Woori Financial to Invest 3 Billion Won by 2036 to Nurture Future National Team Athletes

Woori Financial Group is launching a large-scale, long-term development program to support young athletes who refuse to give up on sports despite financial hardships. The group has committed to providing a total of 3 billion won in support through 2036. Recently, at a major music festival held at Seoul Land in Gwacheon, Woori Financial Chairman Lim Jong-ryong officially announced the launch of “Woori Dream Bridge,” a new sports social contribution initiative, demonstrating a strong commitment to cultivating future national team representatives. This initiative goes beyond one-off sponsorship; it aims to systematically identify 60 promising athletes each year, serving as a practical pillar that allows them to focus solely on their training without environmental constraints. Unlike previous events, this festival combined a live performance with a theme park experience, earning enthusiastic public response. Famous singers and a broadcaster who serves as the face of Woori Bank joined forces to enhance the spirit of sharing. We hope our readers will offer warm encouragement and support to young athletes in their communities, helping them realize their dreams. We will provide detailed insights into the specific support plans and the heartwarming stories behind the scenes, exploring how our society can firmly support the dreams of the next generation.

=

Woori Financial to Invest 3 Billion Won by 2036 to Nurture Future National Team Athletes

1. The Background of the Woori Dream Bridge Initiative

Woori Dream Bridge is an ambitious medium-to-long-term social contribution project prepared by Woori Financial to rescue young athletes who are on the verge of quitting sports due to financial reasons. It is not uncommon to find heartbreaking stories of teenagers who possess the exceptional talent to shine for South Korea but are forced to abandon their dreams due to a lack of funds for private coaching or equipment. Statistics indicate that many promising athletes in middle and high school struggle with the cost of training, often contemplating quitting and shedding tears every night, highlighting a significant challenge for our society. Recognizing this reality, the company chose a method of consistently discovering and supporting hidden talents over a long period of 10 years, rather than organizing one-off events. The 60 students selected each year through rigorous reviews will have the opportunity to train diligently in a stable environment until they grow into national team representatives as adults. The core goal of this project is to help children who have talent but face financial difficulties be evaluated solely on their skills and rise to prominence on the world stage. A foundation has been laid for athletes from difficult backgrounds to train freely. The initiative stands out for its determination to become a bridge that connects children’s dreams, going beyond simple financial aid.

2. On-Site Report: 2026 Woori MomoCon at Gwacheon Seoul Land

Seoul Land, located in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, transformed into a massive festival of positive influence on the 19th, drawing cheers from countless visitors. Now in its fourth year, this music festival boldly broke away from traditional formats by combining exciting performances with a thrilling theme park experience, offering visitors unforgettable weekend memories. Visitors at the scene enjoyed the passionate stages of famous artists while also enthusiastically cheering for the South Korean team participating in the Asian Games. In the non-profit organization zones set up throughout the venue, many people participated in donations and experienced the value of sharing firsthand, deepening the meaning of the festival. Families who came out for a day trip participated in meaningful donation activities with their children, personally feeling the true value of the positive influence led by the company. The event has received high praise for evolving into a complex cultural space that looks back on marginalized members of society and the next generation, rather than just being a place for fun. The combination of a theme park and music performances created a festival that the whole family could enjoy. Visitors naturally learned the value of donation and sharing, spending a meaningful day.

3. A Meaningful Meeting Between Chairman Lim Jong-ryong and Stars

The stage for the official launch ceremony of the new sports social contribution initiative featured Chairman Lim Jong-ryong alongside popular celebrities, generating significant buzz. Jang Won-young, a popular broadcaster serving as a brand ambassador for Woori Bank, and singer Shaun, known as an “angel of donation” for his consistent good deeds, stood side by side on stage to receive applause. They volunteered to be reliable supporters to help young athletes not give up on their dreams, drawing enthusiastic cheers and support from the numerous visitors present. In his remarks, Chairman Lim Jong-ryong emphasized that this event has evolved to a new level by combining sports with sharing, expressing his unique feelings. The stars on stage also sincerely expressed their expectation of seeing promising athletes wear the national team badge and perform on the world stage in the future, delivering warm messages of encouragement. The scene perfectly demonstrated a virtuous cycle where the positive influence of celebrities drives public participation, which in turn creates social value. The presence of popular broadcasters and singers further illuminated the significance of the event. The company’s will to fulfill its social responsibility met the stars’ good deeds, creating great emotion.

4. A Massive Promise of 3 Billion Won Continuing Until 2036

The long-term support plan announced by Woori Financial is not merely a one-time promotional event but a large-scale project investing a total of 3 billion won over 10 years until 2036. The 60 young sports talents selected each year are guaranteed an environment where they can steadily hone their skills through continuous management and customized support, rather than one-off sponsorship. Becoming a national team representative requires substantial financial investment, including the cost of replacing equipment and training camps. For promising athletes who could not afford these costs due to difficult family circumstances, stable financial backing for 10 years is a precious opportunity, like rain in a drought. This long-term investment philosophy by the company demonstrates sincerity in quietly supporting the future of South Korea’s sports system without being preoccupied with short-term results. With a specific target year of 2036 set, the activities of the numerous young national team athletes expected to emerge in the future are already generating anticipation. This method of consistent support over a long period of 10 years is highly effective. A reliable pillar has been established for promising athletes who once shed tears due to financial difficulties.

5. The Importance of Discovering and Nurturing Sports Talents

For South Korea to establish itself as a sports powerhouse, absolute attention is needed for young athletes who sweat in non-popular or foundational sports. Unlike professional sports that receive the public spotlight, young talents preparing for the future in less visible areas always suffer from severe budget shortages and poor environments. Experiences and systematic training in childhood are the most critical period determining an athlete’s lifelong skills, so the level of support at this stage determines the nation’s sports competitiveness. The newly launched development program is designed to discover talents evenly, not only in popular sports like soccer and baseball but also in various foundational sports that desperately need support. Just like the stories of legendary athletes who rose to the top of the world despite difficult environments, small support today can become the miracle that creates tomorrow’s Olympic gold medalist. Our entire society must cultivate the soil where future national team representatives can train with pride to maintain the reputation of a true sports powerhouse. This will provide a fair opportunity for promising athletes in non-popular and foundational sports. Systematic support from a young age is the key to brightening the future of South Korean sports.

6. The Future of Positive Influence Created by Our Society

Active social contribution activities by companies are an important driving force that raises the temperature of our entire society and delivers hope to marginalized neighbors, going beyond simply enhancing corporate image. The way Woori Financial is investing in the next generation with a long-term perspective of 10 years, as seen in this project, serves as a good example for other companies. It is time for all of us to carefully look around us to ensure that no teenagers are forced to give up their dreams due to being in the blind spots of society, despite material abundance. We hope our readers will remember the meaning of the sweat shed by young athletes in their communities and send warm support until they stand on the world stage bearing the name of South Korea. We sincerely hope that such exemplary social contribution initiatives will be further activated, allowing numerous teenagers to create miracles by surpassing their own limits. We ask for everyone’s continuous interest and affection so that the protagonists who will lead South Korea can run confidently toward their dreams without being defeated by their environment. The long-term investment of companies and the warm interest of the public meet to create a beautiful society. Let us all support the future national team representatives so they can freely unfold their dreams.

Frequently Asked Questions