[International Day of Persons With Disabilities] How Samsung Is Advancing Accessibility for All

To mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, Samsung Electronics launched a series of initiatives to advance mobility rights and improve accessibility for all. Central to the effort is a volunteer program to develop a barrier-free map. Samsung Newsroom highlights how the company’s business divisions are working to broaden accessibility and inclusion across their operations.

Barrier-Free Mapmaking To Improve Local Mobility

From December 3 to 19, the Device eXperience (DX) Division will run its Barrier-Free Mapmaking volunteer program.

First launched in 2024 by the Device Solutions (DS) Division and expanded to the DX Division this year, the initiative sends employees into local communities to identify mobility challenges for people with disabilities, older adults and families using strollers. Accessibility features — including ramps, tactile paving and elevator access — will be added to mapping data, helping improve mobility in local communities.

Employees showed strong interest, with many signing up as soon as registration opened. “My grandmother uses a wheelchair, and our family has often struggled when going out to eat. I hope this initiative helps make everyday mobility a little easier for others in similar situations,” said Seongmi Lee from the Mobile eXperience (MX) Division. Yujin Kwak from the Korea Sales & Marketing Team added, “This project goes beyond mapmaking. It’s a valuable opportunity to improve the daily lives of people with limited mobility and help create an environment where everyone can move freely and equally.”

Advancing Accessibility Awareness Companywide

The DX Division carried out an accessibility awareness campaign and will distribute a new global accessibility guide to help employees integrate inclusive practices into their daily work. The resource outlines standards and procedures across HR functions — including recruitment, personnel management and workplace culture — and will serve as a key tool in fostering an accessibility-first organization.

Since 2023, the DX Division has also hosted a two-week Accessibility Festival Week (AFW) every May to mark Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD).

In 2025, AFW expanded beyond Korea to include Europe — bringing together employees from development, design, marketing and sales. Participants shared firsthand user experiences and emphasized the importance of embedding inclusive design into technology from the earliest planning and UX stages. Samsung also distributed an AFW toolkit across the company to help teams worldwide plan and execute accessibility-focused initiatives for future GAAD events.

Building Disability Awareness Through Cultural Experiences

The Inclusion and Diversity Office within the DX Division has introduced a cultural experience-based disability awareness program supported by the Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disabilities. Moving beyond traditional lecture-style training, the initiative blends cultural activities with instruction to help employees deepen their empathy and understanding through musicals, classical concerts and theater productions featuring artists with disabilities. To date, 8,660 employees have participated, and the division continues to broaden involvement to strengthen the program’s impact.

“It inspired me to reflect on whether I had held any unconscious biases about people with disabilities,” said one employee who participated in the program. “It was the most moving training I’ve experienced since joining the company.” Other participants shared that experiencing live performances firsthand — rather than completing standard online training — offered an opportunity to reshape their perceptions of people with disabilities.

Steps Toward Better Mobility

The DS Division supports mobility and welfare programs for people with disabilities through its Love Walk campaign, turning employees’ steps into charitable donations.

Established in 1998 as Love Run, the initiative later shifted to Love Walk and has steadily expanded its impact.

From 2017 to 2021, donations supported mobility assistive devices for people with disabilities. Since 2022, the campaign has funded eco-conscious vehicles for community welfare centers to help improve mobility access.

Creating Meaningful Careers for People With Developmental Disabilities

Samsung operates Stellar Forest, a subsidiary standard workplace that supports people with developmental disabilities in developing their potential and building a sustainable foundation for independent living.

Following its launch in 2023, Stellar Forest has continued to identify job roles and industries suited to this community while expanding employment opportunities. In September 2025, it was certified as one of Korea’s top employers for job creation.

Currently, 420 employees work across two areas — the Bakery Division, which produces cookies, financiers and other baked goods, and the Pop-up & Package Division, which creates pop-up cards and books.

Employees in the DS Division run Stellar Forest Supporters, a volunteer group that supports cultural, sports and leisure activities for Stellar Forest employees. Each month, the group hosts badminton, yoga, choir, arts and crafts, gardening and cooking sessions — helping expand leisure and cultural opportunities for employees with developmental disabilities.

“Supporting the growth and independence of colleagues with developmental disabilities has been deeply moving and rewarding,” said a member of Stellar Forest Supporters.

In November, Young Hyun Jun, CEO, Vice Chairman and Head of the DS Division at Samsung Electronics, visited Stellar Forest to meet employees. He emphasized the importance of creating a workplace where everyone can work and grow freely, without bias or discrimination.

Driving Inclusion in AI and Employment

TM Roh, CEO, President and Head of the DX Division at Samsung Electronics, urged employees within the DX Division to build AI with openness and inclusion so everyone — with or without disabilities — can communicate freely and live independently in the AI era.

Last year, Samsung joined The Valuable 500, a global coalition of CEOs, underscoring its commitment to fostering a workplace where employees with disabilities can reach their full potential and to continually improving the accessibility of its products and services.

From barrier-free mapmaking to a wide range of accessibility initiatives, these efforts demonstrate Samsung’s commitment to innovation for all. Looking ahead, the company plans to embed accessibility and inclusion more deeply into its technologies and organizational culture — ensuring a safer, more convenient experience for everyone.

Learn more about Samsung’s accessibility efforts here.