The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI, President & CEO Marie Antonia von Schönburg) hosted the fourth edition of its “Guide Walkers” joint CSR event on June 13 at Sangam World Cup Park in Seoul, bringing together nearly 1,200 employees and family members from around 30 German companies and partner organizations in Korea.
The participants served as guide walkers accompanying individuals with visual impairments along the 5-kilometer course at the 12th Harmony Marathon with the Visually Impaired, co-organized by the Seoul Disabled Sports Association. Since its launch in 2023 with approximately 280 participants to commemorate the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Germany, Guide Walkers has grown into one of the largest and most visible joint CSR initiatives within the Korean-German business community. Now in its fourth year, the event has become a flagship example of the community’s shared commitment to diversity, inclusion, and social responsibility.
Delivering congratulatory remarks, Joern Beissert, German Deputy Ambassador to Korea “With nearly 1,200 participants from German-Korean community, this event is a resounding success, highlighting the importance German companies place on corporate social responsibility and the inclusion of visually impaired people. Delighted to attend my third Guide Walkers event, I am convinced that we will all enjoy celebrating our togetherness through walking and running today.”
Reflecting on the continued growth of the initiative, Marie Antonia von Schönburg, President & CEO of KGCCI, said: “What started with around 280 participants four years ago has grown into one of the largest joint CSR initiatives within the Korean-German business community. We are deeply grateful to everyone who helped make this possible. The growth of Guide Walkers shows that meaningful change is a shared responsibility - and that even small efforts can have a lasting impact.”
The event brought together senior executives and dignitaries from across the Korean-German business and diplomatic community, including: Joern Beissert, German Deputy Ambassador to Korea; Marie Antonia von Schönburg, President & CEO of KGCCI; Paul Hee-hwan Lee, CEO of Airbus Korea; Dongyun Kang, President & CEO of AUMOVIO Korea; JinA Lee, CEO of Bayer Korea; Ana-Maria Boie, President & CEO of Boehringer Ingelheim Korea; Yun-young Choi, CEO of Evonik Korea; Jooseuk Maing, CEO of FUCHS LUBRICANTS KOREA; May Young-Mi Kim, President of Henkel Korea; Wookyu Kim, Managing Director of Merck Korea; Marcello Lusuardi, President & CEO of Robert Bosch Korea; HaJoong Chung, President & CEO of Siemens Korea; Jung-Wook Seo, CEO of TÜV SÜD Korea; Geunmin Ryu, Managing Director of TRUMPF Korea; and Sascha Jovanovic, APAC Regional CFO of Webasto Group, alongside other KGCCI board members.
The event also drew a number of high-profile special guests, adding both star power and heartfelt meaning to the occasion. Sooyoung Choi, singer-actress and member of iconic K-pop group Girls’ Generation, attended in her role as goodwill ambassador for the Harmony Marathon, lending her public profile to the cause of inclusion and accessibility. Renowned singer and philanthropist Sean participated in the 10-kilometer course and completed it alongside visually impaired runners — before taking to the stage for a celebratory performance that brought the crowd together in a memorable finale. Korean-German comedian couple Hyesun Kim and Stefan also joined the event, embodying the cross-cultural spirit at the heart of the Guide Walkers initiative.
Alongside KGCCI and the German Embassy in Seoul, this joint CSR effort brings together around 30 German companies and institutions, such as ADeKo, Airbus, Armacell Korea, AUMOVIO Korea, BASF Korea, Bayer Korea, Boehringer Ingelheim Korea, Brita Korea, Dulwich College Seoul, Evonik Korea, FUCHS LUBRICANTS KOREA, Goethe-Institut Korea, German School Seoul International, Germany Trade & Invest, Henkel Korea, LBBW, Merck Korea, Purple Elephant, Robert Bosch Korea, RWE Renewables Korea, Siemens Korea, TRUMPF Korea, TÜV SÜD Korea, and Webasto Korea.
As part of its contribution, KGCCI donated KRW 10 million to support people with visual impairments. Boehringer Ingelheim Korea contributed KRW 5 million, while Evonik Korea donated socks worth KRW 1 million. Robert Bosch Korea provided 1,000 sports towels, and TÜV SÜD Korea distributed 1,000 cooling towels to participants. Henkel Korea donated 4,000 Home Mat mosquito repellents.
Several companies operated on-site booths offering interactive and meaningful programming for participants. Bayer Korea hosted a Berocca vitamin sampling event; Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Korea organized a dog health care campaign; and Merck Korea led an infertility awareness campaign featuring educational activities, message boards, and giveaways. Henkel Korea presented an art exhibition for the visually impaired and screened a barrier-free film — underscoring the event's broader commitment to accessibility and inclusion.
This year's event also introduced OurSymbol, an AI-powered facial recognition platform that enabled participants to quickly locate their photos among thousands of event images. Notably, OurSymbol also supports visually impaired marathon runner Jeong-ha Kim through the “Korea's First Visually Impaired Paralympic Marathoner Project,” backing his pursuit of qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games.
As part of its broader CSR and DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) efforts, KGCCI has been consistently advancing community-driven projects. In February 2026, KGCCI signed a trilateral MoU with the Seoul Blind Union and OAO as part of a joint CSR project supporting individuals with visual impairments. KGCCI also continues to support women’s empowerment through its Women in koRea (WIR) mentoring program and has published annual CSR reports highlighting the social engagement of German companies in Korea since 2014.
