About This Blog

Inside Korea’s Social Impact – A Journey for Change


From the Frontlines of Social Innovation

I am a former journalist from South Korea who spent years reporting on social innovation, the social economy, and systemic change. I have visited countless field sites, interviewed visionary changemakers, and witnessed how ordinary people are building a more equitable future through ethical practices.


A New Chapter: Reflection and Transition

Recently, I made the intentional choice to step away from the fast-paced newsroom to focus on my health and a new pace of life in my 40s. This transition has given me a new lens—one that values the well-being of the individuals behind the movements and the sustainable transitions of our society.


This blog is a bridge where my professional expertise meets my personal reflections on these changes.


What You’ll Find Here

👉Deep Dives: Insights into South Korea’s unique cooperatives, social enterprises, and the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE).

👉Changemaker Spotlights: Stories of the people quietly making the world more sustainable.

👉Ethical Living: Thoughts on sustainability, ethical consumption, and system transitions.


 A press badge I wore while covering events as a reporter in the past. (Photo by Milly)



Why I Write

I believe that big change starts with small stories shared with sincerity. Through Inside Korea’s Social Impact, I want to introduce the deeper layers of Korean society to a global audience and foster a meaningful exchange of ideas.


Thank you for being here. Let’s discover the new frequency of social value together.

Feel free to leave a comment or contact me via email at miri8318@gmail.com

I’d love to hear from you!

Comments

Post a Comment

Most Viewed Posts

How Communities Create Change: Interview with a Community Expert (Part 2)

Image
Nahyunhong, a community leader running a social economy network in Korea (Photo courtesy of Nahyunhong)   In the previous article, we explored how “connection” takes shape in the field of social economy and social innovation through an interview with Na Hyunhong, a community expert working in Korea’s social impact sector. We examined how online communities and open chat rooms — relatively lightweight formats — have expanded into nationwide networks. 👀Read Part 1 of the Interview The Power That Connects Korea’s Social Economy Ecosystem: Community Expert Interview (Part 1) In this second installment, we take a step further through Na Hyunhong’s interview to examine what connection truly means on the ground. We look more closely at the principles and philosophies that guide community building, as well as what is needed for Korea’s social impact ecosystem to grow sustainably. Going beyond the idea of community as simply a gathering space, this interview asks how communities actually...
Read more

Why Finance Should Be Driven by Values: The Move Toward a Value-Based Financial Cooperative

Image
  In a previous post, I explored how Korea’s traditional community practice of “gye” has evolved into modern forms of social finance.   👉Related article Korea’s Traditional Community Finance “Gye”: Its Expansion into Social Finance (Part 1)   From Traditional Gye to Social Finance in Korea (Part 2) On the 20th, the 2026 Global Forum on Value-Based Finance was held, where a declaration for promoting a value-based financial cooperative was presented. This reflects a growing effort to create a financial system that operates not only on profit, but on values.   In this post, I will share key discussions from the forum and examine why finance should be guided by social purpose.   Poster of the Global Forum on Value-Based Finance held on the 20th(Source: Social Innovation Entrepreneur Network) Why Do We Need a Value-Based Financial Cooperative?   To some extent, the question of “why” has already been addressed in previous posts. However, it i...
Read more

The Power of Value Proven by Numbers: Why “Impact Measurement” Has Become Important

Image
  Korean social impact organizations pursue both “social value” and “profit” at the same time. In other words, they create social value through business methods. Because of this, many social impact organizations in Korea were often positively recognized simply for having “good intentions.” In particular, activities such as creating jobs for vulnerable groups or solving community problems were considered meaningful in themselves.   However, as the social impact ecosystem gradually expanded, it became increasingly difficult to fully explain the role and achievements of organizations through “good intentions” alone. Especially during the previous administration, as greater emphasis was placed on the self-reliance and sustainability of the social and solidarity economy and social innovation organizations, this atmosphere spread even further.   Around 2022, the importance of impact measurement — proving “what changed and how” — began to receive serious attention. Korea...
Read more