Long-running partnership with Good Neighbors reflects broader local engagement strategy
Merck Korea has expanded its community support efforts in Pyeongtaek by providing scholarships for children from economically disadvantaged families, continuing a local partnership that has been in place for nearly a decade.
The science and technology company said its Pyeongtaek site held a Hope Scholarship donation ceremony on July 8, delivering 7.05 million won ($5,100) to the Gyeonggi Southern Business Branch of Good Neighbors.
The fund was raised through a matching grant program in which Merck Korea contributed an amount equal to donations collected from employees at the Pyeongtaek site over the past year. The money will be used to support elementary and middle school students facing financial difficulties in the Pyeongtaek area.
The initiative highlights a model of corporate social responsibility built around direct employee participation rather than one-off corporate donations. Merck Korea’s Pyeongtaek site has worked with Good Neighbors since 2017 to support vulnerable children and families in the surrounding community.
Its activities have gradually expanded beyond scholarships. Last year, the site provided hygiene kits for girls, winter clothing for Koryo-saram and other children from migrant backgrounds, and organized year-end programs for local children.
The sustained partnership led to Merck Korea being recognized in 2025 as a member of The Neighbors Club, a special Good Neighbors group for organizations and individuals that have contributed to spreading a culture of giving.
“Merck Korea is practicing sustainable management not only at the Pyeongtaek site but also through various volunteer activities in the local communities where Merck operates, including the Anseong site’s ‘Onnuriae’ and the Ansan site’s ‘Happiness Sharing’ Volunteer Group,” said Dr. WooKyu Kim, managing director and representative director of Merck Korea.
“We will continue to strive to be a company that realizes the value of sharing,” he added.
JaeKyu Jeon, head of Good Neighbors’ Gyeonggi Southern Business Branch, expressed appreciation for the company’s long-term support.
“We extend our gratitude to Merck Korea for its unwavering and heartfelt support of children in the local community over the years,” Jeon said. “Good Neighbors will do its best to help vulnerable children grow up healthy and not give up their dreams, even in the face of economic hardship.”
Merck Korea’s local community programs form part of a wider employee-led volunteer network across its operations in the country. The company’s activities range from scholarships and donations of daily necessities to hands-on volunteer work such as facility repairs, kimchi making and briquette deliveries.
In 2020, the company also donated 25,000 euros to support digital and Korean-language education at the Ansan Multicultural Children Center.
Merck Korea employs more than 1,900 people across its Electronics, Healthcare and Life Science businesses. Its Electronics business, which includes the Pyeongtaek site, supports customers in Korea and overseas through eight production facilities and four research and development centers in the country.
By combining employee participation with long-term partnerships with local organizations, Merck Korea is seeking to strengthen the continuity of its community programs while extending support to children who may otherwise face barriers to education and development.
