How Is the Field Responding After ‘Social and Solidarity Economy’ Was Adopted as a National Policy Agenda? (Part 2)

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 Since the current administration adopted the “promotion of the Social and Solidarity Economy” as a national policy agenda, what has the atmosphere in the field been like? Although I have not met everyone, based on what I have personally observed, the mood is neither one of unconditional welcome nor outright criticism. Expectations for the development of the Social and Solidarity Economy coexist with caution and concern.

 

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Social and Solidarity Economy Adopted as a National Policy Agenda by South Korea’s Current Government (Part 1)

 

In fact, previous administrations had also adopted the activation of the Social and Solidarity Economy (Social Economy) as a national policy agenda. At that time, the Social and Solidarity Economy experienced significant quantitative growth. Various types of organizations—such as social enterprises, village enterprises, cooperatives, social ventures, and self-support enterprises—expanded, and they have played certain roles in driving social change.

 

However, there were also limitations. At that time, the Framework Act on the Social and Solidarity Economy (Framework Act on the Social Economy) was not enacted. As a result, there had been consistent calls from the field for the establishment of a basic law. After a change in administration, the need for qualitative growth and strengthened self-reliance was emphasized, and the current government once again recognized the role and necessity of the Social and Solidarity Economy, leading to its adoption as a national policy agenda.

 

😆After the Adoption as a National Policy Agenda: Movements in the Field

 

With the promotion of the Social and Solidarity Economy being selected as a national policy agenda, both the public and private sectors are moving quickly. The most notable change is the unification of a management system that had previously been divided among different ministries.

 

Social enterprises (Ministry of Employment and Labor), village enterprises (Ministry of the Interior and Safety), cooperatives (Ministry of Economy and Finance), self-support enterprises (Ministry of Health and Welfare), and social ventures (Ministry of SMEs and Startups), which had been managed by different ministries, have now been reorganized under the central coordination of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

 

Of course, there are diverse opinions regarding this shift. Personally, however, I believe that since the Ministry of the Interior and Safety has closely collaborated with local governments, there is potential for synergy in building cooperative structures between local governments and the Social and Solidarity Economy.

 

In addition, more proactive efforts are emerging than before to enact the long-discussed Framework Act on the Social and Solidarity Economy (Framework Act on the Social Economy). Organizations representing field stakeholders have adopted resolutions and are continuously communicating to public institutions the necessity of enacting the law. Voices calling for the stable and swift passage of the bill are also growing louder.

 

Beyond this, efforts to create channels for communication and cooperation between the public and private sectors are continuing, and various discussions are underway to promote the Social and Solidarity Economy.

 

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Why South Korea Still Doesn’t Have a Basic Law for the Social Economy

 

😎Hoping Not to Repeat Past Experiences

 

When Social and Solidarity Economy policies were significantly reduced in the past, the field experienced considerable confusion. Therefore, this time, rather than merely expanding policy, the structure should be designed in a way that ensures sustainability.

 

Instead of a vertical structure in which the public sector outsources to the private sector, a cooperative structure based on partnership and mutual growth is needed. The Social and Solidarity Economy requires government policy support, but it must also secure self-reliance and sustainability. Only then can it play a meaningful long-term role within the broader social structure.

 

The adoption of this agenda can be seen as the first step toward preparing for Social and Solidarity Economy 2.0 in South Korea—that is, moving from quantitative expansion to qualitative development and preparing for a more structured phase. I hope this step will not remain a temporary policy trend, but rather become an opportunity to build a stable structure in which the Social and Solidarity Economy can function effectively in our society.

 

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