Korean Red Cross

What Korean Red Cross does

The Korean Red Cross (대한적십자사) is South Korea's national humanitarian society, established in 1905 and headquartered in Wonju, Gangwon-do, with additional Seoul offices and a Seoul Red Cross Hospital. Operating as a non-profit under Korean law, it holds a statutory mandate for national blood supply management and serves as Korea's principal disaster relief organization. Its core service portfolio spans blood collection and supply via the Blood Management Headquarters (bloodinfo.net) and mobile blood donation buses, disaster relief and psychological recovery, safety education (997 sessions reaching 23,431 students in Jeonbuk in 2025), Red Cross Youth (RCY) programs, volunteer coordination, separated-family reunion services between South and North Korea, and public healthcare delivered through a network of 5+ hospitals (Seoul, Incheon, Sangju, Geochang, Tongyeong, Youngju) plus the Gyeongin Regional Rehabilitation Hospital. The organization operates a nationwide infrastructure of 16 regional branches, specialized centers including the APDRC (Asia-Pacific Disaster Resilience Center) and IHL Research Institute, and is affiliated with the International Red Cross movement through the ICRC and IFRC.

KRC is funded through individual and corporate donations, periodic membership fees (적십자회비), corporate ESG partnerships via the 쌕쌕이가 바른기업 monthly donation program, and hospital service revenue — services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries at point of delivery. Its 2026 technology-led product launch, the Galaxy XR-powered blood donation experience developed with Samsung and Abbott using Android XR headsets with therapeutic acoustic environments from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, represents a notable modernization of donor engagement and was showcased internationally at AWE Long Beach and the ISBT Congress in Kuala Lumpur. The organization is governed by a central committee; Ihn Yo-han (John Linton) was elected as the 32nd Chairman in June 2022, with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung serving as honorary president. KRC is a member society of the global Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, participating in coordinated international disaster response and disbursing approximately 288.6억 원 (~$21M USD) in aid to Ukraine refugees and 5 Asia-Pacific countries.

Name

Korean Red Cross

Legal name

Korean Red Cross (대한적십자사)

Website

https://redcross.or.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1905

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Korean Red Cross is South Korea's national humanitarian society, delivering statutory blood supply management, disaster relief, safety education, volunteer coordination, and hospital services through 16 regional branches, a national mobile blood donation fleet, and 5+ hospitals, funded primarily by donations and membership fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI) (BPAGAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH), Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs (HLAJAKAE), Resettlement, Relocation & Repatriation Support (BPADAHAD)

Keywords

• Humanitarian services
• Blood donation services
• Disaster relief
• Safety education
• Volunteer programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Wonju

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Red Cross Membership Fees (적십자회비): Individual members pay periodic membership fees (적십자회비) that form a core funding stream. Members can join as general members or corporate members. Revenue supports domestic disaster relief, welfare for vulnerable populations, international aid, and healthcare programs.
2. Individual and Corporate Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals and corporations, including disaster-specific fundraising campaigns (e.g., Venezuela earthquake, Philippines earthquake, Middle East crisis 2026, Ukraine emergency). Corporate ESG partnerships via the '씀씀이가 바른기업' monthly donation program.
3. Blood Donation Services: Blood collection and supply services, supported by mobile donation buses visiting corporations and communities. Revenue supports operational costs of the Blood Management Headquarters (혈액관리본부).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Korean Red Cross is South Korea's national humanitarian society that delivers disaster relief, national blood supply management, public healthcare through affiliated hospitals, safety and first aid education, separated family reunion services between South and North Korea, and youth humanitarian programs (RCY). Services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries and funded through membership fees, individual/corporate donations, and government support. The organization operates 16 regional branches, 5 hospitals, a blood management headquarters, and specialized centers for disaster psychological recovery and international humanitarian law.

Product overview

Korean Red Cross operates as a unified humanitarian organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of services organized around disaster relief, blood services, safety education, youth programs (RCY), and community volunteering. The main services include blood donation management with mobile blood donation buses, disaster relief and emergency response, safety education and first aid training, Red Cross Youth programs for youth engagement, volunteer coordination, family separation services for separated families, and public healthcare through affiliated hospitals. The Galaxy XR-powered blood donation experience represents a technology-enabled innovation in their blood donation services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Blood Services (혈액사업)
• Disaster Relief (재난구호)
• Safety Education (안전교육)
• RCY (Red Cross Youth) Program
• Volunteer Services (사회봉사)
• Family Separation Services (이산가족사업)
• Healthcare Services (공공의료사업)
• Galaxy XR Blood Donation Experience

Quantifiable outcome

• 288.6억 원 in international aid provided to Ukraine refugees and 5 Asia-Pacific disaster-affected countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.

• Korea Zinc Onsan SmelterminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 June 2026Korea Zinc Onsan Smelter donated 100 million won to the Ulsan branch of the Korean Red Cross to fund community welfare projects including emergency support for crisis families, safety education for children and teenagers, senior citizen activities, and dementia prevention kits.
• Samsung ElectronicsflagshipTechnology or Integration · 2 June 2026Samsung partnered with Abbott and the Korean Red Cross to conduct Korea's first XR-powered blood donation campaign at Samsung Digital City in Suwon on June 2, 2026 (World Blood Donor Day). Donors wore Galaxy XR headsets powered by Android XR experiencing an immersive Zen garden meditation environment with music from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Samsung plans to showcase the technology at AWE in Long Beach and ISBT Congress in Kuala Lumpur.
• AbbottflagshipTechnology or Integration · 2 June 2026Abbott partnered with Samsung and the Korean Red Cross for the XR-powered blood donation campaign. Abbott brings an established blood donation program spanning nearly 30 countries since 2016, contributing healthcare expertise and global blood donation best practices to the initiative.
• GS GlobalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 February 2026GS Global held a blood donation campaign at its Seoul headquarters using a Korean Red Cross mobile blood donation bus to help stabilize blood supplies during winter shortages. CEO Kim Sung-won and employees participated.
• Kiwoom SecuritiesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 January 2026Kiwoom Securities conducted its third annual employee blood donation campaign 'Kiwoom and Fill 3', with the Korean Red Cross blood donation bus visiting the company's Mapo and Yeouido offices in Seoul. Part of Kiwoom's ESG management initiatives.
• NexonminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 December 2025Nexon donated all proceeds from its 'Blue Archive' subculture game 'Saving Lives Together!' campaign, conducted in collaboration with the Korean Red Cross. Special merchandise featuring 'Relief Knights' characters was sold, with thank-you events in April, June, and August attracting more than 31,000 participants.
• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Korean Red Cross is a member of the global Red Cross movement and works with ICRC on international humanitarian law, disaster relief coordination, and humanitarian standards. Joint exhibitions on Geneva Conventions history have been held.
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Korean Red Cross participates in IFRC-coordinated international disaster relief and development cooperation programs, including support for Nepal (water and sanitation) and Bangladesh (disaster risk reduction).
• Swiss Embassy in KoreaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Seoul Museum of History and the International Committee of the Red Cross opened a joint exhibition 'Even Wars Have Limits' in cooperation with the Swiss Embassy in Korea, marking the 60th anniversary of Korea's accession to the Geneva Conventions.
• Korean Red Cross Blood Management Headquarters (혈액관리본부)coreOthersIntegrated blood management division of the Korean Red Cross, maintaining the national blood supply information portal (bloodinfo.net), coordinating mobile blood donation, and managing blood collection and distribution nationwide.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Australian Red Cross: The Australian national Red Cross society with a similar service mix including blood services, international humanitarian programs, and emergency relief. Comparable on the integrated blood management + humanitarian services model.
• Canadian Red Cross: Canada's national Red Cross society, operating disaster management, international development, and health programs. Comparable on the multi-mandate national society structure with strong international programming.
• American Red Cross: The US national Red Cross society and the largest in the global movement. Comparable on the full humanitarian service portfolio (blood services, disaster relief, training, international programs) and on the statutory partnership model with government.
• Japanese Red Cross Society: The Japanese national Red Cross society, the closest geographic and operational peer to KRC. Operates an equivalent statutory mandate, blood services network, hospital system, and disaster relief infrastructure in a similar East Asian context, making it directly comparable on scale, regulatory position, and service mix.
• British Red Cross: The UK national Red Cross society, providing disaster response, refugee services, and independent health and social care. Comparable as a national society with a strong refugee/migration program—relevant to KRC's separated family work.
• German Red Cross (DRK): Germany's national Red Cross society, one of the largest in Europe with an integrated network of blood services, hospitals, elder care, and disaster response. Comparable in scale, hospital ownership, and comprehensive welfare mandate.

Others

• Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders): A globally leading medical humanitarian NGO. Not a direct peer, but adjacent—MSF competes for donor mindshare in international humanitarian medical relief and provides a useful benchmark for KRC's international health programs.

Regional players

• Singapore Red Cross: The Singapore national Red Cross society, a smaller-scale regional peer focused on blood programme, first aid training, and humanitarian aid. Comparable on the Asia-Pacific regional humanitarian context and similar service mix.
• Taiwan Red Cross: The Taiwan national Red Cross organization, comparable to KRC as an East Asian national society offering blood services, disaster relief, and international humanitarian programs in a culturally similar environment.

Broad incumbents

• IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies): The umbrella organization coordinating 191 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies. KRC is a direct member and partner of IFRC, which sets global humanitarian standards and channels multilateral funding—relevant for understanding KRC's international funding and program structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/KoreanRedCross
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/koreanredcross
• Facebookfacebook.com/Humanitarian.network
• Instagraminstagram.com/koreanredcross
• TikToktiktok.com/@rok_redcross
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/korean-red-cross

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Korean Red Cross