Samsung Electronics brings Galaxy XR headsets to blood donation drives

Employee blood drive held ahead of World Blood Donor Day

Abbott, Red Cross join XR-assisted donation pilot

Gaze-based meditation content helps ease donor anxiety

An employee donates blood at a Galaxy XR-assisted blood drive held June 2 at Samsung Electronics' Digital City campus in Suwon. [Samsung Electronics]

Samsung Electronics has introduced its Galaxy XR headset to blood donation drives, letting employees who feel anxious about giving blood immerse themselves in meditation content while donating. The company said it is the first time an XR device has been used at a domestic blood donation site, and it plans to extend the Galaxy XR's reach beyond entertainment and work into social contribution.

Samsung Electronics announced Thursday that it is running an employee blood drive at worksites across the country — including Suwon and Gumi — to mark World Blood Donor Day on June 14.

On June 2, the company held a Galaxy XR-based blood drive at its Digital City campus in Suwon in partnership with global healthcare company Abbott and the Korean Red Cross.

The campaign had donors wear a Galaxy XR headset and interact with meditation-style content while seated in a donation chair. Participants could engage with the experience simply by looking at seeds that appeared before them — no separate controller required. Wherever a donor's gaze rested, a seed was selected, and flowers and trees grew inside a virtual garden.

The content runs roughly three to five minutes. Set against a tranquil backdrop reminiscent of a Zen garden, it guides donors through planting seeds and watching plants bloom. Music created in collaboration with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra accompanies the visuals, reducing tension and deepening immersion during the donation.

Samsung Electronics sees the initiative as an opportunity to introduce blood donation more naturally to younger generations — reframing it not as something people simply "have to do," but as an activity they can participate in while experiencing new technology. Abbott has also stated its goal of using mixed-reality donation experiences to raise awareness among first-time donors and young people, and to help ensure a stable blood supply.

"When the boundary between the real and the digital connects seamlessly, blood donation no longer has to be a nerve-wracking experience," said James Park, a vice president on Samsung Electronics' Global Mobile B2B team. "Through this campaign, we want to show that Galaxy XR can serve as a platform that spreads social value beyond entertainment and work."

On-site reactions were positive. Park Geun-woo, a professional in Samsung Electronics' Network Business Division who donated while wearing the headset, said he tries to donate at least once a year but had always found the wait tedious. "Wearing the Galaxy XR while donating made it fun to watch — I really enjoyed it," he said.

Park Geun-woo, a professional in Samsung Electronics' Network Business Division, participates in the blood donation campaign. [Samsung Electronics]

Kim Gang-su, a professional in Samsung Electronics' Visual Display Business Division who said it was his 20th blood donation, was equally impressed. "It was a fresh experience to try the Galaxy XR while donating, and I found the gaze-driven interactive content fascinating," he said.

The event is part of an XR-based blood donation experience program that Abbott and national Red Cross societies have been developing together. Related programs are already running in Mexico, Spain and the United Kingdom, and discussions are underway about expanding to more countries.

The South Korean campaign was conducted as a limited pilot in coordination with the Korean Red Cross. Safety considerations — including the potential for dizziness from wearing an XR device during donation — were reviewed in advance, and Korean Red Cross staff were present to oversee the experience.

Samsung Electronics said the collaboration demonstrated that the Galaxy XR can serve as a platform connecting technology, people and social value — going beyond its role as a next-generation device.

rim@heraldcorp.com