Woori Financial Group has opened a second Goodwill Store workplace for people with developmental disabilities in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. It set up an additional store about a year after the Cheongju Sangdang branch opened in September last year, expanding support for jobs and independence for local people with developmental disabilities.

The Woori Financial Future Foundation said on Oct. 16 it held an opening ceremony on Oct. 15 for the Goodwill Store Milal Cheongju Heungdeok branch in Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju.

The newly opened Cheongju Heungdeok branch covers about 150 pyeong and is the 18th store nationwide supported by Woori Financial.

Woori Financial is supporting new store openings to broaden employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities living outside the Seoul metropolitan area. After opening new stores last year in Ulsan, Daegu, Ansan and Cheongju, it opened new stores this year in Hanam, Jeonju and Cheongju. It plans to open a store in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, in November.

It is also running job support efforts through goods donations. It has installed and is operating Goodwill donation boxes at branches including the Woori Bank Cheongju Financial Center. It will run the goods donation campaign "Woori-ga One Season 2" on the WooriWON Banking app throughout October.

Shin Geon-woo (신건우), a manager at the Woori Financial Future Foundation, said, "We will steadily expand Goodwill Stores across the country to support people with developmental disabilities so they can become independent in their local communities."