Firms to spend 75 bil. won for Chinese society

South Korean companies operating in China will spend a large amount of money this year as part of their corporate social responsibility programs for China, a Korean business lobby group official said Friday.

Twenty-three companies will provide a combined 403 million yuan (about 75 billion won) to fellowship programs, charities and community development projects in 2013, Chang Won-kie, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce in China, said during a forum in Beijing. The participating companies include Samsung, E-Land, Hyundai-Kia Automotive, LG Electronics and SK.

Those who participated in the forum included visiting South Korean President Park Geun-hye, 71 business delegates accompanying Park and officials from the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.

Park held her first summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday. She is scheduled to visit Xian, a base for China's western development, before returning home Sunday.

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com