[Hwaseong = E-Daily Reporter JAEMIN SONG ] “Now, I look toward my child’s future with anticipation rather than vague fear.”
“2026 Day of Sharing” was held on the 12th at the SamsungElectronics DSR CORP Tower in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. Standing before Samsung employees, the mother of Han-sol (pseudonym) shared the changes her son had undergone and said the following. While caring for her son, who had been diagnosed with an intellectual disability, she faced not only a heavy financial burden but also deep fears about his future. However, thanks to the donations pooled together by Samsung employees, he has been able to receive consistent treatment and educational support, and positive changes have begun to take place. He has gradually gained the ability to do more things on his own, and communicating with others has become much easier.
Hansol’s mother said, “SamsungElectronics’ support has been a great source of strength for our family,” adding, “The mere fact that we could provide my son with the necessary treatment and a stable environment was a great comfort to me.” It was a moment when the small donations from employees became a new source of hope for one family.
It was Samsung’s “Sharing Kiosk” that extended a helping hand to Hansol’s family. When employees voluntarily tap their employee ID cards on the devices installed throughout the workplace, 1,000 won is donated each time. This small-scale donation initiative, which began at the Gumi plant in 2015, has now expanded to 156 kiosks both in Korea and abroad. At the event, it was announced that the cumulative donation amount had surpassed 14.46 billion won and that 5,137 children had received support.
At the event, SamsungElectronics shared the achievements of its employees’ social contribution activities and encouraged those who had participated in charitable efforts. Marking its fourth year, the event was attended by approximately 100 people, including Park Yong-in, President of SamsungElectronics’ System LSI Business Division; Kim Seon-min, a lawmaker from the Innovation Party for the Nation; Lee Jun-seok, a lawmaker from the Reform Party; and representatives from social contribution organizations.
“Sharing Week,” which began on the 2nd, saw the participation of approximately 108,000 employees from 23 Samsung affiliates. This represents an increase of about 23% compared to last year’s figure of approximately 88,000. Employees participated in a variety of volunteer activities, ranging from teaching at local children’s centers to cleaning animal shelters for stray dogs and preparing meals for elderly people living alone. Through a special fundraising drive this year, they also raised 300 million won in donations for 20 children.
This spirit of giving, which began in the daily lives of employees, is expanding beyond the company’s boundaries into the local community. During this year’s event, the first donation ceremony was held for “Sharing Store,” a social contribution program involving labor, management, and local shops. President Park, Choi Seung-ho, Chairman of the SamsungElectronics Branch of the Chogye Labor Union, and local shop owners took the stage together to present donations to Save the Children, Good Neighbors, and Green Umbrella for vulnerable children and adolescents.
The “Sharing Store” program works by having Samsung employees patronize designated restaurants or cafes near their workplaces, with those establishments donating a portion of their sales. This structure ensures that employees’ spending supports the revenue of local small business owners, and a portion of those proceeds is then returned to neighbors in need. Currently, 370 stores near 22 business sites across 17 affiliated companies—including SamsungElectronics, SamsungElectroMechanics, Samsung Display, and SAMSUNG SDI CO.,LTD.—are participating.
President Park stated, “I expect the ‘Sharing Store’ program, which fosters mutual growth with local communities, to become another successful CSR model that spreads a culture of mutual growth rooted in the local community,” adding, “Samsung will continue to exert a positive influence alongside local communities and carry out various CSR activities.”
The stories of employees who have consistently practiced giving also drew attention. Kim Ji-ho, an employee at the Next-Generation TD Lab at SamsungElectronics’ Semiconductor Research Institute, who was selected as the winner in the blood donation category at the “CSR Awards” that day, has reached a cumulative total of 100 blood donations. Kim said, “I participate in blood donation regularly because I believe it’s something I can do while I’m healthy,” adding, “I want to continue giving consistently while taking care of my health.” Samsung has been conducting blood donation campaigns for 30 years since 1996, with a cumulative total of over 450,000 employees participating, and has donated 20 blood donation buses as of this year.
Samsung also operates a matching gift program, where the company matches donations made by employees toward causes of their choice. Currently, approximately 156,000 employees have enrolled in this program. Lee Jun-seok, a lawmaker from the Reform Party who visited the event, encouraged the charitable activities in his congratulatory remarks, noting that support for future generations can inspire dreams and hope in those who receive it.
Samsung views CSR as a strategy for sustainable growth. A Samsung official stated, “CSR is not charity but a mutually beneficial activity aimed at growing together,” adding, “We operate it as an employee-led initiative, where employees directly plan and participate.”
