Kyobo Life Insurance, 'Again, Smile' Campaign... "Smile to Donate Small Libraries"

When You Smile for AI Camera Verification,
Small Library Donations for Underprivileged Children

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] Kyobo Life Insurance announced on the 4th that it will conduct the 'Again, Smile' campaign, which donates books to underprivileged children through smile donations measured by an artificial intelligence (AI) camera.

This campaign embodies the virtuous cycle of donation where participants' smile donations make the beneficiaries smile again. In particular, it helps children in orphanages, whose visits from volunteers have stopped due to COVID-19, to alleviate emotional isolation by reconnecting with the world through books.

By accessing Kyobo Life Insurance's customer service application Kare and capturing their smiling face with the Smile Camera, participants' smile index is measured using AI facial recognition technology. The analysis results are based on data from AI Hub of the National Information Society Agency. Immediately after verification, participants can check their donation participation order through the issued donation certificate, and it is also possible to share the certificate on various SNS platforms to encourage others to join the campaign.

When 10,000 smile donations are collected, the pledged donation will be used through the global NGO Good Neighbors to establish multiple 'small libraries' for children in orphanages. These small libraries will be filled with selected support books curated by Kyobo Bookstore, bookshelves and chairs, and a library nameplate containing the names of all participants in the Again, Smile campaign.

The campaign runs throughout March and participants can join daily. There is also an event where 100 people who participate in smile donations more than 10 times will be selected by lottery to receive a dining gift certificate worth about 30,000 won.

A Kyobo Life Insurance official said, "The goal of 10,000 smile donations contains the hope that the smile flowers will 'mankae (full bloom)' as a homonym," adding, "Although the start of the campaign may be modest, we hope it will lead to a positive influence that helps people regain their smiles amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic."