Christmas and Year-End 'Donation Relay' Ahead... "Let's Spend a Warm Winter Together"

"Sending Savings Collected Over 1 Year"... "Lending a Small Hand to Neighbors"
Volunteer Work Recognized as Donation from 2023... Year-End Tax Credit Benefits

[Asia Economy Culture Young Intern Reporter] As the year-end approaches, the activities of anonymous donation angels are becoming more prominent. Movements to share a warm year-end are appearing everywhere, such as individuals donating money to local governments or companies consistently sponsoring goods every year.

Along with the rush of private donations, the government plans to promote a system starting next year that provides tax credit benefits for donations during year-end tax settlements based on the amount of volunteer work done, in order to expand the culture of giving.

On the morning of the 22nd, a man called the Gyeongnam Community Chest of Korea and said, "I am sending the savings I have accumulated over the year," expressing his hope that it be used for hospital expenses for children and adolescents suffering from severe illnesses.

The man sent about 50 million won in coins and bills along with a handwritten letter. He has been making anonymous donations since the 2017 year-end campaign and is known to have donated funds whenever there were social issues such as the wildfires in Gyeongbuk and Gangwon, the Itaewon tragedy, the Ukraine war damage, and the arson case by An In-deuk in Jinju, Gyeongnam.

There are also companies that have directly made donations. Maeil Dairies donated goods worth about 18 million won, including Maeil Dairies products, to the Seonggajeong Adoption Center in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, in celebration of Christmas.

The in-house volunteer club "Sallim," consisting of about 40 employees including CEO Kim Sun-hee, has maintained a relationship with the Seonggajeong Adoption Center since 2008 and provides annual cash and goods support.

Hyundai Motor Company's Jeonju plant donated 10 million won to support children patients at Wonkwang University Hospital who are struggling with insufficient hospital fees. This fund will be used for hospital expenses for five children suffering from severe illnesses.

NHN donated all proceeds from the 'Little Action' market, one of its ESG (Environmental, Social Responsibility, and Corporate Governance Improvement) campaigns, to the Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association.

The Nexon Foundation donated 300 million won as an operating fund for special treatments within the Nexon Children's Rehabilitation Hospital.

Airport Railroad announced a bold plan to accumulate donations based on the number of passengers during the Christmas holiday period. The Airport Railroad, which connects Seoul Station and Incheon Airport, will collect 43 won per passenger using the direct and regular trains on the 24th and 25th, and the funds will be delivered through the Community Chest of Korea. Lee Jong-hoon, head of the Airport Railroad Future Business Division, said, "We are trying to contribute even a small amount of help to neighbors in need around us."

If volunteering is done at the national, local governments, schools, or hospitals, it will be recognized as a donation and provide tax credit benefits during year-end tax settlements. The government announced through the 2023 Economic Policy Direction that it will consider expanding the scope of tax support recognition for service donations such as volunteering.

This is a plan to expand the scope of volunteer work recognized as donations from the current special disaster areas under the Disaster and Safety Act to special donation organizations such as the state, local governments, schools, and hospitals.