Korean Air recently carried out a series of volunteer and environmental initiatives in Nepal and Mongolia, reinforcing its long-standing commitment to supporting global communities. These efforts follow the airline’s recent recognition as AirlineRatings.com’s World’s Best Airline for 2025, and came shortly after Korean Air partnered with Delta Air Lines for a joint beach cleanup in California this past April.
From May 19 to 24, a team of 22 Korean Air employees and their family members traveled to Chitwan, Nepal—about 150 kilometers southwest of Kathmandu—to assist a local children’s daycare center. Despite the area's status as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the region continues to face challenges with basic infrastructure including access to clean water, healthcare, and education.
They also hosted a community event, distributing school supplies, serving meals, and playing games with children. To help address common health issues in the hot, humid climate, the team donated nutritional supplements, fever reducers, ointments, and deworming medication.
In Mongolia, Korean Air launched a two-week reforestation initiative starting May 19 at its “Korean Air Forest” in Baganuur, Ulaanbaatar. The effort involved over 260 employees from both Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, reflecting the growing collaboration between the two carriers. Staff also participated in a symbolic flight exchange to promote cross-company understanding, with Korean Air employees flying Asiana and vice versa.
The event began with the planting of two pine trees to represent the shared future of the merged airlines. Volunteers then planted saplings and carried out maintenance on the forest, which was first established in 2004. Now spanning 44 hectares and home to more than 125,000 trees across 12 species, the Korean Air Forest helps improve local air quality and acts as a buffer against dust from nearby coal mines.
To mark Mongolia’s upcoming Children’s Day (June 1), the airline also installed a new playground within the forest. Employees completed final safety checks and painting work. Volunteers further extended their outreach by visiting Gun-galutai and Bolovsrol National Schools, where they led lessons in Korean, English, and aviation engineering—part of Korean Air’s long-term commitment to education, including the donation of computer classrooms since 2013.
These efforts in Asia followed a joint environmental initiative with Delta Air Lines in the United States. On April 24, the two airlines held a beach cleanup near the Santa Monica Pier, their second consecutive year of partnering to help protect Southern California’s coastline.
“For the past 21 years, Korean Air has remained dedicated to reforestation efforts in Mongolia to combat desertification,” said a Korean Air spokesperson. “Our work in Nepal, Mongolia, and beyond reflects our broader mission to make a positive impact wherever we operate.”
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