SME charity bazaar collects 150,000 products, with proceeds going to war veterans and underserved communities

Some 150,000 products donated by small and medium-sized enterprises will go on sale to the public, with proceeds channeled to war veterans and underserved communities.

The Korea Federation of SMEs (KBIZ) and the SME Love Sharing Foundation opened the "2026 SME Sharing Festa" at the KBIZ headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on Wednesday. The event runs through Thursday.

The SME Sharing Festa is a corporate social responsibility event in which products donated by small and medium-sized enterprises — including lifestyle goods, children's books, school supplies and accessories — are sold to the public, with proceeds used to support marginalized groups. This year's event features about 150,000 SME products.

The opening ceremony included a plaque presentation to major donors and a sponsorship-matching ceremony pairing companies with welfare facilities. The ceremony aimed to encourage broader donation participation from the SME sector and to build lasting support ties with welfare institutions.

A food kit assembly program for war veterans is also running at the venue, with KBIZ executives, staff and volunteers preparing the kits as part of the event's outreach to those who served the country.

Private companies have also joined the event. Naver Pay, one of the sponsors, is offering 5,000 bonus points to customers who spend 30,000 won ($20) or more using Naver Pay at the venue. Home&Shopping contributed donated products from its partner brands to help stock the sales floor.

A memorabilia auction is also on the program. Items up for bidding include personal belongings from Yellow Umbrella mutual aid fund models Tak Jae-hoon, So Yu-mi and Kim Na-hee, prized possessions from mountaineer Uhm Hong-gil, and signed CDs from well-known entertainers. Proceeds from the auction will also go toward the event's charitable fund.

The SME sector is pressing ahead with its social contribution activities even as slowing economic growth and weak domestic demand weigh on business conditions. KBIZ and the SME Love Sharing Foundation plan to expand a culture of giving within the SME community by linking product donations, welfare facility sponsorships and support for vulnerable groups.

"I want to again thank the SME representatives who donated to this festa," KBIZ Chairman Kim Ki-moon said. "We will do our best to share the good deeds of donating companies with the world and help a warm culture of giving spread ever more widely."