Opening of Hope Didimdol Daejeon Center... Support for Independent Youth Living and Employment

Built with 5 Billion Won Donated by Samsung Employees
Equipped with Living Rooms, Experience Rooms, Shared Spaces, and Counseling Rooms

The opening ceremony of the Hope Didimdol Daejeon Center was attended by Mayor Lee Jang-woo, Vice Chairman Kim Jin-oh of the City Council, President Park Seung-hee of Samsung Electronics, and Chairman Kim Byung-jun of the Community Chest of Korea. / Daejeon City

On the 23rd, Daejeon City held an opening ceremony for the 'Hope Didimdol Daejeon Center,' a support facility for children under protection and young adults preparing for independence, at the Lifelong Education Promotion Institute auditorium.

The Daejeon Center, the 11th outcome of the nationwide Hope Didimdol project, was built with a 5 billion KRW donation from Samsung employees and executives and will use this fund for operational expenses over three years. From 2026, Daejeon City plans to take over its operation through a donation and lease agreement.

Located in Seonhwa-dong, Jung-gu, the center is equipped with 14 living rooms, 4 experience rooms, shared spaces, and counseling rooms, providing one living room per individual to young adults aged 18 and over preparing for independence. It offers personalized one-on-one support tailored to each individual's characteristics, including employment, financial management, and psychological education.

For facility children aged 15 and older whose protection has not yet ended, the center promotes independence preparation programs to strengthen self-reliance capabilities and operates an independence experience room to allow them to experience independence in advance.

Lee Jang-woo, Mayor of Daejeon, said, "I hope the Hope Didimdol Daejeon Center becomes a space of hope for young adults preparing for independence," adding, "Beyond housing and economic support, Daejeon City will also strive to create quality jobs so that young adults preparing for independence can truly become self-reliant."

Park Seung-hee, Head of CR at Samsung Electronics, emphasized, "What young adults preparing for independence need is not only a safe place to live but also a mentor in life who listens to their concerns and a family-like presence that helps find suitable career paths and jobs. This is exactly the role of our society and Hope Didimdol."

Kim Byung-joon, Chairman of Community Chest of Korea, stated, "We will do our best to help young adults learn from failures and successes at the Daejeon Center and settle as members of society."

Meanwhile, in Daejeon, about 700 children are raised in protection facilities, and every year around 50 children finish their protection period, leave the facilities, and prepare for independent living on their own.