Capital-Centered Social Impact in Korea — But Regions Hold Strong Potential
One of the persistent social issues in South Korea is the concentration of resources and opportunities in Seoul and the greater metropolitan area. In recent years, there have been growing calls to strengthen regional development, and the atmosphere is slowly shifting. Nevertheless, the structural tendency toward centralization in Seoul remains strong. The same pattern can be observed in the fields of the Social and Solidarity Economy and social innovation. Compared to other sectors, the social impact field arguably has more people who remain in their local communities and work for regional development. However, because the broader social and economic environment is heavily centered around Seoul, many forums, seminars, conferences, and networking events still take place primarily in the capital region. While social impact ecosystems have been established across different parts of the country, in reality the ecosystem often appears to be structured around the ...