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Corporate Social Contribution: Becoming a Partner in Social Innovation

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  Today, South Korea faces an increasingly complex set of social challenges, including care shortages, the climate crisis, regional decline, and the digital divide. To address these issues, not only the government but also many Korean companies are working to create social change through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities.   However, these challenges are difficult for the government to solve alone. As a result, in February 2026, the Korean government established the Social Contribution Innovation Advisory Group as a way to more strategically utilize corporate social contribution efforts in addressing social problems.   The Social Contribution Innovation Advisory Group was launched as part of a public-private collaboration framework, allowing the government and private sector to discuss corporate social contribution together, with the government serving as a key facilitator.   The advisory group consists of private-sector experts from major c...
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Football in Public Squares Around the World: Does the World Cup Create Social Capital?

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  When Koreans think of football, there is one unforgettable moment that comes to mind: the 2002 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by South Korea and Japan.   I was a high school student at the time. Normally, we would have been studying during evening self-study sessions, but whenever a World Cup match was on, teachers and students gathered together to watch the broadcast and cheer. Whenever South Korea scored a goal, people hugged each other and jumped with excitement. Some students were even moved to tears. We celebrated together and shared the joy together. Even decades later, those memories remain some of the happiest moments of my youth.   Today, the FIFA World Cup is once again capturing people's attention. While the atmosphere may not be as intense as it was in 2002, many people are still gathering to support their national teams. Recently, I watched a news interview in which a high school student said that cheering together with friends was so enjoyable that it wa...
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The Power of a Village Built on Sunlight: Sunlight Income Villages in South Korea

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  One of the initiatives currently attracting significant attention in South Korea is the Sunlight Income Village program. As the name suggests, it is a model that generates income from sunlight. I have mentioned Sunlight Income Villages several times on this blog, but in this article, I would like to explain what they are and why they matter.   🔆 What Is a Sunlight Income Village?   First, let's take a look at what a Sunlight Income Village actually is.   A Sunlight Income Village is a community-led renewable energy project in which local residents install and operate village-scale solar power facilities on idle land, public land, or other underutilized spaces. The revenue generated from these solar facilities is then used to improve community welfare and support the local economy.   The most important feature of this model is that residents participate directly. Community members are involved in both the installation and operation of the solar...
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