Smilegate Hope Studio Shares Achievements in Supporting Children on the Margins with Borderline Developmental Difficulties

Smilegate Hope Studio announced on the 14th that it held the '2025 Hope Studio Social Problem-Solving Roundtable' on the 12th at the Orange Planet Foundation in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
The roundtable was organized to share case studies on addressing the challenges faced by Children on the Margins with Borderline Developmental Difficulties and to discuss strategies for expanding social impact through public-private cooperation.
Smilegate Hope Studio presented the outcomes of its 'Support Project for Children on the Margins with Borderline Developmental Difficulties,' which has been implemented from 2018 to 2025. Aiming to provide psychological and emotional stability and a foundation for independence, the project has supported a total of 14,665 children over the past eight years. Through collaboration with public and private sectors, the initiative established specialized group homes, remodeled counseling rooms, and offered psychological therapy and social skills programs. Notably, 68% of the total project budget of 1 billion KRW was secured from external resources, including public and corporate partnerships, thereby building a platform for solving social issues through such cooperation.
As of 2024, the psychological and emotional indicators of participating children have shown overall improvement. Specifically, self-esteem increased by 12%, sociality by 14%, and self-efficacy by 11%. These results indicate that ongoing psychological and social support provides tangible benefits for the growth of Children on the Margins with Borderline Developmental Difficulties.
For example, Junyoung (pseudonym), who entered the Smile House group home in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province in 2012, was initially diagnosed with level 3 intellectual disability. With consistent psychological therapy and tailored learning support, his IQ improved from 65 to 86. This positive change is attributed to the sustained interest and support from Smilegate and its donors.
The project has also led to policy and institutional changes. The nation’s first group home specifically designed for Children on the Margins with Borderline Developmental Difficulties was established and is now operating independently. Additionally, Seoul increased its budget for supporting these children, and research and development of early diagnostic tools tailored to their characteristics and developmental stages is underway.
At the event, Ja Young Park, Director of the Seoul Group Home Support Center, shared insights on the process and achievements of policy development for customized support programs. Kwon Mi-hee, Manager at the Seongnam Youth Counseling and Welfare Center, introduced the process and outcomes of developing models for identifying and supporting Children on the Margins with Borderline Developmental Difficulties.
Yeonju Kwon, Director at Smilegate Hope Studio, stated, “Thanks to the participation and collaboration of public institutions, private organizations, companies, and donors who empathize with social issues in marginalized areas, we have been able to create positive change. Smilegate Hope Studio will continue to build a sustainable cooperative system as a platform for solving social problems, supporting future generations to grow up healthy and happy.”


yjjoe@fnnews.com Reporter Yoonju Cho Reporter