Cooperatives in Korea: A Way of Working and Living Together

Cooperatives in Korea are more than just part of the social economy. They embody a philosophy — a search for how to live and work together.

 

The Rise of Cooperatives

 

Since the enactment of the Framework Act on Cooperatives in 2012, more than 20,000 cooperatives have been established in Korea within just a decade. (As of 2022, the number reached 23,939.) This rapid growth reflects a growing awareness that the market-centered system alone cannot fully address the needs of local communities or solve complex social problems.

 

People First: The Core Principle

 

In a cooperative, members are the owners, and people—not profit—come first. Members are both consumers and producers, workers and decision-makers. Among the most important principles is participation. Even if it takes more time, cooperatives value collective decision-making and shared responsibility. In this sense, a cooperative can be seen as a small-scale space where democracy truly comes to life.

 

Across Korea, cooperatives have emerged in nearly every area of daily life — care services, agriculture, arts and culture, education, and youth entrepreneurship. Many of them tackle issues such as job creation, community revitalization, care work, and environmental challenges, contributing to solving social problems through cooperative approaches.

 

Challenges on the Road

 

However, many cooperatives in Korea still face challenges in sustainability. Common issues include unequal participation among members, a lack of professional management capacity, and excessive dependence on government support programs. Conflicts among members sometimes arise as well. Yet these should not be viewed only negatively. Becoming co-owners means sharing both responsibility and conflict, which naturally makes every decision more thoughtful and deliberate.

 

Redefining the Meaning of Work

 

Despite these challenges, cooperatives in Korea continue to grow and evolve. That is because cooperatives are not merely a model for sharing profit but an attempt to redefine the meaning of work. From social inclusion of people with disabilities to renewable energy, local regeneration, and community care — Korean cooperatives are steadily finding their own solutions. Like all organizations, they experience ups and downs, but they keep moving forward, step by step.

 

The Quiet Force of Change

 

Rooted in a culture of warm human relationships, Korean cooperatives seek sustainability through transparent governance and strategic management. In the balance between the two, a new model of social innovation is emerging.

 

Cooperatives are not about grand revolutions or flashy innovations. They change our communities quietly — one relationship, one decision at a time. Working together, deciding together, taking responsibility together — this simple principle may be the new economic language that Korean society needs to learn again.