SK hynix held the 2026 Happiness Sharing Fund Donation Ceremony at its Icheon campus on April 15, delivering KRW 2.37 billion in donations voluntarily raised by employees over the past year to the Community Chest of Korea.
Held under the slogan “365RUN with Sean,” this year’s event went beyond a simple donation handover. It was designed as a participatory program to share the warmth of giving—symbolized by the human body temperature of 36.5°C—with neighbors in need. Singer and social activist Sean delivered a special talk on the joy of helping others, followed by a 3.65-kilometer run in which participants took a meaningful step toward putting sharing into practice.
Cumulative Donations Reach KRW 37 Billion — A Warm Partnership Spanning 16 Years
The Happiness Sharing Fund is a social contribution fund created through a matching grant system, in which the company contributes an amount equal to employees’ voluntary donations. The fund is used to address social issues and support vulnerable members of local communities. At this year’s ceremony, KRW 2.37 billion—raised through the participation of 11,425 employees in 2025—was donated to the Community Chest of Korea, bringing cumulative donations since the fund’s launch in 2011 to approximately KRW 37 billion over the past 16 years.
Around 100 people attended the ceremony, including Hyungcheol Kim, vice chairman of the Community Chest of Korea; Kyunghee Kim, director general; Hyojin Kim, secretary general of the Gyeonggi Chapter; Dongui Jeong, secretary general of the Chungbuk Chapter; Sungjin Yeom, president and head of Communications at SK hynix; Hyeseung Han, vice president and head of Brand Strategy at SK hynix; Jemo Jeong, vice president and head of ER at SK hynix; Yongjun Hwang, chairman of the Icheon Labor Union; Sangnam Go, chairman of the Cheongju Labor Union; and Junghung Kim, head of the Technical and Office Workers’ Chapter.
At the ceremony, the results of the fund’s 2025 operations and plans for 2026 were presented, along with a video featuring messages of gratitude from program beneficiaries. A total of KRW 2.35 billion was invested in Happiness Sharing Fund programs in 2025, benefiting a combined total of 6,010 individuals.
By program, Heinstein provided AI-based creative convergence education to 2,383 young people in 2025. This year, the program is expected to nearly double in scale, reaching about 5,000 participants through initiatives including AI education courses, an Olympiad, an AI festival, and career concerts. Through Happy AI Study Lab, which creates dedicated learning spaces to foster AI talent, three new labs opened in 2025—one each in Icheon, Anseong, and Yeoju—with one additional center set to open this year.
Under Happy GPS, 1,900 smartwatch-type wandering detection devices were distributed in 2025 to help prevent seniors with dementia and people with developmental disabilities from going missing. The program will continue on a similar scale this year. Through Senior AI Memory Care, a new AI-based caregiving app service was launched in 2025 and provided to 130 individuals. This year, the program will be expanded to include AI-based psychological counseling booths at senior welfare centers, as well as AI content creation and exhibitions. Meanwhile, Happy Lunchbox delivered warm meals to children from 710 underprivileged households in 2025, with support planned at a similar scale this year.
Sungjin Yeom, president and head of Communications at SK hynix, said, “Through the 3.65-kilometer run, which symbolized the warmth of sharing from our employees as represented by 36.5°C, we hoped to reflect on the meaning of giving and spread that spirit even further. We will continue carrying out heartfelt social contribution activities so that the Happiness Sharing Fund, filled with our employees’ warm spirit, can reach those in need.”
Hyungcheol Kim, vice chairman of the Community Chest of Korea, said, “The valuable donations contributed by SK hynix employees are being used to deliver much-needed support to the most vulnerable members of our society. We will continue working together to spread the value of sharing even further.”
A Special Moment with the ‘Angel of Giving’ — “Sharing Starts with Small Acts”
Singer Sean delivers a special talk at the Happiness Sharing Fund Donation Ceremony.
Following the donation ceremony, singer Sean—widely admired for his longstanding commitment to donations and volunteer work—delivered a special talk titled “Now Is a Gift.” Sean has actively promoted charitable causes by linking running with giving, including the “815 RUN” campaign, which supports descendants of independence activists through the completion of an 81.5-kilometer marathon.
During the talk, Sean reflected on his journey as a singer, a father, and a social activist committed to giving, emphasizing the courage to begin with small acts in one’s own place. He said, “Fully embracing this very moment is the greatest gift,” and added, “The best time to share that gift with those in need is right now.”
The “Happiness Sharing Crew” runs along the on-campus running course.
Following the talk, the highlight of the day—365RUN with Sean—took place. Sean and the participating employees came together as the “Happiness Sharing Crew” and ran the approximately 3.65-kilometer course on the Icheon campus. Participants completed the course in high spirits, taking it as a first step toward practicing sharing. Sweating together and crossing the finish line turned sharing into a meaningful and memorable experience for everyone involved.
Seungwon Pang, Technical Leader of DRAM System Quality, who took part in the run, said, “Listening to Sean’s talk made me realize that sharing does not have to be something grand—even a small act of kindness can make a big difference for someone. Just as we ran together today with one heart and one purpose, I want to continue contributing to the Happiness Sharing Fund and actively participating in volunteer activities.”
Bogyeong Kim, Technical Leader of Computing Server AE, also said, “Running alongside my fellow employees today filled me with renewed pride in our company culture, which actively embraces social contribution. I want to continue being part of the company’s journey of sharing, so that SK hynix is remembered not simply as a semiconductor company, but as a good company that connects people with people.”
