Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong Leads Youth Support... Samsung to Help Over 10,000 Self-Reliant Youths

9th 'Samsung Hope Didimdol' Gyeongbuk Center Opens
Supporting Over 720 Youth Annually with Independent Living, Experience, and Education Programs

Inside the dormitory where independent living preparation youth reside within the 'Samsung Hope Stepping Stone' Gyeongbuk Center located in Gumi-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do.

[Asia Economy Reporter Sunmi Park]Jeong Minji (19 years old, pseudonym), who has lived in an orphanage since she was 2 years old, entered the 'Samsung Hope Didimdol Gwangju Center' last February after leaving the orphanage due to the end of protection. Although she was accepted to university, she was worried because she could not receive housing support after leaving the orphanage, but then she found the 'Samsung Hope Didimdol Gwangju Center' and was able to receive independent living support in a studio apartment equipped with a washing machine, refrigerator, and other essentials.

Samsung opened the 9th 'Samsung Hope Didimdol' Gyeongbuk Center to practically support youth preparing for independence. This aligns with Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong's 'Together' vision of "growing together with society," reflecting Samsung's commitment to actively promote youth support projects.

Samsung announced on the 21st that it opened the Samsung Hope Didimdol Gyeongbuk Center and is preparing to open the Jeonnam Center (Mokpo·Suncheon) in November. Currently, eight centers operate in Busan, Daegu, Gangwon, Gwangju, Gyeongnam, Chungnam, Jeonbuk, and Gyeonggi. With the opening of the Gyeongbuk Center and the upcoming Jeonnam Center in November, a total of 10 centers (13 locations) of Samsung Hope Didimdol will be operating nationwide.

Samsung Hope Didimdol is a youth education CSR program that provides housing and education to help youth preparing for independence prepare and experience independence in a stable environment. Including youth residing in each center until last year, the number of youth who have received support such as preparation for independence and independence experience has reached 10,515.

Youth who have lived in child care facilities, group homes, or foster care must start living independently when they turn 18 as protection ends. Approximately 2,400 such youth prepare for independence each year. These youth face difficult situations where they must simultaneously solve economic, housing, and career issues as they enter society alone, and Samsung has decided to actively support them.

The newly opened Gyeongbuk Center operates within an officetel building with high accessibility and various convenience facilities. It has 25 independent living rooms and 5 independence experience rooms. The independent living rooms allow youth preparing for independence to live alone in a single room for up to two years. The independence experience rooms enable youth aged 15 to 18, who will soon finish protection, to stay for a few days and experience independent living in advance.

Youth residing at the center can focus on preparing for the future by resolving the biggest expense of independence, housing. Center staff provide tailored independence education and support programs through one-on-one intensive counseling with youth to help them achieve practical independence.

Samsung’s active promotion of the Samsung Hope Didimdol project aligns with Vice Chairman Lee’s will to support youth starting anew. In December last year, at the public-private joint youth job creation project 'Youth Hope ON,' Vice Chairman Lee stated, "We support youth preparing for a new start. We will invest more and create good jobs. We will contribute to building a society where people can rise again even after failure."

Meanwhile, about 50 people attended the opening ceremony of the 'Samsung Hope Didimdol' Gyeongbuk Center held in Gumi City, Gyeongsangbuk-do, including Kang Seong-jo, Deputy Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do, Bae Yong-su, Deputy Mayor of Gumi City, Jo Heung-sik, Chairman of the Community Chest of Korea, Yoon Hye-mi, Director of the Child Rights Protection Agency, Kim Hong-gi, Chairman of the Gyeongsangbuk-do Child Welfare Association, and Park Hak-gyu, President of Samsung Electronics Management Support Office.

Park Hak-gyu, President of Samsung Electronics, said, "The Gyeongbuk Center will be a home where youth preparing for independence can overcome the uncertainty and fear of the future and nurture their dreams and hopes," adding, "All Samsung employees will support and help youth preparing for independence to grow into outstanding talents by using Hope Didimdol as a stepping stone."