Capital-Centered Social Impact in Korea — But Regions Hold Strong Potential

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 One of the persistent social issues in South Korea is the concentration of resources and opportunities in Seoul and the greater metropolitan area. In recent years, there have been growing calls to strengthen regional development, and the atmosphere is slowly shifting. Nevertheless, the structural tendency toward centralization in Seoul remains strong.

 

The same pattern can be observed in the fields of the Social and Solidarity Economy and social innovation. Compared to other sectors, the social impact field arguably has more people who remain in their local communities and work for regional development. However, because the broader social and economic environment is heavily centered around Seoul, many forums, seminars, conferences, and networking events still take place primarily in the capital region.

 

While social impact ecosystems have been established across different parts of the country, in reality the ecosystem often appears to be structured around the Seoul metropolitan area.

An event held in Jeju, one of South Korea’s leading tourist cities, in 2024.(Photo by Milly) 


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👉Why Does This Concentration Occur?

 

This phenomenon can largely be explained by two main factors.

 

1. The Movement of Talent

 

Like many other sectors, the social impact field is experiencing a steady flow of young professionals and experts toward Seoul. As a result, organizations in regional areas often struggle to recruit talent.

 

Recently, I heard from a regional intermediary support organization that had posted a job opening. Due to the limited local talent pool and constrained salary levels, they found it difficult to attract qualified applicants. Such challenges can weaken the vitality of regional social impact ecosystems over time.

 

2. Limited Networks

 

In the social impact field, networks are one of the most critical assets. It is often said that “people are the real capital,” and this is particularly true in this sector. However, because major events and gatherings are concentrated in Seoul, the networks formed through those interactions also accumulate there.

 

This does not mean that regional networks do not exist. Local practitioners, community-based organizations, and regional institutions maintain active connections. Yet networks that are essential for scaling—such as access to policymakers, impact investors, corporate foundations, and national media—are often more limited outside the capital region.


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👉Regions Hold Significant Potential

 

Despite these structural limitations, regional areas possess considerable strengths. Social problems can be observed more closely and understood in context. Stakeholders are geographically and socially closer, making collaboration more direct. Community-based experiments and participatory initiatives can sometimes be implemented with greater flexibility.

 

In this sense, regions are not simply “resource-poor” spaces. They are potential sites of deeply rooted and context-sensitive innovation.

 

However, unlocking this potential requires more than occasionally hosting events outside Seoul. (That said, it is encouraging that some programs previously concentrated in the capital are now being held in regional cities.)

 

In the long term, people must be able to remain in their regions while generating social impact and sustaining their livelihoods. This requires robust infrastructure—such as regional hub spaces, stable investment environments, and long-term support systems. Networks also need to evolve beyond a Seoul-centered structure toward models where regions connect and learn directly from one another.

 

Encouragingly, many individuals are choosing to stay in—or move to—regional areas and are working to address local challenges through businesses, cooperatives, and community initiatives.

 

Social impact practitioners in Korea often work with the belief that their efforts contribute to broader societal change. For that belief to meaningfully shape society as a whole, social impact must operate on a wider geographical foundation. When diverse experiments emerge across different regions—reflecting their unique contexts and conditions—the meaning and reach of social impact can truly expand.

 



 

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