Diageo Korea said Thursday that it will provide 17 unmarried mothers and their families with rental homes in coordination with the Ministry of Gender Equality & Family and Gyeonggi Urban Innovation Corp.

Under its recent expansion of social contribution activities, the local unit of the U.K.-based liquor group Diageo has decided to donate 500 million won ($455,000) to the housing offering for single moms facing financial difficulties, said company spokespeople.

The homes, which will be offered for one year free-of-charge, are located in two cities ― Namyangju and Osan, Gyeonggi Province ― respectively.

Further, a Diageo Korea spokesman said it would give the Gender Equality Ministry 5 billion won over the next five years for philanthropic activities nationwide.

“The recent launch of the Diageo Korea Foundation is an extension of the pan-Asian social contribution project “Plan W” of the London-based Diageo Plc,” he said.

Last year, Diageo Plc.’s pan-Asian operation announced it would set aside $100 million for Plan W, in order to enhance the social status and economic self-sustainability of some 2 million women from 17 Asian countries.

By Kim Yon-se (kys@heraldcorp.com)