The Changemakers Seeking Solutions: Inside the 3rd Korea Social Value Festa

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The business networking zone set up inside the Social Value Festa exhibition hall.(Photo by Milly)


 South Korea’s largest social value platform, the 3rd Korea Social Value Festa, took place over two days from September 21 to 22 at COEX in Seoul. Hosted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KORCHAM), this flagship gathering connects policy, capital, technology, and ideas to derive tangible, actionable solutions, drawing thousands of participants to the floor each year.

 

I make it a point to attend the Festa every year. Each time I walk into the venue, my heart swells witnessing the palpable energy and dedication of the people filling the hall. This year was no exception. Listening to stories and seeing firsthand how changemakers fight through complex challenges in their respective fields never fails to quicken my pulse.

 

Visitors exploring products at the bustling marketplace booths.(Photo by Milly)

Held under the banner "Beyond Thought to Action, Beyond Problems to Solutions," the Festa went well beyond simply discussing social challenges. It focused intently on execution—grappling with practical pathways and showcasing collaborative cross-sector partnerships.

 

The two-day program featured roughly 50 lectures and panel discussions, alongside an expansive marketplace and exhibition spanning 300 booths.

 

The exhibition and market floor—where I spent the majority of my time—was organized across four distinct theme zones: Collaboration, Innovation & Environment, Local Communities, and Society. This layout allowed visitors to explore and engage with diverse solutions, technologies, and products with ease. Across the floor, attendees moved between zones, listening to founders pitch business models and directly testing social innovation services. Upon arriving, I took a broad walk through the hall before systematically making my way to individual booths across each zone.

 

Attendees listening closely to booth presentations during a guided docent tour.(Photo by Milly)

The diversity of participating organizations was notable. Government ministries and public agencies exhibited alongside major South Korean conglomerates, global Certified B Corporations, social ventures, cooperatives, and social enterprises from the broader social and solidarity economy (SSE)—all demonstrating real-world ideas and technologies built for public impact.

 

Wear Again Lab’s exhibition featuring garments redesigned and upcycled from last year’s staff uniforms.(Photo by Milly)

A few booths left a lasting impression. At the booth run by "Wear Again Lab"—an initiative championing sustainable clothing culture—the team showcased upcycled garments created from the staff uniforms worn during last year’s 2nd Social Value Festa. They had collected the discarded shirts and transformed them into one-of-a-kind pieces with fresh patterns and tailoring.

 

The exhibition booth of the Center for Social value Enhancement Studies (CSES).(Photo by Milly)

At the Center for Social value Enhancement Studies (CSES) booth, which specializes in measuring and evaluating corporate social impact, I participated in an interactive exercise: translating small, everyday prosocial behaviors into concrete monetary values. After calculating my score, I received an "impact value barcode" that let me select and pay for tangible items right at the booth. In the local marketplace area, I also picked up several goods crafted with regional specialties from across the country.

 

Young changemakers introducing their social impact ventures through interactive hands-on activities.(Photo by Milly)


Meanwhile, the conference stages covered cutting-edge and urgent topics—from local revitalization and AI for good to impact measurement and value-based finance—exploring concrete ways different sectors can join forces to tackle systemic issues.


As I walked the exhibition floor, I ran into several social entrepreneurs and changemakers I had previously interviewed or crossed paths with in the field. They warmly welcomed me over to their booths. One of them shared that while standing on their feet all day was physically exhausting, introducing their mission to a wider audience gave them a profound sense of validation—a reaffirming reminder that they are moving in the right direction. Looking around the venue, I saw that same sentiment shared everywhere: the eyes of these changemakers, committed to building a better society, were shining brighter than ever.



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