The  Korea Social Value Solidarity Fund  is working to create a financial ecosystem that supports the growth of social economy enterprises. (Source: Screenshot from the Korea Social Value Solidarity Fund website)   Why Social Finance ? Traditionally, finance has focused on maximizing profits. However, as social issues like climate change , inequality , aging populations , and regional decline intensify, there is a growing global movement to use capital to address these problems. Amid this shift, the concept of Social Finance has emerged. What is Social Finance?   When I first heard the term social finance, the first question that came to mind was “How is it different from conventional finance ?”   The answer is straightforward. Social finance is not just about generating profit; it aims to simultaneously solve social problems and expand social value.   In other words, social finance considers both financial returns and social/environmental impa...

A little break at a café during our trip with my husband. The elegant interior, delicious coffee, and desserts instantly won me over — I thought, “I have to come back here!” Later, I found out the place is run by a local creator, and I was truly impressed.(Photo by Milly)  A Story That Began with Personal Experience   About ten years ago, I worked with a colleague whose personality and work style matched mine so well that we stayed close friends even after leaving the job. We would often meet up, share meals, and talk about everyday life. But over time, our contact became less frequent, and eventually, I heard that this friend had moved back to their hometown.   Not long ago, I happened to reconnect with them. They told me: “I’m now working as a Local Creator in my hometown.”   They were deeply engaged in projects such as revitalizing the local economy, promoting the region, and addressing population decline. What Is a Local Creator?   The term...

I once visited a social enterprise that provides food care. Everyone was very busy making lunch boxes to deliver to the elderly.(Photo by Milly)    A few days ago, the elderly lady living next door kept pressing our doorbell and banging on our door. I was so startled that when I opened the door, she told me she was feeling very unwell and asked if I could take her to the hospital. I immediately called an ambulance and managed to contact her guardian to explain the situation.   After a while, the guardian and the lady came back to our door. The guardian said she had been to the hospital and there was no major problem. However, it seemed she might have some early signs of dementia.   Since then, the lady has occasionally knocked on our door or called out looking for someone. One time, she even tried to follow a delivery person, asking to be taken along. Watching this, I couldn’t help but think of my and my husband’s grandparents. My own grandparents had severe ...