SK Innovation Establishes Seven "Haengbok Dream Libraries" in Rural and Fishing Communities

Established 32 libraries and donated more than 33,000 books over three years

SK Innovation established “Haengbok Dream Libraries” in seven rural and fishing communities this year. Since launching the initiative in 2024, it has set up libraries at a total of 32 locations and donated more than 33,000 books.

Eom Sanghong, head of SK Innovation's CSR team (fourth from right), and other officials pose for a commemorative photo at the opening ceremony of the Happy Dream Library at Goa Community Children's Center in Goa-eup, Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, on the 8th. SK Innovation

SK Innovation said on November 10 that it held the opening ceremony for the “2026 Haengbok Dream Library for Children in Rural and Fishing Communities” at the Goa Regional Children’s Center in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, on November 8. Jung Jaeseung, a professor in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at KAIST, attended the event and delivered a special lecture on topics including how advances in robotics and brain science will change daily life and the joy of reading.

The Haengbok Dream Library initiative aims to narrow the learning gap among children in rural and fishing communities and promote a reading culture. It is funded by the “1% Happiness Sharing Fund,” raised by SK Innovation Group employees through contributions of 1% of their base salaries. Since last year, the initiative has expanded through collaboration with Kyobo Book Centre and Save the Children.

SK Innovation established libraries in 15 locations in 2024 and 10 last year, followed by seven this year in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province; Jinan, North Jeolla Province; and Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, among other areas. More than 2,000 children have received support over the past three years.

The books in the libraries were provided jointly by businesses and members of the public. Through the “2026 Children’s Book Dream Project,” held for about two months starting in July, SK Innovation employees, members of the public and Kyobo Book Centre donated more than 12,000 books.

Children’s reading habits have also changed since the libraries were established. According to a survey of participating children conducted by Save the Children, reading frequency increased by 87% and interest in reading rose by 160% compared with before the initiative. The libraries received an average satisfaction rating of 4.5 out of 5.

An SK Innovation official said, “We will support children in rural and fishing communities so they can discover a variety of books close to home, develop reading habits from an early age and dream big.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.