Korean Air Extends Humanitarian Wings with Powerful Community Support and Reforestation Missions in Nepal and Mongolia During May 2025

Korean Air reaffirmed its strong dedication to global social responsibility through a wide-reaching set of volunteer and environmental initiatives conducted in Nepal and Mongolia during May 2025. These meaningful efforts reflect the airline’s ongoing mission to drive positive change beyond aviation—uplifting communities and protecting natural ecosystems in regions where support is most need

Empowering a Community in Chitwan, Nepal

From May 19 to May 24, a group of twenty-two individuals from Korean Air—including committed staff members and their families—embarked on a volunteer mission to Chitwan, Nepal.

Nestled approximately one hundred fifty kilometers southwest of Kathmandu, this region is celebrated for its ecological richness and status as a UNESCO World Heritage site. However, it continues to grapple with severe gaps in infrastructure, particularly in essential sectors like electricity, sanitation, education, and healthcare.

The airline’s volunteer group focused its mission on uplifting a local children’s daycare center, which serves as a vital support structure for the community’s youngest members. The volunteers installed modern drainage systems to guarantee access to clean and safe drinking water—an intervention that can significantly improve the health outcomes of the children and their caregivers.

Beyond infrastructure, the team rolled up their sleeves to repair and restore the aging playground and other worn-out facilities. In a heartfelt gesture of solidarity, the group also hosted a community celebration, serving nutritious meals, engaging the children in fun games, and distributing essential school supplies. Recognizing the health challenges exacerbated by Chitwan’s hot and humid climate, Korean Air’s volunteers provided medical kits stocked with fever reducers, nutritional supplements, ointments, and deworming medications—helping local families access basic healthcare.

This initiative is one of many led by Korean Air’s 25 employee-run volunteer groups, which regularly assist at orphanages, senior care centers, and institutions for individuals with disabilities both in South Korea and abroad.

Reforesting Mongolia and Supporting Youth Through Education

At the same time, Korean Air continued to strengthen its long-running environmental and community-focused initiatives in Mongolia. On May 19, the airline kicked off a two-week reforestation drive at the “Korean Air Forest” in Baganuur, a district within the capital city of Ulaanbaatar. This year’s campaign saw the enthusiastic participation of more than two hundred sixty team members from both Korean Air and Asiana Airlines—underscoring the growing collaboration and unity between the two carriers as they move toward a complete merger.

The reforestation effort began with a symbolic ceremony, during which two pine trees were planted to signify the shared vision and sustainable future of the newly integrated airline alliance. Volunteers then took part in planting saplings and performing essential pruning tasks to promote healthy forest development. Since its launch in 2004, Korean Air has continuously led this initiative, turning the once-barren area into a thriving green space that now stretches across forty-four hectares and is home to over one hundred twenty-five thousand trees representing twelve different species.

Beyond its environmental goals, the Korean Air Forest plays a critical role in reducing dust pollution from nearby coal mines, acting as a natural shield that improves air quality and supports the health and well-being of the surrounding communities.

In conjunction with Mongolia’s Children’s Day, celebrated on June 1, the airline constructed a brand-new playground within the forest. Volunteers ensured the space met high safety standards, contributing final touches through painting and inspection before its grand opening to the local children.

Adding a strong educational dimension to their work, volunteers also visited the Gun-galutai and Bolovsrol National Schools. There, they led interactive sessions in Korean and English, as well as basic aviation engineering—introducing students to the fascinating world of flight. This outreach aligns with Korean Air’s long-term educational initiatives in Mongolia, which began in 2013 and include the donation of fully equipped computer classrooms to underserved schools.

A Model for Purpose-Driven Aviation

Korean Air’s dual commitment to humanitarian service and environmental stewardship underscores a larger vision—one where the role of an airline transcends transportation. Through these carefully planned and community-centered initiatives, the airline proves that it can serve as a meaningful agent of change across the globe.

By tackling real-world challenges—whether by providing clean water in Nepal, planting forests in Mongolia, or empowering youth with education—Korean Air continues to build bridges between cultures, communities, and a sustainable future.

As global expectations shift toward responsible corporate citizenship, Korean Air’s efforts in Nepal and Mongolia set a high standard for the aviation industry. The airline not only connects cities and continents but also enriches lives and landscapes, making its journey of impact as valuable as the destinations it serves.

Source: https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/korean-air-extends-humanitarian-wings-with-powerful-community-support-and-reforestation-missions-in-nepal-and-mongolia-during-may-2025/