Inside Korea’s Social Impact

  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 ...

In South Korea, there are not many days with clear skies. Therefore, long-term greenhouse gas reduction targets are highly anticipated.(Photo by Milly)    On November 11, 2025, the Korean government officially announced its plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 53 – 61% compared to 2018 levels by 2035. This is not just another environmental policy — it signals a comprehensive transformation of Korea’s industrial, energy, and social structures.   However, such a massive transition cannot be achieved through government policy alone. That’s why the role of the social economy and social innovation is becoming increasingly important.   Why Social Economy and Social Innovation Are Connected   Responding to the climate crisis requires more than technological innovation — such as improving power generation efficiency or industrial processes. It cannot be solved by the actions of a few companies alone. We need changes in consumption and lifestyle, active...

  Over the past half-century, Korea has achieved remarkable economic growth. Yet behind this success lie a number of emerging challenges — inequality, environmental degradation, rural decline, and the growing issues of low birthrate and an aging population.   These problems are too complex to be solved by the government or large corporations alone. As awareness of this reality spread, new groups of people began to explore innovative ways to address social problems. They are the social innovators .   Social Economy vs. Social Ventures   Korea’s social economy can be broadly categorized into five types: cooperatives , village enterprises , social enterprises , self-sufficiency enterprises , and social ventures. These organizations all pursue both profit and purpose — creating social value through business activities.   Among them, social ventures stand out. Unlike traditional social economy organizations such as cooperatives or village enterprise...