German chamber publishes 12th CSR report, spotlighting corporate giving by German firms in Korea

The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI) on Monday published its 12th Corporate Social Responsibility report, documenting the social contribution activities of German companies operating in South Korea.

The report features case studies from 12 companies that have contributed to Korean society through long-term CSR programs: Airbus Korea, Bayer Korea, Boehringer Ingelheim Korea, Fuchs Lubricants Korea, Henkel Korea, Mercedes-Benz Korea, Porsche Korea, Robert Bosch Korea, Schaeffler Korea, Siemens Korea, TÜV SÜD Korea and Volkswagen Group Korea.

The companies are active across a range of areas, including environmental protection, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education, healthcare support, diversity and inclusion, employee volunteering and community development. Their initiatives span from creating urban green spaces and promoting road safety to programs that support the mobility and social participation of people with disabilities. The focus is on long-term engagement with community issues tied to each company's core business capabilities, rather than one-off donations.

The KGCCI has been publishing its CSR report since 2014 to highlight the social contribution activities of German companies in Korea. About 540 German companies currently operate in the country, employing approximately 100,000 people. The full report is available on the KGCCI's official website.

"German companies' commitment to Korea extends beyond business and investment to the people and communities they are part of," said Marie Antonia von Schönburg, chief representative of the KGCCI. "Our member companies are creating meaningful and lasting change through activities that span education, healthcare, sustainability and inclusion."

The KGCCI also runs joint CSR programs with its member companies. A flagship initiative is Guide Walkers, a program launched in 2023 to mark the 140th anniversary of Korea-Germany diplomatic relations, which supports the social participation of people with visual impairments. This year's event, held in Seoul in June, drew nearly 1,200 participants — employees, family members and members of the public from about 30 German companies and organizations. Participants walked alongside people with visual impairments to raise awareness of disability rights and share the meaning of social inclusion.

This year's turnout was five times larger than the inaugural event, setting a new record, and fundraising also reached its highest level since the program's launch. The KGCCI continues its disability support work in partnership with the Seoul Association for the Visually Impaired and Envisions, the operator of the immersive exhibition "Dialogue in the Dark." It also co-runs a women's mentoring program called WIR (Women in koRea) with the Sungju Foundation to support women's career development and leadership.

The report's release carries added significance as it comes ahead of the 19th Asia-Pacific German Business Conference (APK 2026), to be held in Seoul from Oct. 29 to 31. About 800 government and business representatives from Germany and the Asia-Pacific region are expected to attend. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will deliver the keynote address, and participants will include Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan, German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Katherina Reiche, and Roland Busch, chairman of the German Asia-Pacific Business Association and chairman and CEO of Siemens Group. The conference opens with a welcome reception hosted by Deutsche Bank at the Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Oct. 29, with the main program running Oct. 30 and 31 at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas in Gangnam-gu.

The Seoul conference is drawing attention not only as a business networking event but also because it comes at a time of rapid shifts in global supply chains and manufacturing. Ongoing trade tensions and economic security competition among major powers, including the United States and China, have pushed companies to reduce dependence on any single country or market and diversify their technology, raw material and production bases — issues that have become central to corporate strategy. The APK 2026 agenda reflects this, focusing on AI, manufacturing, raw materials, supply chains, industrial policy and corporate resilience.

The KGCCI sees long-term cooperation grounded in social responsibility — not just economic exchange — as playing an important role in advancing the Korea-Germany relationship.

"As we look ahead to hosting the 19th Asia-Pacific German Business Conference in Seoul, this report shows that responsible business practices and shared values are strengthening the Korea-Germany partnership and laying the foundation for sustainable growth," von Schönburg said.