Inside Korea’s Social Impact

  In this blog, I have previously mentioned the development and role of cooperatives in Korea. In today’s post, I would like to write about how cooperatives can play a role in solving social problems and introduce several examples.   📌Cooperatives Are Not Just Business Organizations   Most people think of cooperatives simply as business organizations. This is also the case in Korea. Rather than pursuing only individual profit, some people establish cooperatives as a way of doing business that pursues shared benefits and collective values.   On the other hand, there are also cases where cooperatives are established in order to run businesses that aim to solve social problems. For example, socially disadvantaged groups such as people with disabilities or older adults may form cooperatives and run businesses together, allowing them to continue sustainable social activities.   In addition, cooperatives are sometimes highlighted as a direct way to ad...

  When people talk about social economy organizations or social innovation enterprises in South Korea, attention is usually focused on founders, CEOs, or frontline practitioners. Far less visible, however, are those who quietly make these organizations function on a daily basis: middle managers.   In Korea’s social and solidarity economy (SSE) and social innovation sector, middle managers play a critical role in sustaining organizations. This article explores what middle managers actually do in the Korean context — and why their role matters more than we often acknowledge.   In South Korea, middle managers typically hold titles such as team leader, section chief, or department head. I worked in the role of a team leader.(Photo by Milly)   Structural Characteristics of Korea’s SSE and Social Innovation Organizations   I previously worked at a media organization that held preliminary social enterprise certification. In that organization, I served ...

  In Korea , every year as the weather gets colder, people prepare kimjang — the traditional practice of making large batches of kimchi to last through the year. Making kimchi requires plenty of ingredients such as napa cabbage , radish , and red chili powder . My family participates in this tradition as well, and I often help my parents during the preparation. When I asked where they got such fresh produce, I learned that it came from relatives and local farmers who grew high-quality ingredients. It’s a simple reminder that in Korea, people take their food seriously.   Even during my school days, meals were well-balanced with fresh vegetables and protein, and food was something we genuinely enjoyed. Today, the global popularity of K-Food is partly a reflection of Koreans’ dedication to quality and taste in everyday meals.   Koreans’ focus on healthy, high-quality food has also inspired social enterprises that combine local agriculture, environmental awareness, ...

  In South Korea, the issue of isolated youth has been receiving increasing attention. According to the “2024 Survey on the Lives of Youth” conducted by the government last year, the proportion of isolated or withdrawn youth is 5.2%. These young people rarely go out or have very limited social interactions, which can be seen not just as an individual problem but as a social and structural issue.   Why We Should Care About Isolated Youth   Isolated youth live cut off from society, which can lead to feelings of depression and helplessness and intensify social isolation. Their lack of social participation also has broader implications, potentially resulting in losses for communities and the nation as a whole.   The government is also implementing various programs to address the issue of socially isolated and withdrawn youth. (Source: Screenshot from the Ministry of Health and Welfare website) How the Social Economy and Social Innovation Connect to Isolated Y...