▲ HK System / CEO Seungryul Lee

COVID 19 is putting the whole world into a mask chaos. Some countries seem to have stabilized the supply while others are still struggling. South Korea is one of the firsts that have settled its own five-day rotation. Yet the government put up a public challenge for mask distribution ideas on 31 March with 10 million won ($8,200) prize money. The ideas must serve those who are physically impossible to visit a drug store to buy a mask. While competition gets fierce, a South Korean company HK System wowed the people by releasing mask vending machine. 

HK System
South Korea already enjoyed the No.1 status in producing masks due to frequent fine dust visits. But the attack of COVID 19 yet taught the people about the importance of how we reserve and distribute. So the social enterprise HK System rolled up sleeve and introduced innovative mask vending machine. The company also reproduces used PC and engages in security business. The self-developed emergency bell in 2016, for example, has received as a groundbreaking system to protect women from sudden attack especially in a lonely place at night. 

The bell has been installed in 1,200 restrooms and crime-ridden districts nationwide and the police are on their way when the button is pushed. Statistics show that the bell has reduced crime against women significantly. Encouraged by this, HK System installed the bell in 49 tunnels in 23 districts in Seoul. The company targets 5,000 restrooms, 70 tunnels and 50 parking lots to install the bell by the end of this year. 

Mask vending machine
HK System released mask vending machine March this year. The company joined hands with Namyangju City to run a test installation and will expand supply and installation nationwide. “We made it due to find dust but COVID 19 made it more plausible. So we hope that the machine will make a great contribution to the way people busy facial masks whether in South Korea or in the world” says Seungryul Lee, CEO of HK System. At the top of the machine is a 32 inch screen for advertisement and the app shows the number of masks remained in real time. Payment is made ether IC chip card or Kakaopay but you need social security number and smart phone number to prevent double purchase.