[Edaily Reporter JAEMIN SONG ] Samsung is launching an inclusive finance initiative totaling 200 billion won to support the financial independence of financially vulnerable groups and small business owners. Major affiliates, including SamsungElectronics, will contribute to the Samsung Microfinance Foundation to secure funds for low-interest, unsecured, and unguaranteed loans, with plans to provide financial support to approximately 40,000 people.

On the 16th, Samsung announced that it would contribute a total of 200 billion won to the Samsung Microfinance Foundation to expand inclusive finance. Of this amount, SamsungElectronics will contribute 150 billion won, while financial affiliates—including Samsung Life Insurance, SamsungFire&MarineInsurance, SAMSUNG CARD CO., LTD., and SamsungSecurities—will jointly contribute 50 billion won.

This contribution is a follow-up measure to SamsungElectronics’ plan, announced in late May, to “expand social contributions by 5 trillion won over five years.” At that time, following a labor-management agreement, SamsungElectronics announced its policy to expand social contributions, stating, “We will ensure that Samsung’s growth and achievements create a virtuous cycle that extends beyond our employees to society as a whole.”

Last month, SamsungElectronics also held the “With the People: SamsungElectronics Appreciation Festival,” an event that provided a 20% rebate on purchases in the form of Onnuri gift certificates (30% for “K-Heroes,” including military personnel, police officers, firefighters, and correctional officers). The rebate benefits, initially estimated at approximately 400 billion won, are expected to far exceed that amount thanks to the enthusiastic response from customers.

Using this donation, the Samsung Microfinance Foundation will provide business operating funds, startup capital, and emergency livelihood funds to financially vulnerable groups and small business owners. Loans will be offered on an unsecured and unguaranteed basis, with low interest rates of 4.5% per annum or less. Samsung expects approximately 40,000 people to benefit from this support.

A Samsung official stated, “We aim to firmly support the economic self-reliance and stable livelihoods of vulnerable groups by expanding financial support,” adding, “We will continue to put the values of inclusive finance into practice for the marginalized members of our society.”

Inclusive finance is a policy designed to improve financial accessibility for financially vulnerable groups and support their economic recovery by alleviating the burden of high interest rates and facilitating debt restructuring. As a system that strengthens financial consumer protection and the financial sector’s social responsibility, the government is also promoting key policy initiatives such as lowering interest rates on financial products for low-income households and promoting debt restructuring.