SK Deepens relationship With Habitat with US$6 Million Donation for Land and Housing
March 26, 2005
“Habitat-SK Happy Village” To House 48 Families In Suwon, South Korea
A deeper relationship: the signing ceremony for “Habitat-SK Happy Village” project to house 48 families. From the left, the SK group’s Jung-nam Cho, chairman of HFH Korea Kun Mo Chung, and mayor of Suwon Yong-seo Kim.
SUWON, 26th March 2005: SK, one of South Korea’s largest business groups, is to fund the building of “Habitat-SK Happy Village”, an entire community of 48 families, in a deepening of its relationship with Habitat for Humanity Korea.
SK is to pay for the land as well as the building of “Habitat-SK Happy Village” at site in Suwon, Gyeonggi province, about 30 km. south of the capital Seoul.
“The ‘Habitat-SK Happy Village’ project will provide great momentum for Habitat in promoting long-term partnerships with corporations,” said HFH Korea’s chairman Kun Mo Chung.
SK Telecom vice chairman Jung-nam Cho added: ” This partnership with Habitat will be a good opportunity for the SK group to translate into action its corporate philosophy of contributing to maximizing happiness in society.”
This is the first time for a single organization to fund the construction of a whole village. Since 2001, SK has funded the construction of one multi-family housing unit a year.
Under an agreement between SK, HFH Korea and the Suwon City government, SK is to provide an estimated 6 billion won (around US6 million) to buy land and build 48 homes for needy families. The city government will provide administrative support relating to the land purchase and construction.
“Habitat-SK Happy Village” will comprise 48 two-bedroom units in twelve two-storey blocks. The buildings are mainly made of reinforced concrete round a wooden framing.
The land is expected to be purchased within weeks and the groundbreaking should begin shortly afterwards.
Since it was formally incorporated in 1995, HFH Korea has built 722 homes, 396 in Korea and another 326 overseas. It has 12 affiliates, five student chapters in colleges and schools, and organizes volunteer builds. HFH Korea’s web site is www.habitat.or.kr.
Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry dedicated to eliminating poverty housing. By the end of 2005, Habitat will have built its 200,000th house and more than one million people will be living in Habitat homes they helped build and are buying through no-profit, zero-interest mortgages. For more information, see www.habitat.org