Center on Philanthropy at The Beautiful Foundation conducts research on giving behaviors and perceptions in South Korea through Giving Korea, the country’s leading philanthropy index. The center alternates between conducting surveys on nonprofit organizations and individual donations every other year. Accordingly, at the upcoming Philanthropy Symposium, Giving Korea 2024, on October 25th, the results of the individual giving survey will be shared. This article organizes the data from the most recent three cycles of Giving Korea, specifically from 2018, 2020, and 2022, into a time-series graph, allowing a clear view of the trends in individual giving in Korea. By examining key indicators such as donation participation rates and average donation amounts,  it provides an easy understanding of the changes in Korea’s philanthropy landscape. The time-series data on individual donations in Korea, including the 2023 donation trends, will be released at the 24th Philanthropy Symposium, Giving Korea 2024, scheduled for October 25, 2024. The symposium will be held in Korean. Please register here.

Giving Korea 2018-2022

[2017-2021 Individual Giving Survey Data]

• According to Giving Korea 2018, 2020, and 2022, the percentage of individuals who participated in donations in the year prior to the survey was 53.3%, 46.5%, and 61.2%, respectively.
• In 2019, the overall donation participation rate decreases due to a decline in one-time donations. However, according to the graph below, the average donation amount increases compared to 2017.
• In 2021, there is a significant rise, which can be attributed to not only the impact of COVID-19 but also the fact that disasters had become more commonplace, leading to more active participation from the general public.

• The average donation amounts in 2017, 2019, and 2021 are 249,000 KRW, 264,000 KRW, and 324,000 KRW, respectively, showing a gradual upward trend. 
• In 2021, not only did the donation participation rate increases, but the average donation amount also rises.

• The rankings of Motives for Giving and Reasons for Not Giving survey results of three are the same.
• [Motives for Giving] First: Social responsibility,  Second: Compassion, Third: Personal Happiness, Fourth: Repay others, Fifth: Tax benefits
• [Reasons for Not Giving] First: No financial capacity,  Second: Distrust on organizations, Third: No interest in giving, Fourth: Don’t know how to give or any organizations
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  The 2021 results show that the gap between the top two Motives for Giving and the top two Reasons for Not Giving widened.

• Depending on whether individuals had prior donation experience, the volunteer participation rate differed by as much as twofold, with at least a 5% difference each year.
• Due to restrictions on in-person activities caused by the impact of COVID-19, volunteer participation rates were estimated to have decreased in 2021, regardless of donation experience.