Seniors Turning Experience into Value: A Second Life in the Social Economy
South Korea is experiencing one of the fastest aging populations in the world, and consequently, the number of retirees is rapidly increasing. Traditionally, retirement in Korea was associated with rest and leisure. However, this is gradually changing. More and more retirees are choosing a new kind of life that allows them to contribute to society while achieving personal fulfillment, leveraging their accumulated experience. In fact, many seniors I’ve met are not just passing time — they are using their professional expertise and life experience to participate in social economy and social innovation sectors, shaping a second chapter of their lives. When Seniors Meet the Social Economy: Creating Synergy Social economy organizations — such as social enterprises, cooperatives, community enterprises, self-sufficiency businesses, and social ventures — prioritize community-based operations and social value. This aligns naturally with the knowledge, expe...