Inside Korea’s Social Impact

  What is the Social and Solidarity Economy?❓💬   Globally, terms like “social and solidarity economy” or “social impact” are used to describe a broad range of organizations working to solve social problems.   However, Korea is both similar and different. While organizations pursuing social purposes do exist, structurally they are divided into different types. From the outside, it may look like a single ecosystem, but in reality, it is segmented into multiple systems and institutional frameworks.   Differences in Scope Between Overseas and Korea🐣   In Europe and other regions, a wide range of organizations are included within the social and solidarity economy. These include cooperatives, mutual societies, social enterprises, non-profit organizations (NPOs), foundations, and self-help groups.   In other words, both formal and informal economic activities are included, and the focus is on the “social purpose” regardless of whether the org...

  A few years ago, I saw a foreigner standing in front of several trash bins at a subway station, holding a disposable cup and hesitating. The bins were separated into categories like paper, plastic, and cans, and they seemed unsure where to throw their cup away. A passerby noticed the situation, asked what was wrong, and kindly pointed to the plastic bin.   For me, having been born and raised in Korea, separating waste is something very familiar. When I was young, my mother set up different bins at home for general waste, plastic, cans, and paper. My family naturally followed those rules.   Today, the system has become even more detailed. Waste is categorized into general waste, food waste, plastic, glass, metal (cans), paper, vinyl, and Styrofoam. General waste must be disposed of in designated paid garbage bags, while food waste must go into separate food waste bags or designated containers (which vary by region). Plastic labels must be removed and sorted separ...

  In many countries, social impact is primarily driven by non-profits, social enterprises, and the public sector. Korea is not very different. In fact, when explaining social impact to those unfamiliar with the concept, many people tend to think of it as an area centered on public services or welfare.   However, the reality is slightly different. While it is true that social impact carries a strong public nature due to its mission of addressing social problems and achieving social goals, a closer look reveals that general corporations — especially large companies — also play a significant role in the development of the social impact ecosystem.   That said, the way corporations engage has evolved. In the past, corporate involvement often took the form of donations, one-time social contribution activities, or ESG being included as part of a broader business strategy. Recently, however, more companies are approaching social contribution with a long-term perspective, ...

  The ongoing war in the Middle East has thrown the international community into confusion. In Korea as well, news about the Middle East war is constantly being delivered through TV, news outlets, and even YouTube channels. Nevertheless, there are also many people who do not pay much attention to the war. Since the Middle East, where the war is taking place, is geographically far from Korea, it may be difficult for people to truly feel its impact.   🌱But is war really unrelated to us?   The media continuously reports on the reality of the war, but it is difficult to directly experience the situation in Korea. However, if we think about it a little more, the war is already having a significant impact on Korean society. The most intuitive example is its effect on the stock market. In addition, it directly affects our daily lives through rising energy prices, inflation, and supply chain instability. In other words, the war is shaking Korea’s economy and changing the...