December 3: The Birth of SE-ACT Amid Korea’s Democratic Crisis (Part 1)

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SE-ACT and the social enterprise Run Coffee served 2,000 cups of free coffee to citizens attending the rallies in December 2024. (Source: SE-ACT)


 For anyone living in South Korea, December 3, 2024 is a day that will not be forgotten. It was an ordinary evening—until unexpected breaking news shook the entire country. Then-President Yoon Suk-yeol abruptly declared martial law—a measure rarely seen in modern democratic nations. Many citizens felt confusion, shock, and fear.

 

The sudden presence of armored vehicles and armed soldiers in downtown Seoul intensified the collective panic. Some citizens rushed straight to the National Assembly. Young people working in the social and solidarity economy (formerly “social economy”) also knew they could not stay still.

 

One activist who ran to the site recalled:

“There were already countless citizens gathered in front of the National Assembly. Police were blocking access, and people were trying to help elected lawmakers enter the building so they could carry out their constitutional duties. Everyone was trying to protect democracy.”


This article shares the story of SE-ACT (Social and Solidarity Economy Actors for Action)—including activist Ki-dae Lee—and the young people from the SSE community who ran to the National Assembly that night.

*In this article, the Korean term “social economy” is written as “social and solidarity economy.”


😍😙Read the article on the difference between the terms ‘Social Economy’ and ‘Social and Solidarity Economy’

The Shift in Terminology: From “Social Economy” to “Social Solidarity Economy”


The Actions of Young SSE Activists: The Birth of SE-ACT

 

During its time in office, the Yoon administration had significantly reduced funding and support for the social and solidarity economy. Programs related to youth employment, vulnerable groups, and local community initiatives were cut or abolished.

 

Witnessing the declaration of martial law on December 3, young SSE activists felt a strong conviction:

 

“The values we protect are inseparable from democracy itself.”

 

Three days later, on December 6—the eve of the impeachment vote—they released the first public statement under the name SE-ACT.

 

The statement delivered the following key messages:

👉The social and solidarity economy is built on democratic principles such as “one person, one vote.”

👉The government’s unilateral cuts undermine the social foundations of solidarity.

👉What is happening is not merely policy regression—it is a direct threat to democracy.

 

The message spread quickly, gathering more than 200 signatures from SSE practitioners in a short period.


SE-ACT in the Public Squares of Democracy

 

On December 11 and 14, SE-ACT participated in large-scale citizen gatherings.

They emphasized their identity as “SSE actors who act from solidarity—not political alignment.”

 

For them, discussing economic models and business strategy matters—but ultimately, an economy must remain “an economy with a human face.”

 

At the December 14 gathering, SE-ACT used donations to prepare a “Social and Solidarity Economy Free Coffee Truck.”

It was a bitterly cold winter night, and they wanted to offer warmth—literally—to citizens who came out to defend democracy.

 

Initially, they prepared 1,000 cups of coffee. Then the social enterprise “Run Coffee” donated an additional 1,000 cups, allowing them to distribute 2,000 cups in total.

 

The free coffee truck became a symbolic moment—an example of solidarity in action within the SSE community.


😜😘Read Part 2

December 3: The Birth of SE-ACT Amid Korea’s Democratic Crisis (Part 2)



Ki-dae Lee, an active expert in the cooperative sector, attending the rally. (Source: SE-ACT)


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