[Digital Today reporter Lee Ho-jung] Daesang is expanding support by investing an equity stake in Olmo Namseoul, the first specialised workplace in Seoul, to help build a foundation for self-reliance among artists with disabilities and create jobs.

Daesang said on April 30 it will invest an equity stake in Olmo Namseoul, a culture and arts-focused standard workplace for people with disabilities. The investment is its fifth, following Bucheon, Hanam, Yongin and Incheon.

Daesang held an opening ceremony for Olmo Namseoul on April 29 in Gasan-dong, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul. The workplace, built in an 89-pyeong space in a knowledge industry centre in Gasan-dong, will have a total of 51 artists with developmental disabilities working there. It has shared and individual studios and spaces for art education, along with rest areas and offices.

Olmo Namseoul plans to run culture and arts businesses such as ongoing art education, travelling exhibitions, media art production and a painting subscription service. Daesang plans to cooperate to build a culture and arts ecosystem by expanding employment for artists with disabilities and supporting creative activities.

Olmo, which means zelkova tree in Spanish, is a workplace that hires artists with disabilities and supports education and creative activities. It is operated through companies' equity investments and cooperation.

Choi Chang-bin (최창빈), head of management and safety at Daesang, said, "Daesang has invested equity stakes in a total of 5 Olmo workplaces, including Olmo Namseoul, the first Olmo workplace in the Seoul area, to support job creation and culture and arts activities for artists with disabilities." He added, "We will continue to put the group's core value of respect into practice through projects that can provide practical support for the self-reliance and social participation of artists with disabilities."