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JoongAng Group dreams of a beautiful world
JoongAng Group spreads hope throughout Korean society.
Since 1994—when it became the first media company in
Korea to launch a volunteer campaign—it has led a wide
range of public-interest initiatives, including the Volunteer
Grand Festival, flood-recovery efforts, international
emergency relief, the BBB movement, the Westart
movement, and the WeAJa Charity Flea Market.
In 2021, it established Connect JoongAng, a certified
subsidiary-type standard workplace for for persons with
disabilities, advancing inclusion and expanding
employment.
Since 1994—when it became the first media company in
Korea to launch a volunteer campaign—it has led a wide
range of public-interest initiatives, including the Volunteer
Grand Festival, flood-recovery efforts, international
emergency relief, the BBB movement, the Westart
movement, and the WeAJa Charity Flea Market.
In 2021, it established Connect JoongAng, a certified
subsidiary-type standard workplace for for persons with
disabilities, advancing inclusion and expanding
employment.
JoongAng Group also supports culture and the arts,
cultivates talent, broadens participation, and contributes
to cultural sharing. Through events such as the Baeksang
Awards, the Golden Disc Awards, the President's Cup
national high-school Baseball Tournament, and the JTBC
Seoul Marathon, the Group helps build a happier, more
caring society.
It also contributes to international cooperation—and to
peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula—through
prestigious global gatherings such as the JoongAng Ilbo–
CSIS Forum.
cultivates talent, broadens participation, and contributes
to cultural sharing. Through events such as the Baeksang
Awards, the Golden Disc Awards, the President's Cup
national high-school Baseball Tournament, and the JTBC
Seoul Marathon, the Group helps build a happier, more
caring society.
It also contributes to international cooperation—and to
peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula—through
prestigious global gatherings such as the JoongAng Ilbo–
CSIS Forum.
Hope
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Westart
- WeStart, initiated by JoongAng Ilbo, is lighting up the future of children in partnership with the JoongAng Group.
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WeStart is a child support organization born from the collaboration between media and academia. In March 2004, while JoongAng Ilbo was publishing a series of articles titled "Children Trapped in Poverty," experts in social welfare joined forces to find practical solutions to break the cycle of poverty.
"Ensuring that all children can nurture their dreams on a fair starting line."
WeStart provides professional and comprehensive support for children and adolescents from low-income and vulnerable backgrounds in South Korea. Our programs integrate education, welfare, healthcare, and psychological support to ensure children grow up healthy and happy.
To gift children a brighter tomorrow, WeStart continues to drive change today.
- Westart
- WeStart, initiated by JoongAng Ilbo, is lighting up the future of children in partnership with the JoongAng Group.
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Connect JoongAng
- Practicing sustainable management through disability employment
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Connect JoongAng is a certified subsidiary-type standard workplace for persons with disabilities established by JoongAng Group in 2020 to create stable jobs for people with disabilities and fulfill corporate social responsibility.
By expanding inclusive hiring, it delivers high-quality employee welfare services for the Group—covering areas such as housekeeping and car-wash operations.
Notably, the Car Wash site was recognized as a model case of disability employment and was featured in the 2025 national textbook for special middle and high schools, Career and Vocation.
In this way, Connect JoongAng has become a representative example of realizing ESG values through disability employment and a key unit implementing JoongAng Group’s sustainability management.
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Cheongbaek Public Service Award
- An award honoring local public officials who advance innovative administration with integrity and a spirit of service.
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The Cheongbaek Public Service Award is presented annually to Korean local government officials (Grade 5 and below) who demonstrate creativity that advances public administration and who serve residents with integrity and dedication.
The award is co-hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety(MOIS) and the JoongAng Ilbo, with support from JTBC and NH Bank. Established in 1977 by the JoongAng Ilbo, Tongyang Broadcasting Company(TBC), and the then–Ministry of Home Affairs(now MOIS), it is regarded as one of the most prestigious and longstanding honors for public officials. As of 2024, a total of 844 recipients have been recognized.
- Cheongbaek Public Service Award
- An award honoring local public officials who advance innovative administration with integrity and a spirit of service.
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Love
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Social Contribution
- Between you and the world, there is JoongAng Group.
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Since 1994—when it became the first Korean media company to launch a volunteer campaign—JoongAng Group has engaged in a wide range of public-interest initiatives, including the Volunteer Grand Festival, flood-recovery support, and international emergency relief.
Since 2020, it has carried out the “On(Warm) Campaign” to support vulnerable groups and local communities, and the “Green Messenger Campaign” for environmental protection—sustaining authentic CSR activities under the keywords of empathy and participation befitting a content group.
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WeAJa Charity Week
- Korea’s leading charity event
advancing the values of sustainability and sharing -
WeAJa Charity Week is a resource-sharing campaign that “cares for people and the planet,” hosted by the JoongAng Ilbo and JTBC and sponsored by GS Caltex.
Launched in 2005 to mark the JoongAng Ilbo’s 40th anniversary, WeAJa presents a wide range of online-and-offline programs themed around eco-friendliness and sharing.
By collecting and selling celebrity-donated items to promote circular use of resources, offering hands-on eco experiences that drive positive environmental change, and donating all proceeds, the event helps spread the value of giving.
- Korea’s leading charity event
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Employee Volunteer Team “Joongsim”
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Formed through the voluntary participation of employees from JoongAng Group’s major affiliates, Joongsim has led the Group’s social contribution efforts since July 2020.
By sharing firsthand recaps after each activity, the Team helps spread a culture of giving across the organization. With no fixed boundaries on its activities, Joongsim stands ready to represent JoongAng Group—going wherever help is needed, anytime.
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Formed through the voluntary participation of employees from JoongAng Group’s major affiliates, Joongsim has led the Group’s social contribution efforts since July 2020.
Dream
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Golden Disc Awards
- Korea’s most trusted pop music honor
- The Golden Disc Awards is the stage that recognizes and sums up the Korean popular music most loved by the public over the past year. Since its inaugural ceremony in 1986, it has been recognized for fairness, objectivity, and prestige—becoming the award artists most aspire to receive.
Winners are determined primarily by physical album sales and digital streaming/usage, supplemented by evaluations from industry experts, making it one of the most trusted and respected honors among artists and audiences alike.
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Baeksang Arts Awards
- Korea’s most prestigious comprehensive arts awards
- Established in 1965 to advance Korean popular culture and uplift artists, the Baeksang Arts Awards is the nation’s only comprehensive awards program honoring creators and performers across television, film, and theater for works broadcast, released, or staged during the year.
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JoongAng Music Concours
- A Gateway to the World for Young Musicians
- The JoongAng Music Concours is an annual spring competition for young musicians, spanning seven categories including violin, piano, cello, composition, and voice.
Established in 1975 to commemorate the JoongAng Ilbo’s 10th anniversary, the Concours has a proud history of providing a platform for young talents to grow and shine. It has produced world-class artists such as soprano Sumi Jo, conductor Daejin Kim, and bass Kwangchul Youn.
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JTBC Seoul Marathon
- An unmatched course through Seoul’s major landmarks
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#CrossSeoulAgain
The JTBC Seoul Marathon is Korea’s premier international marathon—and the country’s only true open marathon—featuring wheelchair divisions and guided runs with visually impaired athletes.
First held in 1999 as the JoongAng Seoul Marathon, it takes place every year on the first Sunday of November, drawing a record 37,000 participants in 2024.
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President's Cup national high-school
Baseball Tournament- A flagship tournament—growing with Korean baseball history.
- The President’s Cup National High-school Baseball Tournament began in 1967 with President Park Chung-hee’s ceremonial first pitch, with the goal of advancing amateur baseball.
It has produced countless MLB and KBO stars—including Kim Kyung-moon, Sun Dong-yul, Park Yong-taik, Choo Shin-Soo, Kim Byung-hyun, Han Ki-joo, and Lee Yong-chan—and has delivered some of the most memorable games in Korean baseball history.
- President's Cup national high-school
Baseball Tournament - A flagship tournament—growing with Korean baseball history.
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Seoul Bike Festival
- Korea’s largest cycling festival open to all
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Co-hosted by the JoongAng Ilbo and JTBC, the Seoul Bike Parade is a celebration that lets riders cruise through car-free streets in central Seoul and along Gangbyeonbuk-ro.
The event features a Parade Ride on a designated course and a Free Ride, where participants start anywhere they like and finish at World Cup Park for verification. In 2025, a record 10,000 riders took part, sharing the experience of traversing downtown Seoul and the Han River.
Peace
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The JoongAng-CSIS Forum
- Offering pathways to future peace on the Korean Peninsula
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Launched in 2011 and co-hosted by the JoongAng Ilbo and the Center for Strategic and International Studies(CSIS), the JoongAng Ilbo–CSIS Forum aims to propose policy alternatives through in-depth discussion of global issues.
Notably, the collaboration between leading Korean and U.S. institutions gives the forum special significance. By advancing practical solutions and exploring avenues for cooperation on the world stage, it has established itself as an international forum closely watched by diplomatic and security policymakers.
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Northeast Asia Trilateral Forum
- Advancing regional integration and problem-solving
among Korea, China, and Japan - The Northeast Asia Trilateral Forum is a private forum jointly launched by the JoongAng Ilbo, Xinhua News Agency, and Nihon Keizai Shinbun(Nikkei).
>Each year, thirty figures from the three countries convene in a rotating host nation across Korea, China, and Japan. Since its launch in 2006, the forum has steadfastly fulfilled its role as a Track 1.5 dialogue platform, despite fluctuations in trilateral relations.
- Northeast Asia Trilateral Forum
- Advancing regional integration and problem-solving
among Korea, China, and Japan
close layer - Advancing regional integration and problem-solving
