By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI, President & CEO Marie Antonia von Schönburg) hosted “Guide Walkers” joint CSR event on September 7, 2025, at Sangam World Cup Park in Seoul, South Korea.

This year’s event marked a milestone, with over 700 colleagues and partners from KGCCI and its member companies joining as “Guide Walkers” for individuals with visual impairments at the 11th Harmony Marathon with the Visually Impaired, co-organized by Seoul Disabled Sports Association and KGCCI. Launched in 2023 to commemorate 140th anniversary of Korea-Germany diplomatic relations, the Guide Walkers initiative has grown annually, reaching its largest turnout in 2025.

The event brought together prominent leaders and public figures, including Joern Beissert, Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy Seoul; Marie Antonia von Schönburg, President & CEO of KGCCI; HaJoong Chung, KGCCI Vice Chairperson and President & CEO of Siemens Korea; May Young-Mi Kim, President of Henkel Korea; Jisook Lee, Managing Director of Bayer CropScience; David Jones, Head of Offshore Development & Country Manager Korea of RWE Renewables Korea; Tai Yoen Choi, Representative Director of Armacell Korea and 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.

At the opening ceremony, Beissert praised the initiative: “It is truly inspiring to see the German-Korean community come together in such record numbers for the joint CSR initiative Guide Walkers. This event beautifully embodies our shared values of social responsibility and inclusion. By walking side-by-side, we are not just guiding but also learning from one another. Every step we take together is a powerful stride towards a more inclusive future.”

Alongside KGCCI and the German Embassy in Seoul, over 30 KGCCI member companies and institutions actively supported the event, including Armacell Korea, AUMOVIO Korea, BASF Company, Bayer Korea, Boehringer Ingelheim Korea, Brita Korea, Crown Worldwide Korea, EEW Korea, Goethe-Institut Korea, German Trade & Invest, LBBW, Merck Korea, Robert Bosch Korea, RWE Renewables Korea, Siemens Korea, TK Elevator Korea, TRUMPF Korea, TÜV NORD Korea, TÜV SÜD Korea and Yulchon LLC.

As part of its commitment, KGCCI donated 200 white canes for the visually impaired, and all participation fees will be allocated to improving transportation accessibility for this community. Henkel Korea and TÜV SÜD Korea donated their products for all participants, while Bayer Korea and Merck Korea operated their event booths product sampling and engagement.

Hyun-Nam Park, Korean Chairperson of KGCCI & Chief Country Officer of Deutsche Bank Group Korea, said: “With the record participation this year, KGCCI’s joint CSR initiative has firmly established itself as a leading platform where Korean and German companies have been putting the values of inclusion and solidarity into practice for three consecutive years. The KGCCI will continue to uphold its social responsibility and open the way for more people to walk this journey together.”

Hyung-seok Cho, President of the Seoul Blind Sports Association, added: “Thanks to KGCCI, its member companies, volunteers, and participants, this event was a great success. This program uniquely brings together people with and without disabilities, and I hope it continues to thrive for years to come.”

As part of its broader CSR and DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) efforts, KGCCI has been consistently advancing community-driven projects. In 2023, over 280 participated as guide walkers for the first time. The following year, participation grew to more than 450. In April 2025, KGCCI signed an official MoU with the Seoul Blind Union to deepen long-term collaboration. KGCCI also continues to support woman 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.