Third center after Incheon Geomam, Busan Jungbusan

500 million won funds counseling rooms, case management equipment

From left: Lee Hun-gyu, chairman of the Children and Future Foundation; Park Kyung-hwa, head of the Korea Art Psychotherapy Counseling Association; Gwacheon Mayor Shin Gye-yong; and Lee Sang-guk, a member of the Mercedes-Benz Korea CSR Committee, pose for a photo at the opening ceremony of the Gwacheon Child Protection Center on Tuesday. [Provided by Mercedes-Benz Korea]
From left: Lee Hun-gyu, chairman of the Children and Future Foundation; Park Kyung-hwa, head of the Korea Art Psychotherapy Counseling Association; Gwacheon Mayor Shin Gye-yong; and Lee Sang-guk, a member of the Mercedes-Benz Korea CSR Committee, pose for a photo at the opening ceremony of the Gwacheon Child Protection Center on Tuesday. [Provided by Mercedes-Benz Korea]

The Mercedes-Benz Korea CSR Committee announced Wednesday that the Gwacheon Child Protection Center, which received funding raised through the 12th Benz Give & Race event, has begun operations.

The Gwacheon center is the third child protection facility the CSR Committee has helped establish, having previously supported the Incheon Geomam Child Protection Center and the Jungbusan Child Protection Center in Busan. Including the Dongducheon Child Protection Center currently under development, the committee will have supported a total of four facilities. Each center received a grant of 500 million won ($361,000).

The opening ceremony on Tuesday was attended by Gwacheon Mayor Shin Gye-yong; Lee Sang-guk, a CSR Committee member and vice president of Mercedes-Benz Korea; Lee Eun-jeong, a committee member and executive director at Mercedes-Benz Korea; Lee Hun-gyu, chairman of the Children and Future Foundation; and Park Kyung-hwa, head of the Korea Art Psychotherapy Counseling Association.

The 500 million won grant was used to set up offices, counseling rooms and program spaces within the facility, as well as to procure equipment needed for child abuse case management and counseling services.

The Gwacheon Child Protection Center is operated by the Korea Art Psychotherapy Counseling Association and provides counseling and case management for abused children and their families, psychological assessments and treatment referrals, and follow-up care to prevent re-abuse. The center also conducts counseling and education for those found to have committed child abuse, runs child abuse prevention education and awareness campaigns, and collaborates with related organizations in the local community.

Benz Give & Race is a citizen-participation running event that combines sport with charitable giving. Since its inaugural edition in 2017, the event has drawn a cumulative total of about 165,000 participants across 13 editions and raised approximately 8.6 billion won in donations. All proceeds go toward children and youth in South Korea, including funding for community infrastructure such as child protection centers and dedicated youth spaces.

Since its launch in 2014, the Mercedes-Benz Korea CSR Committee has carried out social contribution activities across a wide range of areas. As of the second quarter of 2026, its cumulative donations stand at approximately 51.5 billion won.

"We hope this support will make a meaningful difference in helping abused children and their families recover, and in building a foundation where children can grow up healthy in a safer environment," Lee Sang-guk said. "We will continue to pursue diverse social contribution activities that support the healthy development of children and youth and make a real contribution to local communities."


eyre@heraldcorp.com