Top prize in welfare donor category

Volunteer group in operation since 2007

Kim Jeong-nam (second from left), head of the Chamsarang Volunteer Corps, poses for a photo with Meritz Securities officials and representatives from Mapo Eastern Home-Visit Senior Welfare Center. [Meritz Securities]
Kim Jeong-nam (second from left), head of the Chamsarang Volunteer Corps, poses for a photo with Meritz Securities officials and representatives from Mapo Eastern Home-Visit Senior Welfare Center. [Meritz Securities]

Meritz Securities announced Monday that it won the Seoul Metropolitan Government Welfare Award top prize at the 2026 Seoul Social Welfare Conference.

The company's Chamsarang Volunteer Corps was selected as the top recipient in the welfare donor category in recognition of its sustained community service. The group was praised for providing holiday meals and daily necessities to vulnerable residents — including low-income elderly people and single-mother households — and for its ongoing emotional care activities.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government Welfare Award is presented to individuals and organizations that have contributed to welfare improvement through fostering a culture of sharing and revitalizing local communities.

Meritz Securities has operated the Chamsarang Volunteer Corps since August 2007 to channel employees' voluntary participation into community development.

The corps carries out monthly themed volunteer activities — caring for infants of single mothers, running a secondhand goods shop, providing special holiday meals, and hosting birthday celebrations for elderly people living alone. On average, more than 30 employees and their family members take part each month. Last year, the group raised 820 million won ($609,000) in donations.

The corps has partnered with Mapo Eastern Home-Visit Senior Welfare Center, a senior welfare facility, on community outreach since 2010. Each Lunar New Year and chuseok, it runs a special holiday meal program for low-income homebound elderly residents. From 2012 through 2026, the program has been held 30 times in total, delivering meals and wellness checks to a cumulative 3,900 elderly recipients.

An official at Mapo Eastern Home-Visit Senior Welfare Center said Meritz Securities had supported the facility's ability to deliver stable services through long-term sponsorship and had worked to expand private welfare resources. "Because of its significant contributions to improving community welfare and supporting vulnerable groups, we recommended the company for commendation," the official said.


moon@heraldcorp.com