'Raising a second young worker'" - Lee Jae-yong's 'sincerity'... Half of CSR dedicated to 'youth businesses'.

Table of Contents

AI talent cultivation SAEPI, cumulative 10,000 people educated... Strengthening employment education for independent youth. Supporting the Skills Olympics for 18 years... Also nurturing the Physics and Mathematics Olympiad representatives.

(Seoul=UD News) Byung-joon Choi Reporter = "Samsung Group will focus all its contribution activities on youth education."

Chairman Lee Jae-yong of Samsung Electronics (005930) said this to President Lee Jae-myung on the 13th. Born in a family of migrant workers, he worked in factories during the day and studied books late at night as a poor young worker. He rose from adversity to be elected as the 21st president. This was a promise that Samsung Group would step up to help underprivileged youth fulfill their dreams, just like President Lee Jae-myung did.

Samsung Group is focusing its efforts on 'youth development.' Among the group's 19 CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) programs, 8 are related to youth, accounting for half. The representative project, 'Samsung Youth Software·AI Academy (SSAFY, Ssawi),' has nearly reached 10,000 graduates in just 7 years. It seems that Chairman's promise to work hard on youth education has already been put into action.

Samsung Hope Stone, Strengthening Youth Employment... Cumulative Beneficiaries 38,000

On the 27th, it was reported that Samsung Group plans to open the Samsung Hope Stepping Stone Incheon Center in the second half of this year. The Samsung Hope Stepping Stone project assists in the independence of children and young adults aging out of protective care, mainly through 'housing support' and 'employment education.' With the opening of the Incheon center, the number of housing facilities will increase to 16 centers (13 regions).

Samsung Hope Stone is one of the group CSR programs that started with the ideas of Samsung Electronics employees to mark the 20th anniversary of the declaration of 'New Samsung' management in 2013. It took its first step in 2016 when employee donation funds amounting to 25 billion won were established. Starting from 2023, Samsung Group has been focusing on helping young people enter society through 'employment education' (Hope Stone 2.0).

Samsung Hope Stepping Stone 2.0 operates through 10 educational programs: △Electronics & IT Manufacturing △Shipbuilding Manufacturing △IT Services △Confectionery & Baking △Semiconductor Precision Piping △Online Advertising & Promotion Practice △Heavy Equipment Operation △Pet Grooming △Nail Art △Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Technology. As of the end of last year, the cumulative number of self-reliance prepared youth who have benefited from Samsung Hope Stepping Stone reaches 37,840.

Samsung Group has determined that there is sufficient residential infrastructure for self-reliant youth, and has formulated a plan to focus on educational infrastructure and the cultivation of specialized personnel in the future. A group representative stated, "We plan to expand the existing education programs to provide a wider range of career choices," and added, "The residential centers will be gradually handed over to 13 local governments for operation." 'Key Technological Talents' Directly Managed by Lee Jae-yong: "Technological Talent Forms the Foundation of a Technological Powerhouse"

Samsung Group, in addition to the Hope Stepping Stones program, has been running various CSR activities focused on youth education for 6 to 18 years, including 'SAPPI', 'Dream Class', 'Blue Elephant', and 'Skills Olympics Technical Education'. Chairman Lee Jae-yong stated in 2022 that "since its founding, the most important value for Samsung has been talent and technology," highlighting his dedication to nurturing talent.

This meeting also falls in this context. Chairman Lee, who had experienced self-study during his youth, naturally formed a bond when he introduced Samsung Group's youth education programs to President Lee Jae-myung (then the Democratic Party's presidential candidate) at SAPPY in March. President Lee also expressed his gratitude, saying, "I am thankful for what you have done for the youth."

SAFFI (Samsung Artificial Intelligence Future Institute) is an AI talent development program that began in 2018 and is also the largest CSR project of the Samsung Group. As of the 12th batch which completed on the 24th, a total of 9,144 young people have been educated, with 7,727 individuals (85%) employed at over 2,000 domestic and international companies. Including early employment from the ongoing 13th batch, the cumulative number of employed individuals exceeds 8,000.

Chairman Lee has particularly focused on nurturing 'technical talent.' Samsung Group has been sponsoring the WorldSkills Competition for 18 years, and Chairman Lee has shown his affection by attending three times: in 2009 (Canada), 2022 (Goyang City), and 2024 (France). At last year's closing ceremony of the WorldSkills Competition held in Lyon, France, he personally presented medals to the winners, encouraging them by saying, "The sweat of young technical talents forms the foundation of a technologically advanced South Korea."

Samsung Electronics signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Korean Foundation for Science and Creativity, the Korean Mathematical Society, and the Korean Physical Society on the 26th. They plan to directly nurture the Korean delegation participating in the International Mathematical and Physics Olympiads. Samsung Electronics will support the entire process from selecting the delegation to education and participation in the competition. Additionally, they plan to provide scholarships to the winners.

The group representative said, "The development of young talent began with the late Founder Lee Byung-chul's principle of 'valuing people first' at Samsung, which remains a core management philosophy for us. We plan to continue our efforts in enhancing the capabilities of South Korea's science and technology talents and promoting the advancement of science and technology."

dongchoi89@news1.kr

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