Samsung Life Insurance is carrying out a social contribution event, which features increasing the number of student percussion clubs at home and abroad under its initiative to foster emotionally stable youth culture.

Last week, the financial service firm cohosted the second “Saram, Sarang Serotonin Drum Club Festival,” an all-state drum competition for middle school students, at the National Gugak Center in Seoul.

Some 190 finalists from 11 junior high schools nationwide vied for prizes in the drum festival.

“I felt proud to see the students grow up developing their dreams and optimistic vision with the strong drum beats,” said Samsung Life vice chairman Park Geun-hee, who vowed to help the event become the country’s best student performance competition.

The title of the competition derives from serotonin, “the happy hormone,” reflecting the company’s dedication to build an emotionally stable youth culture, the company said.

Seratonin drummers from Cheongpyeong Middle School in Gyeonggi Province and Geochang Middle School in South Gyeongsang Province won first and second place, respectively. Both Cheonan Middle School in South Chungcheong Province and Daejeon School for the Blind placed third. Three teachers who were exceptionally passionate over the instruction of the drum club activities received recognitions as well.

“Besides performing abilities, the students’ enhancement in attitude made throughout the drumming activities influenced the evaluation by the judges,” the company said in a statement.

In partnership with the Serotonin Drum Club since April 2011, the insurer has supported the launch of 130 student drum clubs, in 42 schools in 2011, 58 in 2012 and 30 this year. About 30 more clubs will be organized next year.

Samsung Life plans to further expand the band, setting up percussion clubs in schools for disabled students, multicultural schools, alternative schools and local schools in Asia.

By Chung Joo-won (joowonc@heraldcorp.com)