Cooperatives in Korea are more than just part of the social economy . They embody a philosophy — a search for how to live and work together.   The Rise of Cooperatives   Since the enactment of the Framework Act on Cooperatives in 2012 , more than 20,000 cooperatives have been established in Korea within just a decade. (As of 2022, the number reached 23,939.) This rapid growth reflects a growing awareness that the market-centered system alone cannot fully address the needs of local communities or solve complex social problems.   People First : The Core Principle   In a cooperative, members are the owners, and people — not profit — come first. Members are both consumers and producers, workers and decision-makers. Among the most important principles is participation. Even if it takes more time, cooperatives value collective decision-making and shared responsibility. In this sense, a cooperative can be seen as a small-scale space where democracy truly c...

The scattered plastic waste emphasizes the urgent need for systematic changes in environmental and climate policies.(Photo by Milly)  On June 3, 2025, Lee Jae-myung was elected as the 21st President of South Korea. Throughout his campaign, he laid out a wide range of pledges to actively respond to the climate crisis. If implemented during his term, these policies could mark a major turning point in South Korea’s climate strategy. Unlike conventional approaches that focus on individual actions like recycling or reducing waste, President Lee's climate policies emphasize structural transformation—linking industry, economy, and governance. Here's an overview of some of his key climate commitments. Transitioning Industries for Carbon Neutrality President Lee has promised to strengthen the institutional foundation to meet South Korea’s 2030 greenhouse gas reduction targets, and to prepare a science-based roadmap for 2035 and beyond. One notable proposal is to evaluate carbon reductio...

 On June 3, 2025, Lee Jae-myung was elected as the 21st President of the Republic of Korea. In this election, President Lee presented his pledges on the "basic society" and the social economy as one of Korea’s future strategic directions. This goes beyond merely supplementing the existing welfare system and emphasizes the potential of the social economy as a new societal paradigm that ensures all citizens can lead a life of dignity and stability. A basic society refers to a society that does not stop at fragmentary welfare policies or simple income redistribution, but one that guarantees a basic and stable life for all citizens in a tangible way. President Lee stressed that, “Realizing a basic society cannot be achieved by the government alone. It requires cooperation among various actors, including social economy organizations, cooperatives, private enterprises, and civil society organizations.” This multi-stakeholder cooperation, he emphasized, is what will make policies mo...