Social Solidarity Economy Era, Painting the Future of Cooperatives

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has designated cooperatives as a crucial force for tackling the nation's deepening polarization and regional decline, promising policy support for their qualitative growth. Speaking at the 'Cooperative Day' commemorative event in Seoul, he emphasized that cooperatives, prioritizing people and communities with a foundation in mutual growth, are vital to society.

"Cooperatives can play their part in overcoming the immense crises of polarization and regional extinction," Lee stated, vowing to dismantle institutional barriers and provide necessary policy support. National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik echoed this sentiment, highlighting cooperatives' role in creating jobs for marginalized groups like the disabled and the elderly. He pledged to refine laws and systems to foster not only quantitative growth but also qualitative advancement.

During a subsequent policy conference themed 'The Era of Social Solidarity Economy, New Roles and Tasks for Cooperatives,' attendees agreed on the need to reform systems to enable cooperatives to thrive as a new avenue for the social solidarity economy. Kim Dae-hoon, Secretary-General of the National Council of Cooperatives, argued for the integrated growth of social enterprises, cooperatives, and social solidarity finance. Kim Eun-sun, advisor to the Gyeonggi Provincial Council of Cooperatives, proposed establishing a nationwide federation of cooperatives to build a robust ecosystem and effectively spread social solidarity economy policies.

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Cooperatives can play their part in overcoming the immense crises of polarization and regional extinction. We will dismantle institutional barriers and provide necessary policy support.

Case studies showcased cooperatives' local impact. The 'Dream Whale Social Cooperative,' recipient of the Best Cooperative Award, was founded by parents of children with developmental disabilities. They provide after-school services for adolescents with developmental disabilities and customized employment support for severely disabled individuals, filling critical gaps in care and education.

International participants noted cooperatives' potential as a primary solution for social problems. Gianluca Salvatori, Secretary-General of the European Research Institute on Cooperatives and Social Enterprises, observed similarities between Italy and South Korea regarding rapid aging, rural depopulation, and weakening public services in non-capital regions. He suggested Italy's experience, where cooperatives fill public service gaps, offers a valuable model for Korean policymakers. Leonardo Popery, Secretary-General of the Italian Confederation of Cooperatives, stressed that cooperatives are not merely economic entities but community-rooted organizations contributing to local sustainable development, advocating for cooperative networks to achieve economies of scale and strengthen their societal standing.

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Cooperatives are not merely economic entities but community-rooted organizations contributing to local sustainable development. Building cooperative networks can create economies of scale and strengthen their societal standing.