A chalkboard at a local social enterprise, reflecting their deep and ongoing struggle to craft survival strategies as part of the social economy.(Photo by Milly)  There are many different perspectives on social economy. Generally, it is sometimes seen as an actor competing in the market economy, while in other cases, it is considered an economic model rooted in local communities. Many of those who are actively involved in the social economy would probably say that it is fundamentally an economy based on local communities.   😍Why Does the Social Economy Value the Local?   One main reason the social economy places importance on the local is that it often begins as a response to local issues.   For instance, in the case of social economy enterprises that aim to solve environmental problems through business, instead of taking on the grand challenge of “saving the planet,” they start with a smaller, more realistic goal like “let’s circulate our community’s wa...

In the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak, I struggled to get masks. As the demand suddenly surged, the government introduced a system to allow people to purchase them in order.(Photo by Milly)  In 2020, as the COVID-19 virus spread across the world, South Korea, too, faced an unprecedented situation. Streets emptied, companies shifted to remote work, and face-to-face encounters became rare. During that time, I also worked entirely from home, handling everything through phone calls and online tools. It was a quiet yet deeply chaotic period.   Small Enterprises and Local Businesses Faced a Fight for Survival   As in-person interaction became impossible, all businesses suffered operational disruptions. But among them, the hardest hit were small businesses and micro-enterprises. Most social economy enterprises in Korea, being small in scale, were pushed to the brink of collapse. Each day was filled with anxiety how to pay employees this month, and whether they could...

  This past June, one news article set Korea abuzz. BTS member Suga donated 5 billion Korean won (approximately $3.64 million USD) to establish the "Min Yoon-gi Treatment Center" for children with autism spectrum disorder. Another article followed, sharing that BTS’s global fanbase, ARMY, had also joined the donation efforts. Witnessing this powerful wave of goodwill move Korean society brought a lump to my throat.   The truth is, people with developmental disabilities are rarely seen in everyday life in Korea. Or more accurately, it’s rare to visibly encounter people with disabilities in general. They are everywhere, yet seemingly nowhere. Most often, they remain at home, in care facilities, or within institutions.   While discussing ‘Suga’s donation’ with my husband, he shared his first experience meeting a person with developmental disabilities. Several years ago, his company needed printed booklets and placed an order through a company found online. A young ma...

  (Photo by Milly) On July 3rd, in celebration of Cooperative Week and the International Day of Cooperatives (July 5th), the "Cooperative Week Event" was held. This year (2025) held special significance as it marks the second UN-designated International Year of Cooperatives.   While the opening ceremony and policy-academic conferences were being held inside the venue, a small flea market was set up outside where cooperatives sold the products they manufacture or distribute. Many visitors were seen browsing and shopping at the market I, too, purchased a few items I needed. Here are some of the socially valuable products I’d like to share:   "SRT 300 Sand" – I bought two boxes that day. Perfect with coffee! I've already eaten most of them... only a few left.😅 (Photo by Milly) 🍪🍰🍬SRT 300 Sand Series The first booth I visited was selling the SRT 300 Sand cookies. These cookies are produced by the social enterprise Sobakhan Poongkyung Co., Ltd. and distri...