Dongdaemun-gu, Two Village Enterprises Selected by Ministry of the Interior and Safety

DDM Maker Cooperative · Munhwa Platform Siminnaru Cooperative Business Expense Support, Management Consultation, Market Access Support, etc... Focused Development of Social Economy

DDM Maker Cooperative Resin Craft Class

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Two companies in Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor You Deok-yeol) were selected as village enterprises designated by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety in 2021.

This is the highest number among newly designated village enterprises in Seoul.

A village enterprise refers to a community-level business that utilizes local resources to generate profits and create jobs.

The newly designated village enterprises are ▲DDM Maker Cooperative ▲Cultural Platform Siminnaru Cooperative. Following their selection as preliminary village enterprises by Seoul City in July last year, they achieved the final designation as village enterprises by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

‘DDM Maker Cooperative’ was established by participants of the Dongdaemun-gu maker training program conducted in 2019.

Women with career interruptions and young job seekers who faced difficulties in employment and entrepreneurship founded the cooperative in January last year to educate and train others facing similar challenges as makers.

However, with sales channels blocked due to COVID-19, they were struggling until Dongdaemun-gu encouraged them to apply for village enterprise status. After consulting for village enterprise designation, they were finally selected as a newly designated village enterprise by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

‘Cultural Platform Siminnaru Cooperative’ is a cooperative that collects and preserves records of Dongdaemun-gu ‘by the residents, of the residents, for the residents’ using media such as magazines, videos, and podcasts. They share a common identity as Dongdaemun-gu residents and a strong bond to deliver vivid community news.

The selected village enterprises receive project funding of 50 million KRW for new designation (1st term), 30 million KRW for re-designation (2nd term), and 20 million KRW for advancement (3rd term).

They also receive consulting services such as management counseling and sales channel support.

You Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, stated, “I am pleased that the efforts and considerations to solve job issues centered on the local community have borne good results this time,” and added, “We will continue to focus on fostering the social economy as a new alternative so that residents can overcome economic difficulties and take on new challenges with hope.”