20th Anniversary of Volkswagen Group's Entry into Korea, Launch of Non-Profit Social Contribution Foundation

Marking its 20th anniversary in the Korean market, Volkswagen Group Korea has launched the non-profit social contribution foundation, ‘Volkswagen Group WE: Foundation’.

On the 23rd, Volkswagen Group Korea announced that it recently established the non-profit foundation with approval from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Through this foundation, Volkswagen Group aims to fulfill two missions: sustainable growth and corporate social responsibility, with a goal to contribute to the advanced automotive sector.

Volkswagen Group will engage in more proactive and systematic social contribution activities focusing on education, environment, and local communities. The foundation’s funding is jointly supported by the group’s four brands (Volkswagen, Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley). Til Scheer, CEO (President) of Volkswagen Group Korea, emphasized, "With the launch of the foundation, Volkswagen Group Korea will further enhance trust in the company and its brands among Korean customers."

The Volkswagen Group WE: Foundation will continue various social contribution activities it has been conducting, developing initiatives under three themes to create social value.

First, ‘WE: Run’ encompasses the operation of educational programs aimed at nurturing automotive software talents who will lead the mobility industry. The software talent development program ‘SEA:ME’ is being promoted in collaboration with the government. This program operates based on a memorandum of understanding signed with domestic universities and the non-profit coding school ‘42 Wolfsburg’ located in Germany. Volkswagen Group Korea sent four Korean students to Germany in 2022, followed by ten students last year.

The foundation plans to select 10 COSS university students annually over the next two years until 2026 to support their education at 42 Wolfsburg. Efforts are also underway to introduce the master’s level curriculum ‘SEA:ME’ into the bachelor’s programs of Korean universities.

Secondly, ‘WE: Preserve’ is dedicated to providing environmental education content covering topics such as the importance of carbon neutrality. So far, over 5,400 elementary school students nationwide have participated in this program, and more than 57,000 trees have been donated.

Lastly, ‘WE: Share’ focuses on supporting marginalized groups in need of social attention and creating healthy local communities. Representative programs include the Secret Santa and winter kit sharing activities that have been carried out since 2018.