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...

  Once a month, on the last Saturday morning of each month, there is a gathering I make sure not to miss. It is a Social Peer Learning (SPL) meeting. SPL has been running for just over a year now. It was first proposed by a practitioner in the field, bringing together people working in various organizations and institutions to learn from one another. I have been participating since the very beginning — perhaps even as a “model member” (laugh).   **Although I usually use the term “Social and Solidarity Economy” on this blog, in this article I use “Social Economy” to reflect the official name of the group. ➡See related post The Shift in Terminology: From “Social Economy” to “Social Solidarity Economy” From This Year On, I Will Use the Term “Social and Solidarity Economy” Instead of “Social Economy” During my years working as a journalist, one of the greatest advantages I experienced was that I was, in a sense, compelled to study the field I belonged to. I covered numerous ev...

  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...