"Donate and Receive Tax Deductions"... Yongsan-gu Promotes 'Hope Ondol Warm Winter Campaign' Project

QR Code Donations Possible via Smartphone

Yongsan-gu, Seoul (Mayor Park Hee-young) will carry out the ‘2025 Hope Ondol Warm Winter Campaign’ for three months from the 15th of this month to February 14th next year.

The ‘Hope Ondol Warm Winter Campaign’ is an annual fundraising campaign conducted every winter by Yongsan-gu and the Community Chest of Korea. It provides emergency welfare support and other assistance to low-income vulnerable groups in the region.

2025 Hope Ondol Warm Winter Fundraising Window On-site Photo. Provided by Yongsan-gu.

With the recent economic downturn deepening, it is expected that it will be even more difficult for vulnerable groups to get through the winter, making the need for warm-hearted support more urgent than ever. This year, Yongsan-gu’s fundraising target is 1.352 billion KRW, maintaining the same goal as last year considering the economic situation.

Individuals, organizations, and companies wishing to donate can contribute in cash or in-kind donations, and submit a donation form at each neighborhood community center or the Welfare Policy Division of Yongsan-gu Office. Cash donations are collected through the Community Chest of Korea’s dedicated Yongsan-gu account, and in-kind donations are only accepted as designated contributions. Donations are subject to prior confirmation to ensure the items are acceptable, and the donation value is calculated according to the conversion regulations.

In particular, QR codes are attached at the donation counters, allowing donors to easily participate via smartphones using credit cards, bank transfers, or simple payment methods without the need to fill out separate paperwork.

Donation submissions can be made by filling out and submitting a donation form to the Welfare Policy Division of Yongsan-gu or the Life Welfare Team at each neighborhood community center. After donating, donors can receive year-end tax deductions through the donation form. Individuals can check their donation details on the National Tax Service Hometax (Year-end Tax Settlement Simplification Service), and corporations and individual business owners will receive donation details by mail around February next year.

Mayor Park Hee-young said, "Thanks to many residents every year, neighbors in need have been able to spend a warm winter,” and added, “We ask for many warm hands again this year to help those in difficult situations.”

Despite last year’s economic downturn, the district raised 1.47364 billion KRW (1.15918 billion KRW in cash donations and 304.6 million KRW in in-kind donations). The donated funds were used for living expenses, medical expenses, and the Love Kimchi Making Project for low-income residents and elderly living alone.