When the Budget Changes, the Field Changes: The Reality of South Korea’s Social Solidarity Economy (Part 1)
South Korea’s social solidarity economy has developed at a rapid pace. This was made possible largely because of public support. By formulating policies and investing public budgets, the current ecosystem of the social solidarity economy was able to take shape. However, while this growth environment may contribute to rapid advancement in the short term, over the long term, it has also created a reality where the sector can easily shrink or expand depending on policy shifts. Recently, Gyeonggi Province announced plans to abolish its Social Innovation Economy Bureau — which had overseen social solidarity economy policies across the province — and drastically cut the related budget for the coming year. The frontline sector immediately pushed back. Grassroots stakeholder organizations in Gyeonggi issued joint statements, and nationwide network organizations released statements calling for a reconsideration. Even lawmakers from the ruling party issued a statement urging the...