Cooperatives in Korea: A Way of Working and Living Together
Cooperatives in Korea are more than just part of the social economy . They embody a philosophy — a search for how to live and work together. The Rise of Cooperatives Since the enactment of the Framework Act on Cooperatives in 2012 , more than 20,000 cooperatives have been established in Korea within just a decade. (As of 2022, the number reached 23,939.) This rapid growth reflects a growing awareness that the market-centered system alone cannot fully address the needs of local communities or solve complex social problems. People First : The Core Principle In a cooperative, members are the owners, and people — not profit — come first. Members are both consumers and producers, workers and decision-makers. Among the most important principles is participation. Even if it takes more time, cooperatives value collective decision-making and shared responsibility. In this sense, a cooperative can be seen as a small-scale space where democracy truly c...