Korea’s Social Enterprise Day Was Like a Festival! (July 1 Recap)

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(Photo by Milly) 


In Korea, July 1st is designated as Social Enterprise Day, and annual events are held nationwide to commemorate it. This year, the celebration took place near Gangnam Station, featuring academic sessions, networking opportunities, and a small exhibition.

 

The venue was packed with people celebrating Korea’s Social Enterprise Day 2025.(Photo by Milly) 

This year’s event truly felt like a festival. I’ve attended almost every year for the past few years, and personally, this felt liveliest and most festive.

 

Summer in Korea is scorching, and I worried the heat might keep people away but my concern was unfounded. The venue was packed, nearly reminiscent of a concert crowd.

The opening ceremony had the energy of a full-on concert.(Photo by Milly) 

The crowd came to celebrate, support, and congratulate social entrepreneurs who have been quietly creating social value. Local governments, agencies, and businesses also honored these changemakers' efforts through various awards.

A sand artist performs a live piece, portraying the role of social enterprises through sand and light.(Photo by Milly) 


A striking sand-art performance of social enterprise values, rendered in sand and light, left a strong impression.

 

Entrance to the exhibition hall.(Photo by Milly)

Near the entrance, a mini-exhibition showcased everyday social enterprise products, not only displaying the items, but clearly labeling each with its social value such as “upcycled,” “less plastic,” “alternative materials,” support for seniors or people with disabilities, charitable giving, youth/child/teen support, local goods, and fair trade.

(The designs were so charming and well-made that I secretly thought, “I must order these online!” 😜)

 

Everyday products created by social enterprises were on display.(Photo by Milly) 

The event also featured academic talks, conference panels, and discussions with social enterprise practitioners, researchers, and policymakers.

 “The Role & Future of Social Economy in Elder Care” and “Policy Innovation for Social Enterprises” These sessions drew significant engagement from those in the field.

 

Big Issue Korea a long-loved social enterprise was featured in the exhibition. (Photo by Milly) 

Since late 2024, Korea has officially entered a super-aged society, with a rapidly growing elderly population bringing urgent focus to elder care strategies. Social enterprises are taking on community-based eldercare, enabling seniors to receive support while living in their own communities. Discussions at the event explored both challenges and potential improvements in this area.

 

A roundtable on integrated care and the role of the social economy.(Photo by Milly) 

Another highlight was a session on policy reform for social enterprises, including proposals to enable the monetization of social value—letting social impact be traded much like conventional goods or services. In recent years, Korea has emphasized the importance of measuring social value through systems like.

SVI (Social Value Index), SPC (Social Progress Credits) : Linking measurement to business growth.

 

Attendees wrote messages of support for social enterprises on colorful notes.(Photo by Milly) 

Overall, the Social Enterprise Day celebration delivered a rich, heartfelt program and wrapped up warmly—and the nationwide scale made reconnecting with familiar faces even more meaningful.

Interactive activities were set up outside the main hall for participants to enjoy.(Photo by Milly) 


💓Stay tuned for the next post, where I'll share highlights from the July 3rd International Cooperatives Day celebration!💗



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