Attendees are taking commemorative photos at the opening ceremony of the second CU convenience store for the disabled on the 5th. Provided by BGF Retail
BGF Retail, which operates convenience store CU, announced on the 10th that it has opened its second convenience store for the disabled in Pyeongchang, following Jeju.
BGF Retail, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Korea Disabled Persons Development Institute signed a business agreement last March to create jobs suitable for people with severe disabilities and have been steadily promoting the convenience store project for the disabled. The first result was the opening of the first convenience store for the disabled in Jeju last August.
The second store being introduced this time is a store that renovated the existing concession building into a convenience store, focusing on ‘Barrier-Free’, which means breaking down barriers. As the convenience store’s main users are teenagers, it is expected to contribute to improving awareness of disabilities in future generations.
The store is equipped with convenient facilities so that wheelchair and baby car users can easily access the entrance. Help bells were placed at the entrance and inside the store. The spacing between display shelves was widened to ensure sufficient space for movement of wheelchairs, etc., and product display shelves were also adjusted to a lower height to increase purchasing convenience.
BGF Retail provided economic support to the store, including exemption from franchise fees and interior and exterior interior design. In addition, in order to spread the culture of hiring disabled workers, we developed and distributed an education manual for job training for the severely disabled in cooperation with the Korea Development Institute for the Disabled and the Korea Employment Agency for the Disabled.
Store space to provide jobs for people with severe disabilities is provided free of charge by the National Pyeongchang Youth Training Center and operated on consignment by Gomduri Advertising Pyeongchang-gun Protection Workshop for the Disabled. The store has three disabled employees and operates as an unmanned convenience store on weekends.
BGF Retail plans to open an additional third convenience store for the disabled in Busan next month in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Development for the Disabled.
BGF Retail signed an agreement with the Seoul Metropolitan Government in June and participated in the ‘Everyone’s 1st Floor’ project to improve accessibility to convenience facilities for those with limited mobility, installing ramps at the entrances of some CU stores in Seoul.
Choi Min-geon, head of the ESG team at BGF Retail, said, “We hope that the convenience store for the disabled that CU is introducing will become a barrier-free workplace that helps people with severe disabilities become independent and respect them as members of our society.” He added, “CU will continue to serve as a public platform for the local community.” “We will continue to carry out various social contribution activities.”
Reporter Lee Hwa-yeon hylee@segye.com
Source: www.segyebiz.com
