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A Venezuelan national flag hangs amidst building debris on July 9 (local time) in Caraballeda, La Guaira state, Venezuela, following an earthquake that struck the area on the 24th of last month. / Reuters via Yonhap News

Naver has donated a total of $300,000 in relief funds to support recovery efforts in Venezuela, which was recently devastated by a powerful earthquake. With user donations pouring in through Happybean, the disaster relief initiative is expanding into a collaborative effort between the corporation and its users.

On July 10, Naver announced that it delivered $100,000 each to UNICEF, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) through its online donation platform Happybean.

The funds will be directed toward recovery assistance in the regions affected by the earthquake that struck Venezuela last June.

Naver has consistently stepped up for relief efforts during major domestic and international disasters, including earthquakes, torrential rains, wildfires, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, the company contributed 1 billion won each for areas hit by heavy rains and for wildfire recovery in the Gyeongsang and Ulsan regions. In 2023, it provided $1 million to aid recovery from the massive earthquake in Turkey and Syria.

User participation through Happybean is also gathering momentum. As of July 9, approximately 50,000 users have taken part, raising a total of 540 million won. Naver plans to make a matching contribution of 10 happybeans (1,000 won) for each participating user. The company has been active in fostering an online giving culture by promoting Happybean fundraising campaigns through its search gateway whenever urgent disasters occur.

                                                                                                          Lee Seo-yeon