What Is the Secret Behind Yeongdeungpo-gu Being Selected as a '2021 Social Economy Friendly City'?

Seoul's First Social Enterprise Promotion Excellence Award and Top Local Government Award Simultaneously Received...Highly Appreciated Efforts to Realize 'Social Economy in Daily Life' through Collaboration with Local Educational Institutions and Social Enterprises

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Yeongdeungpo-gu (District Mayor Chae Hyun-il) was selected as a ‘2021 Social Economy Friendly City’ at the Social Enterprise Day ceremony held on the 2nd at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor selects local governments that have shown excellent performance in fostering social economy enterprises and nurturing talent as Social Economy Friendly Cities every year to promote the activation of the social economy and discover and spread best practices.

This evaluation was conducted in conjunction with the assessment of excellent local governments fostering social enterprises, and examined the efforts of local governments to establish a talent nurturing system for the social economy across six areas: ▲establishment of dedicated social economy organizations ▲enactment of ordinances supporting social economy activation ▲construction of social economy education infrastructure ▲social economy education for local residents ▲social economy education for youth linked with local education offices and schools ▲appropriateness of educational content.

Only two basic local governments nationwide were selected as Social Economy Friendly Cities in 2021. In particular, Yeongdeungpo-gu was recognized not only for nurturing social economy talent but also for efforts to activate the local-based social economy, earning the honor of simultaneously receiving the ‘Best Local Government Award for Fostering Social Enterprises’ and the ‘Social Economy Friendly City’ designation for the first time in Seoul.

The district established an educational cooperation system between social enterprises, schools, and communities by linking with Seoul City University Startup Support Group, middle schools, local children’s centers, and small libraries, providing high-quality educational content to a total of 4,706 youths. This created an opportunity to spread awareness of the social economy at the first stage of the life cycle, receiving high evaluation.

Additionally, the district has promoted social economy activation projects that local residents can experience using both online and offline methods even amid the COVID-19 situation, including ▲online social economy education for residents ▲social economy academy for local residents ▲collaborative support projects for local residents ▲production and distribution of basic social economy education webtoons ▲promotion of social enterprises using Yeongdeungpo Market Station Market Square ▲establishment of the Yeongdeungpo-gu joint brand Popogre media platform.

Chae Hyun-il, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, said, “This selection as a Social Economy Friendly City is a valuable achievement made possible by social enterprises, schools, and communities working together to nurture social economy talent,” and added, “We will continue to unite our efforts through public-private win-win cooperation to realize social economy in daily life.”