Inside Korea’s Social Impact

  In the past, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that “the whole village raised the children” in Korea. In my own experience, when my parents went to work, neighbors looked after us. If a friend’s parents were away, we spent time at each other’s homes. Even during outings or picnics, several families would join together to care for the children.   However, as nuclear families became more common, this culture of communal childcare gradually disappeared. With more women participating in the workforce and an increasing number of single-person households , the responsibility for childcare became concentrated primarily on parents and immediate family. A shortage of childcare facilities, high costs, and concerns about quality added to the practical burden on families.   A New Model of Cooperative Childcare through Social Economy   Recently, social economy initiatives have begun addressing childcare challenges in a community-centered, participatory, and su...

  In Korea, the social economy is still viewed through a wide range of perspectives. Among them, the business-value perspective understands the social economy not as simple welfare work or civic activity , but as a business model that solves social problems and creates social value . This viewpoint highlights that social economy organizations can generate sustainable economic outcomes while contributing to local communities and addressing social issues.   👉 Combining Social Value and Economic Profit   As I have explained several times on this blog, social economy organizations aim not only to generate profit but also to solve social problems and maintain economic stability at the same time. For example, a social enterprise that aims to address environmental issues connects environmental action with its business model. A social enterprise focusing on employment for people with disabilities hires workers with disabilities and sells the products they produce i...

  As interest in value-based consumption grows, so does attention to products produced and sold by social economy enterprises. The choices we make in our daily lives can create far more impact than we often realize. In this post, we introduce a notable product and explore the social change that consumption can help bring about.   🍪🍩WeCan Cookie Creating Jobs and Independence for People with Developmental Disabilities   As someone who enjoys pairing coffee with desserts, I’m always drawn to interesting treats. One that stands out is WeCan Cookie.   I first discovered WeCan Cookie a few years ago when a friend offered me one as a gift. The cookie had just the right amount of sweetness and a satisfying crunch, leaving a memorable impression. Recently, I bought them again, inspired by that fond memory.   WeCan Cookie is one of Korea’s leading social enterprises employing people with developmental disabilities. They produce and sell cookies and bake...

  South Korea is experiencing one of the fastest aging populations in the world, and consequently, the number of retirees is rapidly increasing. Traditionally, retirement in Korea was associated with rest and leisure. However, this is gradually changing. More and more retirees are choosing a new kind of life that allows them to contribute to society while achieving personal fulfillment, leveraging their accumulated experience.   In fact, many seniors I’ve met are not just passing time — they are using their professional expertise and life experience to participate in social economy and social innovation sectors, shaping a second chapter of their lives.   When Seniors Meet the Social Economy: Creating Synergy   Social economy organizations — such as social enterprises, cooperatives, community enterprises, self-sufficiency businesses, and social ventures — prioritize community-based operations and social value. This aligns naturally with the knowledge, expe...