Save the Children Korea

What Save the Children Korea does

Save the Children Korea (사회복지법인 세이브더칠드런코리아) is a Seoul-headquartered nonprofit social welfare corporation affiliated with the international Save the Children Federation, operating continuously in Korea since 1953 and incorporated as a domestic entity since 1986. The organization delivers child welfare programs spanning child protection, education, healthcare, emergency relief, livelihood support, and climate crisis response, serving 16,834,767 children and families in 2025 across domestic operations (413,070 children) and international programs spanning East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, East and West Africa, and Latin America (1,126,828 children). It operates through a distributed service network of 6 regional headquarters, 12+ child rights centers, 6 child protection specialized institutions, 4 foster care support centers, and 2 shelters.

The product portfolio comprises recurring monthly sponsorship (tiered at 20K–100K KRW), one-time and commemorative donations, corporate CSR partnerships, the WeSave small business sponsorship network (6,455 participating stores), and advocacy campaigns including Save the Playground (117 improved playgrounds, 146,423+ children), School Me (African girls' education), and Earthemble youth climate club. The technology stack is intentionally minimal: digital platforms support online donation processing, member account management, and campaign engagement, but the organization is explicitly a service-delivery nonprofit rather than a technology product company.

Revenue is generated entirely through donations, with 80% of funds directed to program delivery, 18% to fundraising and sponsorship management, and 2% to general administration. Total program expenditure in 2025 was approximately 97.87 billion KRW (~$73M USD), comprising 57.0 billion KRW domestic, 37.5 billion KRW international, and 3.35 billion KRW advocacy programs. Implied total revenue (gross donations received) approaches $90–100M USD annually. Donor segments span individual supporters (primary), corporate partners (Lotte, KB Securities, Hana Financial, Kolon, Hyundai Car Pick), small business owners via WeSave, and celebrity fan club communities.

Name

Save the Children Korea

Legal name

사회복지법인 세이브더칠드런코리아

Website

https://sc.or.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Save the Children Korea is a Seoul-headquartered social welfare nonprofit operating child welfare, education, healthcare, and emergency relief programs domestically and internationally, serving over 16.8 million children and families in 2025 through donations, corporate partnerships, and a 6,455-store WeSave business network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Welfare Humanitarian Aid

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Individual and Family Services (6241), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Child Rights & Protection (BPADAGAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG), Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption Services (BPAGAEAE)

Keywords

• Child welfare programs
• Humanitarian aid services
• Donation-based nonprofit
• Child protection services
• International relief programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Mapo

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Regular Monthly Sponsorship: Individual donors pledge recurring monthly donations (20,000-100,000 KRW) to support children in need domestically and internationally. This provides predictable recurring revenue for program operations.
2. One-time/Event-based Donations: Individual donors make one-time contributions for specific purposes such as emergency relief, specific campaigns, or commemorative donations (birthdays, weddings, anniversaries).
3. Corporate/Enterprise Partnerships: Business organizations sponsor children, fund specific programs (playgrounds, education facilities), or support campaigns through structured corporate social responsibility (CSR) partnerships.
4. WeSave Program: Small business owners (cafe, shop owners) participate by becoming child-saving stores, donating a portion of proceeds or making regular contributions to support children in crisis.
5. Fan Club Donations: Celebrity fan communities organize group donations to commemorate star birthdays, debut anniversaries, or special events, channeling fan enthusiasm into charitable giving.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Save the Children Korea is a Social Welfare Corporation that operates donation-funded child welfare programs in Korea and internationally. Its core offering consists of individual monthly sponsorship, one-time donations, corporate CSR partnerships, and WeSave small business participation, which fund child protection, education, healthcare, emergency relief, and child rights advocacy. Direct assistance programs include newborn survival support, school meal delivery, playground improvement, and youth climate advocacy.

Product overview

Save the Children Korea (세이브더칠드런코리아) is a child welfare nonprofit offering a portfolio of donation programs and advocacy campaigns. Core donation products include 정기후원 (monthly sponsorship) and 일시후원 (one-time donations), supplemented by branded programs such as 좋아서하는기념일 (anniversary donations), 위세이브 (WeSave small business sponsorship), and 진심상점 (Sincere Store gift shop). Advocacy campaigns include 놀이터를 지켜라 (playground improvement, 117 sites), 스쿨미 (girls' education in Africa), and 지구기후팬클럽 어셈블 (youth climate advocacy). Direct assistance programs cover 신생아살리기 (neonatal survival), 월간도시락 (school meal boxes), and 아동권리교육 (child rights education).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 위세이브 (WeSave): Small business sponsorship program where business owners sponsor children through regular donations
• 스쿨미 (School Me)
• 놀이터를 지켜라
• 좋아서하는기념일
• 진심상점
• 아동을 살리는 가게
• 아셈블 (Earthemble)

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% of donations reach children directly (with 18% to fundraising/administration and 2% to general administration)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Lotte Confectionery (롯데제과)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLotte Confectionery has partnered since 2013 to build 'Sweet Home' play and learning spaces for rural children and 'Sweet School' playground facilities in elementary schools since 2020. Uses Pepero Day proceeds to fund these facilities.
• KB Securities (KB증권)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerKB Securities has partnered since 2021 to develop 3 school playground spaces per year through the 'Rainbow Classroom' program. ESG-focused corporate social responsibility partnership supporting children's right to play.
• Hyundai Car Pick (주)현대케피코coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerModern Kepiko sponsored the 'Chinchin Madang' playground at Dangdong Elementary School, using eco-friendly materials for climate crisis response and children's right to play.
• Gyeongsangbuk-do & Gyeongju City (경상북도 & 경주시)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial and city government partnership since October 2018 to develop the 'Lucky Clover Playground' as part of Gyeongbuk-style children's playground development project under the 7th Provincial Administration's 'Children's Happiness' initiative.
• Lotte Wellfood (롯데웰푸드)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLotte Wellfood partnered to open 'Happy Home 14' and supports child welfare programs. Long-term partner since 2014 for 10 years, supporting child play rights through playground spaces.
• Kolonong (주)코오롱coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKolonong has supported improving one underprivileged urban playground per year since 2016, contributing not only funds but also design, program development, and construction supervision as in-kind donations.
• Hana Financial Group (하나금융그룹)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHana Financial Group provides premium Hanwoo beef to Young Care recipients as part of corporate welfare and child support partnership.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• World Vision Korea: Korean branch of another major international child-sponsorship NGO. Directly comparable to Save the Children Korea: operates child sponsorship, domestic and international child welfare programs, corporate CSR partnerships, and competes for the same Korean individual donor base.
• UNICEF Korea: Korean committee of the UN children's agency. Compares directly as an international child-rights NGO focused on child welfare, education, and emergency relief, similarly raising funds from Korean individual donors and corporate partners for both domestic and international programs.
• Good Neighbors (좋은이웃들): Major Korean-headquartered international NGO with overlapping child welfare, education, and community development programs. Comparable as a direct Korean competitor that also runs child sponsorship, domestic support programs, and international humanitarian operations.
• Compassion Korea: Korean arm of Compassion International, a Christian child-sponsorship NGO. Comparable in child sponsorship model, individual donor base, and corporate partnerships — competing directly for Korean donors supporting children's education and welfare internationally.
• ChildFund Korea: Korean branch of ChildFund International, focused on child sponsorship and child welfare. Directly comparable in operating model: child sponsorship programs, domestic and international child protection, corporate CSR partnerships, and similar donor demographic.
• Plan International Korea: Korean branch of Plan International, a child rights and equality NGO. Compares directly through its gender-focused child rights advocacy, sponsorship programs, international development work, and competition for Korean corporate CSR budgets.

Broad incumbents

• Korean Red Cross: Korea's largest humanitarian organization. Comparable as a broader humanitarian actor that also runs emergency relief, fundraising operations, and corporate partnerships — but is more general-purpose and diversified beyond child welfare specifically.
• Habitat for Humanity Korea: Korean branch of a major international NGO. Compares as a similarly large international NGO with Korean corporate partnerships, volunteer mobilization, and donor fundraising — though focused on housing rather than child welfare.

Emerging players

• Beautiful Foundation (아름다운재단): Major Korean philanthropic foundation. Comparable as a Korean fundraising/grantmaking organization that mobilizes individual donors and corporate CSR, but operates as a grantmaking intermediary rather than direct child-welfare service provider.

Others

• Korea NGO Council (한국NGO단체연합회): Umbrella coordination body for Korean NGOs. Comparable as an ecosystem participant that connects, advocates, and represents NGOs like Save the Children Korea in policy and cross-sector collaboration.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/stckorea
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/savethechildrenkr
• Facebookfacebook.com/savethechildrenkorea
• Instagraminstagram.com/savethechildrenkr

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles25 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 Save the Children Korea