Why Social Impact Practitioners Must Keep Studying: The Case for Lifelong Learning (Part 1)

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 Even now, having stepped back from my former role as a reporter to catch my breath and run this blog, I continue to stay in close touch with the changemakers and contacts I met on the frontlines of the social impact sector. They span a wide spectrum—from early-career professionals taking their very first steps in the field to mid-level managers now serving as the backbone of their organizations.

 

Yet, whenever I talk with them, I consistently encounter a shared yearning: a deep thirst for "study" and continuous learning. Those who are drawn to the social impact space and wish to build lasting careers here invariably voice that ongoing education is vital. To maintain genuine professionalism within South Korea's social sector, one must not only navigate rapidly shifting public policies and legal frameworks, but also constantly study methodologies to realize the social value their organizations champion. Furthermore, cultivating structural insight into the history and evolution of the broader ecosystem is indispensable.

 

The weight of daily reality, however, makes this difficult. Juggling packed project pipelines and chronic overtime leaves little room to carve out time for studying. A young practitioner I met recently confessed, "I feel the desperate need to learn more, but my days move so breathlessly fast that I simply feel consumed and exhausted." Carving out intentional study hours often feels out of reach.

 

"We Are Knowledge Workers Dealing with Values and Insights"

 

Recently, I met Kang Min-soo, Standing Director of Korea Social Solidarity Economy, to discuss the evolving identity of the nation's social and solidarity economy. As the Director of the Social Solidarity Economy Education Institute, he is a seasoned educator who has dedicated years to training and consulting across the ecosystem.

 

👉👉Read related articles

[Interview] Questioning the Identity of South Korea's Social and Solidarity Economy (Part 1)

[Interview] Reflecting on Identity: Moving Forward with Conviction (Part 2)

 

I shared with Director Kang the dilemma young practitioners face: "Young professionals in the field feel a strong urge to study, but they say finding the time amidst demanding day-to-day operations feels nearly impossible."

 

His response was both firm and incisive:

"Most people working in the social sector are knowledge workers. If knowledge workers neglect their own learning, they cannot advance. If someone says they don't have time to study, it frankly means they have given up on their own professional growth."

 

Learning Is More Than Sitting with a Textbook

 

When we think of "studying," we reflexively picture formal learning: plowing through dense theoretical tomes, earning graduate degrees, or collecting professional certifications. Yet from an educational perspective, formal learning accounts for only about 20 percent of overall human learning. The remaining 80 percent is informal learning—absorbed through the rhythm of work, intense collaboration with peers, and organizational culture.

 

From this vantage point, informal learning often plays a far more decisive role than structured coursework. Observing and absorbing work ethics alongside mentors and colleagues, reading the subtle context of the field, and cultivating interpersonal wisdom are things no textbook can teach alone. The workplace itself is an expansive learning environment.

 

Skills and Trends Matter, but Sustaining Power Lies Deeper

 

None of this implies that mastering practical operational skills or staying on top of industry trends is trivial. Director Kang noted, "It is not that skills and trends are unimportant. If a practitioner cannot master fundamental execution skills, they cannot perform their immediate responsibilities."

 

Yet relying solely on fleeting trends and quick technical tricks has clear limitations; one's reservoir empties quickly. To survive over the long haul and become a truly impactful practitioner, practical skills and trend-awareness must rest upon a solid foundation of substantive knowledge and grounded attitudes. But real knowledge and professional maturity cannot be acquired overnight through shortcuts. They demand steady, deliberate inquiry.

 

In the midst of a demanding daily routine, where should we begin, and how should we approach this learning journey?

 

😊😊Continued in Part 2

 

 

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