innovation and partner companies in a blood donation bus provided by the Korea National Red Cross on January 13, 2022, at the SK Innovation Institute of Environmental Science & Technology in Deajeon, South Korea.

Despite the frigid temperature, many members of SK Innovation, SK On, and partners joined the blood donation took place at SK Innovation Environmental Research Institute of Science and Technology in Deajeon, South Korea, on January 13, 2022. Blood donors unanimously stated that they went to a blood donation bus to support the current critical blood shortage.

Ulsan CLX members also visited the Korean Red Cross blood donation bus, which came to Ulsan CLX on January 13 and 14, to participate in voluntary blood donation. As they learned about the critical situation in terms of blood supply, all of the members eagerly joined in the life-saving effort.

▲ (Upper left) Ulsan CLX members wait in line in front of a blood donation bus from the Korean Red Cross, which came to Ulsan CLX on January 13 / (Upper right) Ulsan CLX members donate blood while riding the bus. / (Bottom) Ulsan CLX participants in blood donation.

The blood donation activity is expected to continue at all offices and plants of SK Innovation. In case of small business sites such as local logistics facilities that are difficult to conduct a group blood donation through blood donation bus, the blood donors will visit nearby blood donation centers to contribute to the campaign. Besides, the activity will be expanded more as family members of SK Innovation affiliates expressed their willingness to participate in the campaign.

SK Innovation, on the other hand, has joined the “GIVE BLOOD, Donation PLUS+” campaign organized by “SOVAC,” South Korea’s largest private social value platform.

In order to alleviate the blood scarcity, SOVAC hosts a blood donation participation comment event on its official website (http://bit.ly/3EZ3Ku) for anyone who wants to contribute by Monday, January 31, 2022. SK will pay KRW 50,000 (about USD 50) on behalf of each blood donor, with the total contribution going to children from low-income households who suffer from blood cancer. Participants in the event will be entered into a drawing for prizes such as a Galaxy Book Pro 360, an iPad, air purifiers, and more.