The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI, President & CEO Marie Antonia von Schönburg) will co-host “Guide Walkers” joint CSR event on June 13, 2026, at Sangam World Cup Park in Seoul, South Korea, engaging in a meaningful corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative.
Now in its fourth year, the initiative brings together approximately 1,000 employees and family members from about 30 member companies and partners who will serve as guide walkers for individuals with visual impairments at the 12th Harmony Marathon with Visually Impaired, organized by Seoul Disabled Sports Association. Since the initiative first launched in 2023 with around 280 participants to commemorate the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Germany, participation has continued to grow annually, with this year’s turnout expected to increase by approximately 40% compared to last year.
Marie Antonia von Schönburg, President & CEO of KGCCI, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “As we prepare to co-host this year's event, we are thrilled to welcome a record number of participants, a powerful indication of the growing bond between the Korean and German communities. This joint CSR project is about working together towards a more inclusive society. Each step we take side by side demonstrates that when companies lead with heart, they can ignite meaningful change.”
Distinguished guests participating in this year's event include 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; Woosuk Lee, Managing Director of BASF 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 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; and Sascha Jovanovic, APAC Regional CFO of Webasto Group, alongside other KGCCI board members.
Yeji Kim, Member of the National Assembly; Sooyoung Choi, singer-actress from Girls' Generation and goodwill ambassador for the Harmony Marathon; and Joo-ho Park, former Borussia Dortmund football player and Korean national football player will also participate.
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 Korea, Goethe-Institut Korea, German School Seoul International, German 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 will donate approximately 350 pairs of marathon socks worth KRW 6 million. Boehringer Ingelheim Korea will contribute KRW 5 million, while Evonik Korea will donate socks worth KRW 1 million. Robert Bosch Korea will provide 1,000 sports towels, and TÜV SÜD Korea will distribute 1,000 cooling towels to participants. Henkel Korea will donate 4,000 Home Mat mosquito repellents.
In addition, major participating companies including Bayer Korea, Boehringer Ingelheim Korea, Henkel Korea, Merck Korea, and Robert Bosch Korea will operate on-site booths, engaging participants through various interactive programs. Bayer Korea will host a “Berocca” vitamin sampling event, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Korea will organize a dog health care campaign, while Merck Korea will lead an infertility awareness campaign featuring educational activities, message boards, and small giveaways for participants. Henkel Korea will showcase an art exhibition for the visually impaired and host a screening of a barrier-free film.
This year’s event will also introduce “OurSymbol,” an AI-powered facial recognition photo search platform that allows participants to quickly locate their photos among thousands of event images. The platform has recently gained attention at major marathons and sporting events across Korea. In addition, OurSymbol supports visually impaired marathon runner Jeong-ha Kim through the “Korea’s First Visually Impaired Paralympic Marathoner Project,” helping him pursue 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.
KGCCI Joint CSR ‘Guide Walkers’ Poster (Image source=KGCCI)