Posts

A Smart Way to Protect Our Everyday Lives: “The Commons”

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  During my time covering the field as a journalist, I once learned about a unique social characteristic of South Korea’s Jeju Island. Jeju is one of the regions in the country with the richest body of research and real-world cases regarding “the commons.” While the commons in many other regions often exist primarily as intangible relationships or cultural practices, in Jeju, they frequently take tangible forms — such as village community pastures or communal forests — registered as official assets of the village or community and actively managed in practice.   When I first encountered the term “the commons,” its meaning did not immediately resonate with me. Simply knowing its dictionary definitions, such as “shared assets” or “common resources,” made it difficult to grasp the dynamic reality on the ground. However, through repeated reporting and study as a journalist in the social impact sector, I came to realize how crucial the commons are for safeguarding our daily live...
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Beyond the Public Square: Translating Civic Outcry into Everyday Solidarity

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  Recently, South Korean news outlets have been actively covering the widespread protests across France. Beyond traditional media, diverse digital channels have explored why French citizens took to the streets and how intense the situation on the ground has become. Among these reports, an interview with a French citizen caught my attention: they noted that South Korea’s tradition of civic assembly and protest had offered profound inspiration to many around the world. Indeed, in South Korea, rallies and street demonstrations have historically served as the most impassioned and powerful mechanisms of civic participation — articulating public demands and driving systemic change during national crises or moments when fundamental livelihoods were under threat.   Yet, once the rallies end, where do those impassioned voices go? Do the collective demands voiced on the streets truly translate into tangible changes in citizens' everyday lives?   🍒Protests Do Not End with S...
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The Role of the Public Sector and an Exit Strategy for the Social Solidarity Economy Ecosystem (Part 2)

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  In my previous post, I examined how deeply the frontline of South Korea’s social solidarity economy is impacted by the ebb and flow of public budgets. Having spent years reporting on the social solidarity economy and social impact sectors, I have witnessed firsthand how the ecosystem rapidly expands or abruptly contracts depending on the budget climate. Looking at this reality, some criticize the sector for being overly reliant on public funding. At the same time, others argue just as strongly that public priming support remains essential, as these organizations tackle social challenges overlooked by the conventional market through business models.   In this piece, I want to outline the legitimate role of public budgets and explore the necessary exit strategies for building a truly sustainable social solidarity economy ecosystem.   👉👉Read 1 First Part When the Budget Changes, the Field Changes: The Reality of South Korea’s Social Solidarity Economy (Part 1) ...
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When the Budget Changes, the Field Changes: The Reality of South Korea’s Social Solidarity Economy (Part 1)

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  South Korea’s social solidarity economy has developed at a rapid pace. This was made possible largely because of public support. By formulating policies and investing public budgets, the current ecosystem of the social solidarity economy was able to take shape. However, while this growth environment may contribute to rapid advancement in the short term, over the long term, it has also created a reality where the sector can easily shrink or expand depending on policy shifts.   Recently, Gyeonggi Province announced plans to abolish its Social Innovation Economy Bureau — which had overseen social solidarity economy policies across the province — and drastically cut the related budget for the coming year. The frontline sector immediately pushed back. Grassroots stakeholder organizations in Gyeonggi issued joint statements, and nationwide network organizations released statements calling for a reconsideration. Even lawmakers from the ruling party issued a statement urging the...
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