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[Interview] A University Inside Real Business: Mondragon University’s LEINN Seoul Lab (Part 1)

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  When we picture university life, we usually envision lecture halls packed with students listening to a professor's presentation. But what if a university had neither lecture halls nor professors? Last month, I visited a unique educational institution where both were absent. Instead of classrooms, students worked in active business environments; instead of professors, team coaches guided them. This is the story of Mondragon University’s LEINN Seoul Lab.   How is LEINN Seoul Lab operated, and how do students approach their learning? I sat down with Yena Lee, a team coach at Mondragon University’s LEINN Seoul Lab, to explore the journey in depth. By chance, I also had the opportunity to briefly meet students who were actively working on projects even during their vacation. Over the coming series, I will share the compelling story of Mondragon University’s LEINN. (Note: Throughout this article, Mondragon University’s LEINN program is referred to simply as ‘LEINN.’)   ...
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10 Key Trends in South Korean Volunteering for 2026 (Part 2)

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  The landscape of volunteering is undergoing a profound transformation. While large-scale group activities once represented the norm, contemporary volunteering is evolving toward specialized, skills-based contributions driven by integrated people-and-systems approaches. Today, volunteerism is increasingly recognized as a vital mechanism for shaping the future of our society.   Volunteering culture, an accredited non-profit organization dedicated to cultivating and expanding civic volunteerism in South Korea, recently published its annual trend report, <Volunteer 2026>. Following the first five trends examined in our previous post, this article explores the remaining five trends shaping the ecosystem.   👉👉Read Part 1 First 10 Key Trends in South Korean Volunteering for 2026 (Part 1)   ⑥  Hyper-Local Impact🌞   Community-rooted volunteering delivers initiatives tailored directly to residents' daily living environments. The most pressing n...
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10 Key Trends in South Korean Volunteering for 2026 (Part 1)

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  In recent years, South Korea has seen sustained interest across government and society in ESG and CSR initiatives. Earlier this year, the government established the 'Social Contribution Innovation Advisory Group.' Created to support corporate social contribution effectively, this body positions the government as a key facilitator working alongside the private sector. Through this initiative, the government aims to help corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs deliver tangible outcomes that citizens can genuinely feel.   In tandem with these policy efforts, corporations are actively pursuing volunteer programs as a cornerstone of their CSR strategies. What distinguishes current corporate volunteering from the past is its evolution into a catalyst for driving real, substantive change across our society.   Furthermore, 2026 marks the United Nations' International Year of Volunteers. This global declaration underscores the imperative to listen to community voi...
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[Interview] Reflecting on Identity: Moving Forward with Conviction (Part 2)

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  'Identity' is by no means a lightweight word. It signifies the unchanging essence of existence — a term carrying profound weight and one that demands clear understanding.   Understanding identity is equally vital in the social and solidarity economy (SSE), because a clear sense of identity empowers us to move forward with resilience and purpose.   This article is the second part of the interview with a South Korean SSE expert on why we must continuously reflect on our identity. I hope this conversation offers meaningful insights to everyone exploring their own identity and purpose.   Minsoo Kang, Executive Director of the Korea Social Solidarity Economy Alliance (Photo by Milly) Interviewee: Minsoo Kang, Executive Director of the Korea Social Solidarity Economy Alliance   👉👉Read Part 1 First [Interview] Questioning the Identity of South Korea's Social and Solidarity Economy (Part 1)   Q: In the past, the social economy focused primar...
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