"Giving is not something you do to be seen — it is about delivering help that someone truly needs. What matters is keeping up even small acts of giving, consistently."
Kim Geon-woo, CEO of Beomwoo Housing, is a young entrepreneur who places corporate social responsibility at the heart of his company's growth alongside the community. He has expanded his philanthropic work from scholarship support and youth protection programs to backing vulnerable groups, and more recently to social contributions aimed at children and future generations.
Kim's approach to giving follows a clear principle: before considering the scale or appearance of support, he first looks at what is actually needed on the ground. Rather than stopping at one-time donations, he focuses on understanding the difficulties facing the local community and finding ways to address them in a practical, targeted manner.
A prime example is his donation in July 2024 of a refrigerated truck worth 33 million won ($21,900) to Sarang-ui Deungbul Gangseo Food Bank, a local food bank serving Gangseo-gu. At the time, the organization was struggling to transport fresh food during the summer after its existing vehicle lost its refrigeration function.
During the peak of the summer heat, a refrigerated delivery vehicle was urgently needed to safely deliver food to vulnerable groups — including children who go without meals, elderly people living alone, and people with disabilities receiving home care. Kim learned of the situation through an acquaintance and decided to donate the vehicle.
The refrigerated truck became an indispensable asset for food delivery to vulnerable residents across Gangseo-gu, going beyond a simple goods donation to directly solve a problem on the ground — what Kim calls "tailored social contribution."
"I thought the first step was not just deciding what kind of help to give, but understanding what was most urgently needed in the field," Kim said. "When I heard that the refrigerated vehicle was safely delivering food and making even a small difference for neighbors in need, I felt a deep sense of fulfillment."
'Sharing management' learned from his father, practiced across the community
Kim's philosophy of giving was shaped largely by his father. Growing up watching his father run a business while looking out for the local community and neighbors, Kim came to believe that a company's role cannot be limited to generating profit.
"Through my father, I learned how precious it is to help neighbors and practice a style of management that gives back to the community," Kim said. "I believe it is a natural responsibility to return to society the attention and support a company receives as it grows."
Kim currently contributes to community causes through the Gangseo-gu Scholarship Foundation, a Rotary Club chapter, and organizations affiliated with the Ministry of Justice's juvenile crime prevention programs.
He pays particular attention to activities for youth and future generations — participating in scholarship programs so that no student has to give up their dreams because of financial hardship, and continuing protection and prevention work to help young people grow up in a healthy environment.
Kim said support for young people goes beyond simple financial assistance and amounts to an investment in the future of society.
"Children and young people should not have to abandon their dreams because of the circumstances they were born into," he said. "A small gesture of attention and encouragement from someone can be the turning point that changes a child's life. I want to keep finding ways, as a business leader, to help the next generation nurture their dreams and hopes."
Giving expands to children and future generations; minister's award received
Kim's social contribution activities have recently expanded into areas focused on children and future generations. Building on his existing scholarship work and youth protection programs, he has also turned his attention to supporting children in growing up in better environments and gaining a wider range of experiences.
In recognition of these efforts, Kim received the Minister of Employment and Labor Award at the 4th Korea Children's Awards ceremony on June 20.
The Korea Children's Awards were established to identify individuals and organizations that have contributed to the healthy growth and improved rights of children and young people — the next generation — and to the spread of social values. Kim was recognized for consistently practicing community giving as a young entrepreneur and for taking a leading role in social contribution activities for youth and children.
In 2024, he also received a commendation from the Seoul mayor for his contributions to addressing the country's low birth rate and aging society — a reflection of his view that social challenges are not separate from business but are problems that community members must work to solve together.
Kim said he sees the award less as a personal achievement and more as a call to expand his social contribution work further. "I am grateful to have received such a significant award, but at the same time I feel a greater sense of responsibility," he said. "There are still many neighbors around us who need attention and support. I will take this award as an opportunity to practice giving more consistently and to participate more actively in activities for future generations."
'Social responsibility will grow as the company grows'
The guiding principle behind Kim's vision for social contribution is continuity. Rather than concentrating support in one-off bursts at particular times of year, he believes what matters is building a sustained relationship with the community and providing practical help where it is genuinely needed.
He also hopes to see a culture take hold in which young entrepreneurs participate more actively in social contribution — arguing that if people give according to what they can do from wherever they stand, regardless of company size, positive change in the community will follow.
"Social contribution is not something a company starts after it has grown large enough — it is a value that must be built together with the community throughout the process of growth," Kim said. "I am still a young entrepreneur with much to learn, but I will not stop giving within the scope of what I can do."
"I want to broaden the scope of Beomwoo Housing's social responsibility in step with the company's growth," he added. "I will keep up community giving so that children and young people can grow up with hope, and so that neighbors in need can feel a warm source of strength."
7toy7@heraldcorp.com
