Daejeon, South Korea – As the winter chill sets in, the Chungcheong region of South Korea is calling on local corporations to lead the charge in a charity drive aimed at helping those in need. The "Hope 2025 Sharing Campaign," organized by the Community Chest of Korea, is urging businesses to make significant contributions to reach its fundraising goal.

The campaign, which runs from November 1 to January 31, uses a "thermometer" analogy, with the goal of raising enough donations to "heat up" the thermometer from 0 to 100 degrees Celsius or higher. While the campaign is open year-round, the winter months are seen as a crucial period for fundraising.

Over the past five years, corporate donations have accounted for a significant portion of the total funds raised in the Chungcheong region. In fact, businesses contributed 66.1% of the total 190.27 billion won raised during the 2020-2024 campaigns.

This year, the campaign's target has been set at 402.7 billion won, slightly higher than the previous year's goal. However, with the rising cost of living and a prolonged economic downturn, some in the welfare sector have expressed concerns that this target may be difficult to achieve.

While all four provinces in the Chungcheong region surpassed their fundraising goals last year, there were notable differences in corporate contributions. Chungbuk province exceeded its target by a significant margin, thanks to generous donations from local businesses. In contrast, both Chungnam and Sejong provinces saw a slight decline in corporate giving.

To address this, the Community Chest is urging businesses to step up and demonstrate their commitment to social responsibility. "Despite the tough economic climate, corporations have a crucial role to play in building a more equitable society," said Ryu Jin-seok, a sociology professor at Chungnam National University. "We hope that more businesses will join us in this important cause."