Gangwon social economy groups urge new governor to restore sector

Social economy organizations in Gangwon Province are demanding that the newly elected governor, Woo Sang-ho, take decisive action to restore the region's social economy ecosystem. A coalition of these groups, including cooperatives and village enterprises, held a press conference at the Gangwon Provincial Office to voice their concerns.

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The social economy ecosystem in Gangwon has been severely weakened over the past three years due to significant budget cuts by the national government and policy retreats under the previous provincial governor.

The coalition argues that Gangwon's social economy sector has been critically weakened over the last three years. They attribute this decline to substantial budget cuts for social economy initiatives by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, followed by policy setbacks during the tenure of former Governor Kim Jin-tae. Despite a national recovery in social economy budgets and projects for 2026, Gangwon's initiatives remain on hold or face uncertain futures.

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Representative Choi's indiscriminate allegations and the provincial government's response have harmed social economy businesses, their employees, and the local community.

Accusations are directed at Representative Choi Hyuk-jin and the Gangwon Provincial Government for the stalled projects. The coalition claims Choi's allegations of hiring irregularities and improper fund management within social enterprise intermediary organizations led the provincial government to suspend projects without adequate consultation or alternative solutions. "This irresponsible political offensive and passive administration have harmed social economy businesses, their employees, and the local community," stated Kim Tae-seong, CEO of Taesung Social Enterprise.

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We need an open and transparent policy discussion structure involving administrators, social enterprises, intermediary organizations, and field activists to restore the social economy ecosystem.

The organizations are requesting a collaborative approach with Governor-elect Woo, advocating for an open and transparent policy discussion structure involving administrators, social enterprises, intermediary organizations, and field activists. They urge the governor-elect to initiate these discussions from the transition committee stage, emphasizing a field-centered policy restoration rather than closed-door administration. Park Jun-young, representative of the Gangwon Social Economy Solidarity, appealed to Woo to correct administrative judgments based on clear policy principles and legal procedures, rather than political considerations.

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Governor-elect Woo should correct administrative judgments based on clear policy principles and legal procedures, not political considerations.