A speaker delivering a presentation at the Insight Lecture .(Photo by Milly)  The grand festival of social economy enterprises in Incheon, the Incheon Social Economy Expo , was held from September 26 to 28 at the Incheon Imagination Platform .   Related post: Highlights from the 2nd Incheon Social Economy Fair On the first day of the event, right after the opening ceremony on the 26th, a special insight lecture was held. Seongjun Lim , Director of mysc (Merry Year Social Company), a consulting and impact investment firm specializing in social innovation , presented practical strategies for how social enterprises can survive and grow. Many social enterprises and intermediary support organizations listened attentively with great interest.   In this article, I’d like to summarize the key points from Director Lim’s presentation on how social enterprises can build a sustainable business model.   The Meaning of Social Value and Impact   Social enterpris...

A Story That Began with Personal Experience   About ten years ago, I worked with a colleague whose personality and work style matched mine so well that we stayed close friends even after leaving the job. We would often meet up, share meals, and talk about everyday life. But over time, our contact became less frequent, and eventually, I heard that this friend had moved back to their hometown.   Not long ago, I happened to reconnect with them. They told me: “I’m now working as a Local Creator in my hometown.”   They were deeply engaged in projects such as revitalizing the local economy, promoting the region, and addressing population decline. What Is a Local Creator?   The term “Local Creator” was unfamiliar to most people until just a few years ago, but now it is steadily gaining recognition.   👉 A Local Creator is someone who discovers and reimagines the unique resources and culture of a community, creating new value and innovative brands ...

  Let me introduce a soap made by Donggubat, a company where people with and without disabilities work together.   Today, I want to share one of the products I’ve been using most frequently among those made by Korea’s social economy enterprises. Personally, I enjoy using products that carry social value. Even if a company is not officially certified as a “social economy enterprise,” I like to support products that make a positive impact. I want my consumption to have meaning whenever possible.   Donggubat’s “Perfume Soap.” I loved its cute tree shape so much that I decided to take the photo outdoors. It was such a hot day, but the soap made the photo look simply adorable.(Photo by Milly)  The product I’m introducing today is a soap from Donggubat, one of the most well-known social enterprises in Korea.   Donggubat is widely recognized as a Korean social enterprise. From what I learned while covering their story in the past, the founders wanted to cre...

Social enterprises in South Korea have played an important role in solving social problems and creating jobs. Unlike regular businesses that primarily pursue profits, social enterprises pursue both “profit” and “social value,” acting as a bridge between the private and public sectors.   South Korea officially recognizes social enterprises through a “certification” system that acknowledges their dual role in generating profit and delivering social impact.   Current Social Enterprise Certification System   Under the Social Enterprise Promotion Act (enacted in 2007), South Korea operates a social enterprise certification system. This system certifies companies that meet specific criteria as social enterprises, administered by the government.   Certification helps build trust with consumers and the general public and provides certified enterprises with support such as management assistance, market access, and tax benefits. This support is especially cruci...