Violence against women, SOS!

The Korea Foundation for Women is supporting five projects in 2026 through the SOS Fund, made possible by donations from GlobalGiving supporters and other donors in Korea and around the world. The projects focus on preventing violence against women and helping survivors recover and rebuild their lives.
Through site visits, mid-term reports, and regular communication with partner organizations, we are closely following each project and supporting its progress. This report highlights some of the main activities carried out during the first half of the year.

#Research and awareness campaign on violence in intimate relationships
One project is exploring how university students understand dating, love, control, and violence in close relationships. Alongside the research, lectures and awareness campaigns are helping students better recognize violence in intimate relationships. So far, the project team has reviewed materials from university human rights centers and conducted focus group discussions and individual interviews with students. In the second half of the year, the findings will be shared with local experts to discuss ways to prevent violence and improve support for survivors. The Foundation also attended one of the focus group sessions to hear directly from students and learn more about how they understand control and violence in relationships.

#Digital sexual violence prevention education
Another project is providing education for elementary and middle school students to strengthen gender awareness and help them understand different forms of digital sexual violence, including online grooming and deepfakes, as well as how to respond. During a site visit, the Foundation saw students thinking about how they could speak up and take action to help create a safer digital environment. In the second half of the year, participants will also reflect on harmful ideas of masculinity and create board games and videos about gender equality to share what they have learned with their peers.

Other activities are also underway. Public forums are being held with different groups within church communities to help develop a practical workbook on preventing and responding to sexual violence. A theater production and press conference are also being prepared to raise awareness of the discrimination migrant women survivors face in government and legal procedures. In addition, community walking programs are helping participants explore the past and present of a former red-light district, while an archive project is documenting its history and the human rights violations experienced by women there.

The Korea Foundation for Women will continue supporting these projects throughout the rest of the year. In our next report, we will share the changes taking place in the field and the final outcomes of the 2026 projects.