Love and Sharing Ride the Chimney... 'Hope 2026 Sharing Campaign' Begins December 1

Scene from the Hope 2025 Sharing Campaign Launch Ceremony in December 2024. Community Chest of Korea

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The Community Chest of Korea (Chairman Kim Byungjoon) announced on November 25 that it will conduct the nationwide year-end and New Year fundraising campaign, the "Hope 2026 Sharing Campaign," for 62 days from December 1 to January 31 of next year.

This year's fundraising goal for the campaign is 450 billion won. Under the slogan "Donations that Add Happiness, Changing Tomorrow through Giving," the campaign will be held simultaneously in all 17 metropolitan and provincial regions across the country.

This campaign is based on the core message, "A Sustainable Community Starts with Sharing." In particular, since July this year, the Community Chest of Korea has identified new distribution targets and areas to reflect emerging welfare needs caused by changes in the social environment. Accordingly, the "three major distribution agendas" will be applied for the first time in this campaign. The donations raised will be allocated across various fields according to the three agendas: ▶Stabilizing Livelihoods ▶Empowerment ▶Crisis Response.

The "Stabilizing Livelihoods" agenda aims to guarantee the basic living needs of vulnerable groups and those in welfare blind spots, and to proactively identify and support single-person households facing crisis or isolation within communities. Emergency support for living expenses, housing, and medical costs will also be strengthened for low-income individuals facing sudden crises.

The "Empowerment" agenda focuses on creating a foundation for self-reliance for all generations, from children to the elderly. This includes career exploration and learning support, provision of educational equipment, independent living skills training and transitional education for people with disabilities living in facilities, as well as initial support for housing and living expenses during the transition to independence. Infrastructure will also be built to promote participation in the labor market and economic self-reliance for vulnerable groups.

The "Crisis Response" agenda seeks to enhance the ability to address social issues and disasters. This includes prevention of youth addiction, such as substance abuse and online gambling, the promotion of a culture that values life, and strengthening customized care for specific groups such as children with borderline intelligence, undocumented migrant children, and elderly people with disabilities. In addition, systems will be upgraded to respond to disasters caused by climate change, such as heavy rain, heat waves, and cold spells, as well as to address energy poverty.

Hope 2026 Sharing Campaign Love Temperature Tower 'Love Rides the Chimney' Draft. Community Chest of Korea

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The Hope 2026 Sharing Campaign by the Community Chest of Korea will feature the debut of a newly designed "Love Temperature Tower." This symbolic structure represents the culture of year-end giving, with the temperature rising by one degree for every 4.5 billion won-1% of the fundraising goal-collected. The towers will be installed simultaneously at the Gwanghwamun Square and all 17 regional branches nationwide, serving as a symbol to encourage public participation in donations every year during the holiday season.

This year's tower design, titled "Love Rides the Chimney," was selected through a national design contest and created by a university student in their twenties. The new design visualizes the warmth of citizens' donations rising skyward through a chimney.

The redesigned tower will go beyond being a simple structure to become an interactive space where citizens can directly participate in donations. In particular, reflecting the play culture of Millennials & Gen Z, a "reward-based donation zone" will be newly operated at the base of the tower. All payment amounts will be used as donations, and multiple donation methods-including card, cash, and QR code-will be available to ensure anyone can easily participate in giving.

Hope 2026 Sharing Campaign Emblem. Community Chest of Korea

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The launch ceremony marking the start of the Hope 2026 Sharing Campaign will be held at 2 p.m. on December 1 at the southern side of Gwanghwamun Square.

Key guests including Minister of Health and Welfare Chung Eun-kyung, Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon, Community Chest of Korea ambassador Chae Sira, Baek Eunbyul-the youngest Honor Society member and major donor of Seoul's Community Chest of Korea-and Chairman Kim Byungjoon will attend to commemorate the campaign's beginning. The ceremony will feature the unveiling of the Love Temperature Tower, a donation presentation, and various performances aimed at achieving the 100-degree donation milestone.

During the campaign period, the Community Chest of Korea plans to expand citizen participation by strengthening digital outreach, such as operating a special website, launching online fundraising platforms, and creating story content on social networking services (SNS). Participation programs will also be run, including online fundraising linked to support for winter heating costs and warm clothing, as well as the distribution of KakaoTalk emoticons.

Joint campaigns with all 17 regional branches will also be promoted. The organization plans to expand programs that reflect local characteristics-such as regional fundraising, Good Store and Giving Leader relays, branch launch ceremonies, and donor events-to spread a nationwide culture of sharing.

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