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Social and Solidarity Economy Adopted as a National Policy Agenda by South Korea’s Current Government (Part 1)

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  Among South Korea’s 123 national policy agendas under the current administration, one particularly notable inclusion is the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE). The government adopted “Promoting the Growth of the Social and Solidarity Economy” as Agenda No. 81, which marks a significant shift compared to the previous administration, during which funding for the SSE sector was drastically reduced.   From my personal perspective, public support from the government is necessary to a certain extent when it comes to the Social and Solidarity Economy. This is because the SSE does not merely engage in “business,” but simultaneously pursues solutions to social problems. In doing so, it effectively takes on roles that would otherwise fall under the responsibility of the public sector.   For this reason, the inclusion of the Social and Solidarity Economy in the current government’s national policy agenda carries considerable meaning. It is not simply about being listed as...

Strategies for Synergy Between Basic Society Policies and the Social and Solidarity Economy (Part 2)

  The realization of a Basic Society, one of the major policy directions in South Korea today, is being actively discussed as a way to respond more proactively to the various challenges facing our society.   👀Read Part 1 Revitalizing Korea’s Social and Solidarity Economy and Realizing a Basic Society (Part 1)   In the previous article, we emphasized that the government’s Basic Society policy is not a support measure designed specifically for the social and solidarity economy, but rather that the Basic Society and the social and solidarity economy exist in a complementary relationship. In this article, we explore the conditions under which Basic Society policies can function effectively in practice, as well as strategies for mutual growth between Basic Society policies and the social and solidarity economy.   😎Conditions for the Functioning of a Basic Society   A Basic Society operates on the following three institutional pillars:   Gua...

Revitalizing Korea’s Social and Solidarity Economy and Realizing a Basic Society (Part 1)

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Mutual growth between the Basic Society and the Social and Solidarity Economy can contribute to realizing a Basic Society.(Photo by Milly)    One of the core policy priorities of the South Korean government is the realization of a “Basic Society.”   This vision is a strategic response to the major challenges currently facing Korean society, including the growing demand for care, inequality, regional decline, low birth rates and population aging, and the climate crisis. In particular, as it has become increasingly difficult to ensure sustainable growth through existing welfare policies alone, the current administration’s Basic Society agenda can be understood as an effort to guarantee human dignity for all citizens of Korea. In this context, the revitalization of the social and solidarity economy has been emphasized as a key strategy for realizing a Basic Society.   ⭐However, it is important to note that Basic Society policies are not simply support measures f...