Hanwha Galleria Surpasses 200 Households Benefiting from Childcare Accompaniment Support Fund

Hanwha Galleria announced on December 2 that the number of employee households who have received the "childcare accompaniment support fund," a benefit implemented by Hanwha’s distribution services and machinery division, has surpassed 200 as of November.

Led by Executive Vice President for Future Vision Kim Dongseon, the childcare accompaniment support fund has been provided since January by Hanwha’s distribution services and machinery division. The program offers 10 million won (after tax) to families with newborns, regardless of the number of times they have given birth. It is currently implemented at 13 subsidiaries within the distribution services and machinery divisions. For families with twins or multiple newborns, the amount is adjusted according to the number of babies.

Jung Hojin, Manager at Hanwha Galleria, who received the Childcare Companion Support Fund last July, and his family (left). Provided by Hanwha Galleria.

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Initially, only Hanwha Galleria and Hanwha Hotels & Resorts introduced the program, but after demonstrating visible effects in promoting work-life balance and improving work efficiency, it was expanded to other subsidiaries in the distribution services and machinery division, such as Hanwha Vision and Ourhome.

Less than a year after the program’s launch, the number of beneficiary households has exceeded 200. The breakdown of recipients is as follows: Ourhome (60 people), Hanwha Hotels & Resorts (43 people), Hanwha Semitec (23 people), Hanwha Galleria (21 people), and Hanwha Vision (18 people).

Employees who are balancing work and childcare after the birth of their children have expressed high satisfaction with the childcare accompaniment support fund, noting that it provides substantial practical assistance. Jung Hojin, Manager at Hanwha Galleria, who welcomed his second daughter in July, used the support fund for a car seat and childcare helper expenses. Part of the funds will also be set aside for his children’s future education costs.

Jung noted that he feels the difference the childcare accompaniment support fund has made, as it was not available when his first child was born. He said, "I was able to fully focus on both work and family in a stable manner, free from financial anxiety."

In a survey conducted in July of this year among employees who received the support fund after the number of beneficiary households surpassed 100, 96% of respondents said the fund provided tangible help in achieving work-life balance. Notably, 86% responded that the fund had a positive influence on their consideration of having additional children. This indicates that the childcare accompaniment support fund could contribute not only to company support but also to addressing broader societal issues such as increasing the birth rate.

Hanwha’s distribution services and machinery division plans to continue various "employee accompaniment projects," including the childcare accompaniment support fund. A Hanwha Galleria representative stated, "Although it has been less than a year since the program was introduced, we are already seeing visible results in terms of employee satisfaction and improved work efficiency. We will continue to develop various support measures that reflect employees’ feedback, aiming to improve working conditions and help address social issues."

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