<h1>The Rise of K-Cooperatives: An Interview with Expert Ki-dae Lee (Part 1)</h1>

 South Korea’s social economy has grown rapidly over the past decade, largely through government-led support systems. A key turning point came in 2012, when the United Nations designated the year as the International Year of Cooperatives. In the same year, South Korea enacted the Framework Act on Cooperatives, laying the legal foundation for cooperative development. Since then, cooperatives in Korea have continued to grow steadily.

 

This article features an interview with Lee Gi-dae, a leading expert in the Korean cooperative sector. Lee currently serves as Deputy Director of the Research Institute affiliated with CoopBiz Cooperative, Chairperson of Dream Sharing Social Cooperative, and General Committee Member of the Policy and Institutional Committee of the Korea Social and Solidarity Economy Association. He is also actively involved in SE-ACT (Solidarity Economy in Action), which has been introduced previously on this blog.

For clarity and consistency, he will be referred to as “Deputy Director Lee” throughout this interview.

 

Photo of Lee Gi-dae, a cooperative expert in South Korea (Source: Courtesy of Lee Gi-dae)

Q. You are widely recognized as a leading expert in Korea’s cooperative sector. Could you tell us about your professional background and experience?

 

A. I worked for seven years as the Head of the Consultation Support Team at the Seoul Cooperative Support Center, the first and only specialized cooperative consulting institution in Korea.

During that time, I conducted an average of 10,087 consultations per year, providing support to 297 cooperatives and over 1,300 individuals annually. I also delivered more than 100 cooperative-related lectures and consulting sessions each year.

 

Based on the accumulated knowledge and real-world cases from my consulting work, I authored a book titled The Cooperative Bible. The first print run sold out within three months of publication.

 

In addition, I have provided education and consulting on social economy and cooperatives for public institutions such as the Korea Social Enterprise Promotion Agency, Gyeonggi-do Social Economy Center, and local government–affiliated social economy support centers in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. Today, I continue to work nationwide as a cooperative lecturer and consultant.

 

Q. Since the enactment of the Framework Act on Cooperatives in 2012, cooperatives in Korea have continued to grow. How would you describe this growth over the past 13 years?

 

A. Following the enactment of the Framework Act on Cooperatives, the sector experienced rapid quantitative growth. Over the past decade, approximately 20,000 cooperatives have been established and are currently in operation.

 

Cooperatives have emerged across almost every industry. In recent years, we have also seen an increase in cooperatives, designed to address specific social issues in alignment with central government initiatives.

 

Q. What have been the most important factors in the growth of Korean cooperatives, and what recent trends are you observing?

 

A. One of the most critical factors has been the shift toward strengthening the substance and quality of cooperative formation.

In the early stages, cooperatives could be established relatively easily as long as five or more people came together, which enabled rapid quantitative expansion.

 

More recently, however, the focus has moved toward qualitative growth. This includes helping founders understand the values, history, and philosophy of cooperatives, as well as how to maximize their strengths and address their structural limitations. Continuous learning and capacity-building support now play a central role in creating sustainable cooperatives.

 

In terms of recent trends, there has been a notable increase in solar power cooperatives aimed at renewable energy transition in response to the climate crisis. We are also seeing growth in social cooperatives operating community child care centers, village management social cooperatives focused on urban regeneration, and care-focused social cooperatives responding to the rising demand for integrated elderly care.

 

Photo of Lee Gi-dae, a cooperative expert in South Korea (Source: Courtesy of Lee Gi-dae)

Q. How do younger generations in Korea perceive cooperatives?

 

A. Although I myself belong to the younger generation, youth participation in Korea’s cooperative sector remains relatively limited. I believe this is partly because the appeal of cooperatives—as organizations based on collective ownership, democratic governance, and voluntary cooperation to meet shared needs—has not yet been fully communicated to young people.

 

In the past, there were government-funded programs specifically designed to support youth-led cooperative startups, but these programs are no longer in operation.

 

Cooperatives are fundamentally needs-driven organizations. If young people reflect on the issues they face—such as employment, housing, or income security—and consider cooperatives as a practical way to address those challenges collectively, cooperatives could become a meaningful option for them.

 

👀The interview with Deputy Director Lee will continue in Part 2.👀

 

❓Do you have questions for Deputy Director Lee?

We value your curiosity and perspectives.

If you have specific questions for Deputy Director Lee, please send them to [email address]. Selected questions will be compiled and addressed in a follow-up interview.