British American Tobacco Korea is shoring up its social responsibility efforts through community services and funds for social enterprises and cultural foundations . The multinational group ’ s local unit said it has been striving to map out campaigns that contribute to Korean society , offering more than token gestures . “ Given that cigarettes may be a subject to public debate , the company is striving to boost social investment based on our responsibilities for society , ” BAT said in a statement . Big Love is a volunteer corps created in 2000 by the company ’ s employees . Members of 24 operations around the country are actively participating in delivering coal briquettes to seniors living alone , making kimchi and building houses for needy neighborhoods , BAT said . In 2009 , the tobacco maker launched a fund to back prospective social enterprises in collaboration with the Working Together Foundation , a non - profit organization . Under the scheme , BAT takes applications and picks innovative concepts to provide funds and share business know - how for a year until they become designated as a social company by the government . “ The project is the first of its kind among all programs designed to bolster social enterprises in Korea , ” a company official said . “ We ’ ve received good reviews that it embraces a distinct , innovative model . ” In North Gyeongsang Province , where its cigarette - making plant is located , BAT subsidizes the provincial Federation of Artistic and Cultural Organizations , a regional arts society . The initiative set out nine years ago aiming to “ balance growth of local economy and culture . ” On the education front , the firm hosts campaigns to prevent youth smoking and leadership seminars for college juniors and seniors . For such efforts , BAT has won a number of awards from the Ministry of Culture , Sports and Tourism as well as social welfare councils in North Gyeongsang Province and Jeju . “ Based on our CSR strategy , BAT Korea supports practical programs to contribute to society and implement differentiated ways of adding value to the community , ” said Kim Hyoung - min , executive director of the corporate and regulatory affairs division . By Shin Hyon - hee ( heeshin @ heraldm . com )