Inside Korea’s Social Impact

  While working as a journalist covering the fields of the Social and Solidarity Economy and social innovation, there was one question I frequently asked founders and managers of social impact enterprises. Even when I did not raise it myself, I often heard the same question discussed at forums and seminars: “What is the most essential factor in running your organization?”  ❓ Most social impact entrepreneurs gave remarkably similar answers. To operate their organizations in a stable and sustainable way, they need a reliable space — a physical place where their teams can work. And they emphasized that this space is not optional; it is essential.   Although workplaces in South Korea, like many parts of the world, are increasingly shifting toward digital environments, gathering in an offline space remains highly significant. For social impact enterprises, space is more than just a workplace. Especially for organizations that pursue both value and profit, space becomes a s...

  In my previous posts, I discussed how the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) was adopted as a national policy agenda by the current government of South Korea and explored the reactions from the field. In that context, I mentioned that Korea is entering a period of preparation for “SSE 2.0.” In this article, I would like to reflect on what SSE 2.0 means and what direction it should take moving forward.   👉Related Articles Social and Solidarity Economy Adopted as a National Policy Agenda by South Korea’s Current Government (Part 1) How Is the Field Responding After ‘Social and Solidarity Economy’ Was Adopted as a National Policy Agenda? (Part 2)   From my perspective, the government’s decision to adopt the promotion of the Social and Solidarity Economy as a national agenda presents an opportunity for Korea’s SSE to take a new leap forward. It was in this context that I referred to the idea of “SSE 2.0.” Whether this expression will remain merely a policy slogan ...

  Since the current administration adopted the “promotion of the Social and Solidarity Economy” as a national policy agenda, what has the atmosphere in the field been like? Although I have not met everyone, based on what I have personally observed, the mood is neither one of unconditional welcome nor outright criticism. Expectations for the development of the Social and Solidarity Economy coexist with caution and concern.   ➡Related Articles Social and Solidarity Economy Adopted as a National Policy Agenda by South Korea’s Current Government (Part 1)   In fact, previous administrations had also adopted the activation of the Social and Solidarity Economy (Social Economy) as a national policy agenda. At that time, the Social and Solidarity Economy experienced significant quantitative growth. Various types of organizations — such as social enterprises, village enterprises, cooperatives, social ventures, and self-support enterprises — expanded, and they have played cert...

  Among South Korea’s 123 national policy agendas under the current administration, one particularly notable inclusion is the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE). The government adopted “Promoting the Growth of the Social and Solidarity Economy” as Agenda No. 81, which marks a significant shift compared to the previous administration, during which funding for the SSE sector was drastically reduced.   From my personal perspective, public support from the government is necessary to a certain extent when it comes to the Social and Solidarity Economy. This is because the SSE does not merely engage in “business,” but simultaneously pursues solutions to social problems. In doing so, it effectively takes on roles that would otherwise fall under the responsibility of the public sector.   For this reason, the inclusion of the Social and Solidarity Economy in the current government’s national policy agenda carries considerable meaning. It is not simply about being listed as...