Shinhan Financial Group unfolded a series of volunteer programs on Thursday and Friday at Cheonggye Plaza, downtown Seoul, to support neighbors in need.

Organized together with the Korea National Council of Social Welfare and the Community Chest of Korea, the two-day charity event, held for the second time since last year, consisted of kimchi-making, sweater-knitting, and sending Christmas postcards with UNICEF under a large Christmas tree set up at the downtown plaza.

About 200 Shinhan Financial employees including chairman Han Dong-woo took part in making kimchi for low-income families across the country. Shinhan staff in five major cities including Seoul and Busan made some 21 tons of kimchi using 7,000 cabbages to send to around 2,100 households.

Shinhan also staged a “sharing concert” featuring singers, a handbell choir made up of visually impaired musicians and talented underprivileged children sponsored by Shinhan Card, after lighting the Christmas tree Thursday evening.

Shinhan Financial employees also participated in selling the specialities of various rural villages sponsored by affiliates.

Aside from the sale, the financial group said it will donate the villages’ specialities such as omija, a tea plant worth about 50 million won to the underprivileged through the KNCSW and Foodbank.

Passers-by were invited to play games at a family game zone to donate money for low-income children, senior citizens who live alone and the disabled.

By Kim So-hyun (sophie@heraldcorp.com)