Jeonbuk Province Supports Establishment of the Nation's First Social Economy Intermediate Support Organization

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Jeonbuk Province is taking the lead nationwide in supporting the establishment of 'City/County Social Economy Intermediate Support Organizations.'

On the 11th, Jeonbuk Province held a preliminary briefing session at Social Campus On for cities and counties wishing to establish social economy intermediate support organizations, sharing the purpose and necessity of supporting the establishment of these organizations.

The project to establish city/county social economy intermediate support organizations was a new initiative identified through eight public-private council meetings last year. It was planned based on the judgment that an organization acting as a bridge between administration, social economy enterprises, and residents is necessary to strengthen the local social economy capabilities.

Once social economy intermediate support organizations are established in cities and counties, it is expected that the activation of local communities through the establishment of regional social economy networks and the strengthening of expertise and sustainability of social economy enterprises through integrated marketing support will create a social economy foundation that anyone can experience in daily life, solving local community problems.

At the preliminary briefing session held that day, Kim Hyun-cheol, Director of the Iksan City Social Economy Support Center, explained the role and necessity of social economy intermediate support organizations to public officials and local activists. The province shared the application procedures for intermediate support organizations and encouraged interest in the social economy among cities and counties.

Na Seok-hoon, Head of the Job Economy Headquarters, said, “Social economy can achieve qualitative growth when the needs and demands of local communities are combined to create a social foundation that can be felt in daily life. We plan to actively support the establishment and utilization of social economy intermediate support organizations in cities and counties to build a regional social economy ecosystem.”

Currently, Jeonbuk Province has two social economy intermediate support organizations: the Jeonbuk Economic and Trade Promotion Agency Social Economy Support Center and the Jeonbuk Social Enterprise and Cooperative Integrated Support Center. Cities and counties operating such organizations include Jeonju City, Iksan City, and Wanju County.