Korean Air marks the 10th year of its global environmental initiative in Mongolia this year.

About 220 new employees of Korean Air, along with some 600 local residents and students, planted trees in the “Korean Air Forest” in the Baganor Desert near Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia, in three stages from May 6-24, according to SkyNews, a biweekly newsletter of the air carrier. 

Hanjin Group, which has Korean Air as one of its major subsidiaries, started to plant trees in Mongolia in 2004 as part of its “Global Planting Project.”

To celebrate the 10th year of its Mongolian afforestation project this year, the group is planting an additional 10,000 poplars, willows, elms and other trees on a 3-hectare site.

Over the last nine years, about 1,540 people have participated in the tree planting event, turning 35 hectares of desert land into a forest of some 77,000 trees.

Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho himself visited the desert along with 100 new employees of Korean Air and planted trees there in 2004.

Since then, the group has flown to Mongolia not only its new employees but also college student participants in its overseas training program to enhance environmental awareness.

In 2006, the forest was recognized by the City of Ulan Bator as the Urban Park of the Year. In 2009, Korean Air was awarded the “Environmental Excellence Medal” by the government of Mongolia.

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