By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, led by President & CEO Martin Henkelmann, held “Guide Walkers” joint CSR event on August 31, 2024, at Olympic Park in Seoul, South Korea.

Over 450 participants from KGCCI and its member companies and partners served as guide walkers for individuals with visual impairments at the 10th Harmony Marathon with Visually Impaired, organized by Seoul Disabled Sports Association.

Launched last year in celebration of the 140th anniversary of Korean-German diplomatic relations, the “KGCCI Joint CSR Guide Walkers” initiative showcases the collaborative spirit among KGCCI, its members, and partners. Especially this year, the event saw an even larger turnout, reflecting the growing enthusiasm and commitment from the community.

Prominent figures participated in this event, including Georg Schmidt, the German Ambassador to Korea, Holger Gerrmann, German Chairperson of KGCCI and CEO of Porsche Korea, Martin Henkelmann, President and CEO of KGCCI,  HaJoong Chung, Vice Chairperson of KGCCI and President & CEO of Siemens Korea, May Young-Mi Kim, President of Henkel Korea, JinA Lee, CEO of Bayer Korea, Jung-Wook Seo, CEO of TÜV SÜD Korea, WooKyu Kim, Managing Director & Representative Director of Merck Korea, David Jones, Head of Offshore Development & Country Manager Korea of RWE Renewables Korea, Taiyoen Choi, General Manager of  Armacell Korea, Tomas Lekic, CEO of Festo Korea and other KGCCI board members. Other notable attendees include Yeji Kim Member of the National Assembly; Sooyoung Choi, singer and actress from Girls' Generation and goodwill ambassador for the Harmony Marathon; and Emily Dorn, a German broadcaster and model.

In the opening ceremony, Georg Schmidt, the German Ambassador to Seoul gave a congratulatory speech by stating, “Societies are measured by how they treat minorities and those in need for support. It is great to see that Germany and its business community became frequent and active partners of this event. By supporting visually impaired persons we send a strong sign for inclusion. Better together!”

In a remarkable show of support, about 30 German companies and partners including Armacell Korea, BASF Company, Bayer Korea, Beiersdorf Korea, BMW Group Korea, Brita Korea, Chantecaille Korea, Festo Korea, Goethe-Institut Korea, GTAI, Henkel Korea, Kim & Chang, La Prairie Korea, LBBW, Logwin Air & Ocean Korea, Merck Korea, Porsche Korea, RIKUTEC Asia, Robert Bosch Korea, RWE Renewables Korea, Siemens Korea, TRUMPF Korea, TÜV SÜD Korea, Volkswagen Group Korea, Weidmüller Korea, and Yulchon LLC participated in this initiative.

Notably, KGCCI donated 200 bookstands for visually impaired students and all participation fees were dedicated to the improvement of transportation for the visually impaired. Beiersdorf and Henkel Korea donated their products to all participants of the 10th Harmony Marathon. TÜV SÜD Korea also provided gifts for the participants with visual impairments. In addition, Bayer Korea organized an event booth, showcasing their products at the venue.

Holger Gerrmann, German Chairperson of KGCCI, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “The KGCCI joint CSR initiative highlights the deep bond between Korea and Germany, reflecting our collective commitment to inclusion and community support beyond businesses. This overwhelming participation is a powerful example of how we can make a positive change together.”