On December 3, 2024, South Korea was thrown into shock when then-President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law . Citizens gathered in front of the National Assembly , and young people working in the SSE sector ran to the scene. They assisted elected lawmakers so they could enter the building and fulfill their constitutional duties.   This article continues the story of the young activists of SE-ACT who acted on the front lines that night. *In this article, “ social and solidarity economy ” is used instead of the former term “ social economy .”   😍😙Read the article on the difference between the terms ‘Social Economy’ and ‘Social and Solidarity Economy’ The Shift in Terminology: From “Social Economy” to “Social Solidarity Economy” 😜😘Read Part 1 December 3: The Birth of SE-ACT Amid Korea’s Democratic Crisis (Part 1)     The flag of SE-ACT . (Source: SE-ACT) Why Does SE-ACT Act?   Over the past year, SE-ACT has issued multiple public statements w...

SE-ACT and the  social enterprise   Run Coffee  served 2,000 cups of free coffee to citizens attending the rallies in December 2024. (Source: SE-ACT)   For anyone living in South Korea , December 3, 2024 is a day that will not be forgotten. It was an ordinary evening — until unexpected breaking news shook the entire country. Then-President Yoon Suk-yeol abruptly declared martial law — a measure rarely seen in modern democratic nations. Many citizens felt confusion, shock, and fear.   The sudden presence of armored vehicles and armed soldiers in downtown Seoul intensified the collective panic. Some citizens rushed straight to the National Assembly . Young people working in the social and solidarity economy (formerly “ social economy ”) also knew they could not stay still.   One activist who ran to the site recalled: “There were already countless citizens gathered in front of the National Assembly. Police were blocking access, and people were tryin...

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...