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Village Enterprises: The Local Roots of Social Innovation

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  In recent years, one phrase has often been heard across Korea : “ The regions are disappearing .”   Population decline, concentration in the Seoul metropolitan area , lack of jobs, and the collapse of local communities have made this an urgent and unavoidable challenge. To keep regions alive, new and practical solutions are needed.   Amid these challenges, village enterprises are drawing renewed attention. A village enterprise is not just a small business — it is a grassroots movement for social innovation , where residents come together to solve local problems and create economic opportunities using their own resources.   Until recently, village enterprises in Korea had relatively weak institutional foundations, often relying on government grants or public competitions . However, the atmosphere has started to change. In July 2025, the Village Enterprise Promotion and Support Act was finally passed by the National Assembly , marking a turning point. ...
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Cooperatives in Korea: A Way of Working and Living Together

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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...
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Korean Youth and Value-Based Consumption: The Quiet Power of Social Innovation

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  During my time as a journalist, I had several opportunities to meet and talk with today’s youth, often referred to as the MZ generation (college students). Most conversations revolved around their interest in social values .   What I noticed was that young people are more concerned with social values than I had expected. While not every individual behaves this way, in general, youth don’t just buy products because they are cheap or aesthetically pleasing. Instead, they consider the values and philosophy behind a brand, as well as the meaning their purchase carries.   👉Consumption as a Language of Personal Values   Young people who own pets are concerned about animal welfare . Those who are disabled or have disabled friends are attentive to disability-related issues. Residents of specific regions care about regional decline and depopulation.   In other words, concerns like animal welfare, human rights, regional sustainability, and environmenta...
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