Samsung SDS boosts CSR activities
Samsung SDS employees make heart shapes with their arms after a food donation event at a company cafeteria in Seoul in this file photo. / Courtesy of Samsung SDS
By Kim Yoo-chul
Samsung SDS is strengthening its corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities to provide a wider variety of support for local communities.
“SDS has been consistently impacting society by not just functioning as a business but by also expanding our highly organized CSR programs,” the company said in a statement to The Korea Times.
Samsung SDS, an affiliate of Samsung Group and a leader in information and communication technology service, supports local communities, multi-cultural households as well as the underprivileged, including children, through some 340 small teams of volunteers.
“Today, our business isn’t one-dimensional as we want to care more about people. SDS is a firm believer that a CSR program is crucial for business sustainability, and that’s why we encourage employees to participate in our CSR activities,” said company spokesman Jo Joo-hong.
A distinguishing feature of the company’s CSR program is that it requires all employees to spend 20 hours a year serving communities. The company has also been collaborating with government offices and local organizations to address many societal issues, according to Jo.
According to the company statement, since Samsung SDS’ key businesses focus on the information and communications technology industry, it’s trying hard to develop customized programs that incorporate its top business criteria.
In Korea, the world’s most wired society, Internet addiction is a growing problem affecting people of all ages but especially those between the ages of 10 and 20. To help prevent and curb Internet addiction, the company runs prevention programs at elementary schools.
“For some people, the Internet has become the place where they spend most of their time. Their Internet use has spiraled out of control and has negatively affected their personal lives. We are running counseling programs with 30 counselors to help treat people with Internet addiction. Since 2010, we have also been educating middle school students about smartphone usage etiquette in their daily lives,” said Jo.
In cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, Samsung SDS, led by CEO Jun Dong-soo, is financially supporting local competitions at juvenile reformatory schools across the country, a move that aims improve the youth’s of knowledge of technology industries.
Since 1996, the firm has also donated 1,300 personal computers to these schools.
Some 10,900 students in these schools have acquired certificates in computer-aided design, e-Tests and information searching through company-organized educational programs, according to the company statement.
Samsung SDS’s CSR initiatives also extend to college students in need. Jo said the company runs mentoring programs funded by employee donations. It is particularly proud of its matching grant program.
Some 85 percent of the company’s employees voluntarily donate from 5,000 won to 500,000 won to the company’s CSR program, according to the spokesman.
“The employees can choose to donate to the cause they prefer. They can donate for multi-cultural families, the underprivileged or charitable organizations,” he said.
“We encourage employees to volunteer and give back to create a fulfilling work environment,” added the spokesman.