The Community Chest of Korea kicked off a fund-raising campaign for the needy Wednesday.

Hyundai Motor Group was the first donor to join the campaign. Hyundai Motor Group vice chairman Chung Eui-sun visited the Community Chest of Korea to deliver the group’s 25 billion won ($23.65 million) donation to the fund-raising organization’s chairman Lee Dong-kurn.

“Our executives and employees raised the money to return our customers’ support for us to society and to share with needy neighbors,” Chung said. “The business environment is forecast to be stiff next year, but we will keep remembering our community and seek to grow with its members.”

Hyundai Motor Group has contributed a cumulative 134 billion won in 11 years since 2003, including 25 billion won donated Wednesday. Since 2011, the group increased its donation by 5 billion won each year.

LG Group also contributed 12 billion won to the campaign Wednesday. 

Kim Young-kee, executive vice president of LG Corp., who leads LG Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility team, came to the fund-raising agency to deliver the group donation.

“Activities to help underprivileged neighbors should go along even in difficult business environment,” Kim said.

LG Group donated 10 billion won to CCK around this time of last year.

On top of the group-wide donation, its subsidiaries have plans to give basic necessities, make kimchi, repair homes and provide other voluntary services for those in need until the end of this year.

The community chest has already set up donation thermometers in major cities across the country.

The fund-raising campaign will last for 73 days until Jan. 31 next year. Its target amount is 311 billion won, about 3 percent higher than the 302 billion raised last year.

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon and CCK chairman Lee attended a ceremony to launch the campaign.

Anyone can make a donation to the campaign by calling 060-700-1212 or remitting to bank accounts specified on its website (www.chest.co.kr).

By Chun Sung-woo (swchun@heraldcorp.com)