"Wow, It's Samsung" Samsung Didimdol Youth Welfare Recognized by the President of the Child Welfare Association (Comprehensive)

Opening Ceremony of Samsung Hope Didimdol Daejeon Center on the 23rd
10 Years of Social Contribution Activities, Sympathy for Samsung's 'Sincerity'
Self-Reliant Youth "Successfully Completing the Program and Achieving Employment"

"I heard that Samsung decided to help children who were in a blind spot that no one cared about. I couldn't believe it when I heard it, but it was true. Support has continued for over 10 years since 2013. I plan to shout it out for my whole life: 'Wow, it's Samsung.'" - Yang Seung-yeon, President of Daejeon Metropolitan City Child Welfare Association

"Samsung's donations to the Community Chest of Korea alone amount to nearly 1 trillion won. On top of that, they are doing this separate project as well. The project is even more meaningful because it did not start from ideas of Samsung's chairman or executives, but from employees themselves raising money and thinking about the project content. I sincerely thank not only Samsung Group companies but also the employees." - Kim Byung-jun, Chairman of the Community Chest of Korea

At the opening ceremony of Samsung Hope Didimdol Daejeon Center 'The U (The:U)' on the 23rd, Park Seung-hee, head of Samsung Electronics CR, is delivering a commemorative speech.
[Photo by Moon Chae-seok]

On the 23rd, various dignitaries who participated in the opening ceremony of Samsung Hope Didimdol Daejeon Center 'The U (The:U)' expressed their gratitude not only for the support content and scale of Hope Didimdol but also for the sincerity Samsung has shown through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities. Attendees at the opening ceremony included Lee Jang-woo, Mayor of Daejeon Metropolitan City; Kim Mi-ae, Member of the National Assembly from the People Power Party; Lee Ju-young, elected Member of the National Assembly from the Reform New Party; Kim Byung-jun, Chairman of the Community Chest of Korea; Ko Geum-ran, Deputy Director of the Child Rights Protection Agency; Yang Seung-yeon, President of the Daejeon Child Welfare Association; Park Seung-hee, President in charge of CR at Samsung Electronics; and about 150 others. Park Yong-gap, elected Member of the National Assembly from the Democratic Party, gave a congratulatory video message.

In his congratulatory speech, President Park said, "What young adults preparing for independence need is a safe home, along with a mentor who listens to their concerns and a family-like presence to help find suitable career paths and jobs." He added, "This is exactly the role of our society and Hope Didimdol." He further requested, "Please continue to show great interest and support so that young people can overcome unfamiliar worlds and grow into the hope of our society."

Mayor Lee Jang-woo of Daejeon said in his commemorative speech, "Government budgets are limited, so I am very grateful that Samsung is carrying out such a great project." He added, "I hope that the precious values and intentions Samsung holds will be well maintained and operated so that many young people can become independent and grow into great assets for the nation, humanity, neighbors in need, and future generations."

President Yang Seung-yeon of the association said in her welcoming speech, "Last year, after 10 years of Samsung's Hope Didimdol project, the government finally established a legal system to provide official legal services to children." She continued, "Children preparing for protection are now called young adults preparing for independence, and it seems Samsung made this happen." She added, "The 5 billion won Samsung donated to the Daejeon Center is a huge amount that would take 100 years to save without spending any of my salary, and it is money gathered from the hearts of Samsung employees." She said, "Samsung's social contribution is gradually resolving Korea's welfare blind spots one by one."

The young adults preparing for independence who reside there said they can now pursue their dreams thanks to Samsung's support. Oh Min-seong (22), a young adult living at the Daejeon Center since this month, said, "I am learning various things like lease contracts, so I might seem like an adult." He added, "I also learned cooking, so I can make meals by myself." He continued, "What I am especially thankful for is that I am preparing for the future through Hope Didimdol 2.0," and said, "After completing Hope Didimdol 2.0, I want to succeed in getting a job and show a great image."

The Daejeon Center is equipped with 14 independent living rooms, 4 independent experience rooms, and educational operation spaces. Young adults preparing for independence can live in a single room in the independent living quarters for up to two years. Adolescents aged 15 to 18 who are about to finish protection can stay for a few days in the independent experience rooms to try independent living in advance. The Daejeon Metropolitan City Child Welfare Association operates the Daejeon Center.

Since the first Hope Didimdol Center opened (Busan Center) in 2016, a cumulative total of 27,065 youths have received support including residence, preparation for independence, and independent living experience until last year.