Wearing blue vests, volunteers install fire extinguisher boxes near Dongdaemun Station on Line 1 in Seoul, and improve living spaces in tenements near Seoul Station through painting and wallpapering. This is part of Hyundai Rotem’s ‘Reaching Out to the Marginalized via the Railway’ initiative, which involves employees assisting elderly people living alone by improving their living conditions and available safety measures.

The ‘Reaching Out to the Marginalized via the Railway’ initiative is a signature community outreach project by Hyundai Rotem, where they extend a helping hand to those in need near stations along Seoul’s Line 1 to Line 5, as well as at the Changwon KTX Station.

The ‘Reaching Out to the Marginalized via the Railway’ initiative targets marginalized neighborhoods around stations, and is particularly meaningful as Hyundai Rotem uses its own rail vehicles to visit these areas. The specific charitable activities are tailored to the needs and environment of each chosen area. For example, at an infant shelter near Hongdae Station on Line 2, Hyundai Rotem provided support for infants waiting for adoption from 2015 to 2021, including volunteering as caregivers and creating albums showcasing the children’s growth. At Gyeongbokgung Station on Line 3, Hyundai Rotem assisted in training disabled cultural interpreters, and since 2022, has been running educational programs to enhance ICT skills for individuals with developmental disabilities. On Line 5, Hyundai Rotem provided emergency medical expenses and psychological therapy for children who were victims of abuse, in addition to having employees participate in creating and distributing kits to help cheer up victims from 2018 to 2023.

Moreover, Hyundai Rotem supports freedom of movement for marginalized groups in order to enhance their mobility and quality of life. In collaboration with the South Korean Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, Hyundai Rotem has provided mobility scooters for seniors to disabled war veterans from the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The initiative has been ongoing since 2017 and has benefited 16 veterans a year over 8 years for a total of 128 veterans, enhancing their overall welfare by helping them more easily go about their daily lives and participate in social activities.

Through these CSR activities, Hyundai Rotem, a company leading the way in creating a safer and more connected world in industries such as railroads, plants, and defense, reaches out like the tracks of a railroad to provide a helping hand wherever it is needed. Hyundai Rotem will continue its charitable efforts, supporting a better life for marginalized groups such as elderly people living alone, infants waiting to be adopted, individuals with sensory disabilities, veterans, and child abuse victims.