Saemaul Geumgo Provides KRW 200 Billion for Community Outreach in First Half of Year

81.6 Billion Won Invested in Cultural and Welfare Programs, Including Support for Vulnerable Groups
Approximately 31,000 Institutions Supported... 1.14 Million Beneficiaries

Saemaul Geumgo (Saemaul Credit Cooperative) announced on August 26, 2026, that it contributed a total of 195.3 billion won to community outreach initiatives in the first half of this year. Given that last year’s annual support for social contribution projects amounted to 257.8 billion won, the organization expects this year’s total to surpass that figure.

A closer look at the community outreach projects conducted in the first half of the year shows that 81.6 billion won supported cultural and welfare programs, including assistance for vulnerable groups. Additionally, 89.1 billion won went to local community development projects aimed at disaster and calamity response and revitalizing the regional economy, while 8.3 billion won was directed toward educational initiatives for members, such as scholarships and financial education. A further 16.3 billion won was disbursed as donations and policy funding contributions. In tandem with Saemaul Geumgo’s social contribution efforts, Saemaul Geumgo Federation separately committed 17.4 billion won to initiatives such as ‘Interest Support for Overcoming the Low Birthrate’ and the ‘Senior Financial Instructors’ program. Through these community outreach projects, Saemaul Geumgo was able to support approximately 31,000 institutions, with a cumulative number of beneficiaries reaching 1,141,000.

A Saemaul Geumgo representative explained, “Our extensive branch network, which continues to operate in areas that commercial banks have withdrawn from, is a unique asset for Saemaul Geumgo. We do more than provide financial services—we have become a center for community-focused assistance and the restoration of local communities.” Of Saemaul Geumgo’s 3,198 branches nationwide, about 70% are located outside the greater metropolitan area. The organization also operates some 460 branches in 89 designated regions with declining populations.

The representative added, “Saemaul Geumgo is committed to going beyond one-off contributions by continuously developing social contribution projects that foster the solidarity economy and reflect the unique characteristics of each region. As a financial cooperative that grows together with the local community, we will continue to expand various initiatives that directly benefit local residents.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.