Handok marked Rare Disease Day on February 28 by organizing a blood drive specifically for people with rare diseases and in need of continued blood transfusions.

The company has been organizing a blood drive twice a year at its headquarters and main plant since 2007, and began organizing one of these campaigns around Rare Disease Day in 2015 so as to mobilize support for people with rare diseases.

In 2019, all Handok employees across Korea participated in the drive, which began at the Eumseong Factory on February 27. The drive then took place at the headquarters at Handok Tower in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul, the following day. Employees elsewhere in Korea were encouraged to visit local blood donation stations in the first week of March to complete the campaign.

Inspired to further raise public awareness of rare diseases this year, Handok will also organize Sosim Challenge, which will end on March 4, intended to gather little thoughts and wishes to encourage persons suffering from rare disease in the midst of their self-isolation. People can participate in Sosim Challenge by uploading photos of themselves making “little hearts” with their fingers, along with cheerful messages for the patients, to social media. Handok will donate KRW 1,000 per participant along with all the blood certificates that have been collected from its blood drive to causes serving rare disease patients.