The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI) announced on February 9 that it has signed a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Seoul Association of the Visually Impaired (SAVI) and Korea-based OAO, a wellness and fitness service provider, to collaborate on social contribution initiatives that combine sports and technology. The MOU also calls for jointly organizing the next “Harmony Marathon with the Visually Impaired."

The signing ceremony was held on February 3 at KGCCI’s office in central Seoul. Key stakeholders in attendance included KGCCI CEO Marie Antonia von Schönburg, President Cho Hyeong-seok of the Seoul Association of the Visually Impaired, and OAO CEO Lee Sang-wook.

The core of this agreement is to introduce OAO's integrated sports event platform "OURSYMBOL" to the 12th Harmony Marathon with the Visually Impaired, which KGCCI will co-host with the Seoul Association of the Visually Impaired in June. The OAO platform utilizes facial and bib number recognition technology to provide an environment where participants can immediately view and share their photos taken during the event on-site.

The three organizations plan to collaborate closely throughout the overall operation. OURSYMBOL will allow digital registration for the event, results notification, and data analysis. Through this, they aim to significantly improve operational efficiency so that both visually impaired and non-disabled participants can easily participate.

Furthermore, this agreement is expected to serve as a valuable example of corporate social responsibility (CSR), as it combines sports and technology and provides an opportunity to effectively communicate the event's purpose: improving disability awareness and promoting an inclusive social culture in a digital environment. KGCCI, the Seoul Association of the Visually Impaired, and OAO plan to continue exploring sustainable social contribution cooperation models based on sports events.

KGCCI CEO Schönburg said, "This agreement is a meaningful collaboration that utilizes business and technology in a people-centered way," adding, "Through collaboration with OAO, we have created an environment where all participants can participate in the event more easily and conveniently." She continued, "On behalf of German companies in Korea, we will continue to expand CSR activities with our member companies and partners that add real value to society beyond doing business together."

SAVI President Cho said, "It is very meaningful to collaborate with a platform that supports the challenges of visually impaired athletes," adding, "I look forward to being together not only with athletes but with all visually impaired people at every moment of their challenges." He continued, "I deeply appreciate KGCCI's practice of social responsibility in promoting this cooperation so that visually impaired people can be more recognized in society and receive practical support."

CEO Lee said, "OAO is a company that aims to expand experiences and values created offline through technology. By drawing on our sports tech service OURSYMBOL, I hope this agreement will serve as an opportunity for more people, including the visually impaired, to participate in and connect with sports events," adding, "We will continue our cooperation so that technology can operate in a direction that broadens offline inclusivity and accessibility."

KGCCI consistently supports numerous corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives and promotes the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). In commemoration of the 140th anniversary of Korea-Germany diplomatic relations in 2023, about 280 employees from member companies participated as "Guide Walkers" for the visually impaired, and the event received great response last year with a record 700 participants. As part of a joint social contribution project for the visually impaired last April and May, they signed agreements with the Seoul Association of the Visually Impaired and Envisionus Co., Ltd., which operates "Dialogue in the Dark." Additionally, in 2024, they collaborated with the Sungjoo Foundation to operate "Women in koRea (WIR)," a women's mentoring program aimed at strengthening women's leadership. Since 2014, KGCCI has published an annual CSR report that features cases of German companies operating in Korea contributing to sustainable management and the spread of social values.