Gurye 'Social Economy Network Forum' Successfully Held

Exploring Alternatives and Community-Oriented Directions for Rural Area Societies

[Gurye=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yuk Miseok] Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do announced that through a survey on the status and demand of the social economy conducted since July this year, it held the first Social Economy Network Forum to explore alternatives and communal directions for rural communities.

The forum, held on the 23rd at the Gurye Nature Dream ICA Hall and hosted by Jirisan Ssi Cooperative, was attended by social economy experts and operators who engaged in discussions to explore the current situation and alternatives.

Kim Ki-tae, who served as the Social Economy Secretary at the Blue House under the Moon Jae-in administration, emphasized in his keynote presentation the importance of various community economic organizations centered on food plans and the need for intermediary support organizations to foster strategic social franchises.

Im Kyung-su, director of the Wanju Gosan Permaculture Center, discussed the strategies and roles of social economy organizations utilizing the hometown love donation system, while Byun Hyung-seok, former president of the Korea Social Enterprise Promotion Association, introduced the measurement and cases of social value in local community businesses and presented essential tasks.

Kwon Hyuk-beom, representative of the Yeomin Dongnak community in Dongnak-myeon, Yeonggwang, presented examples of social economy activities as agents of social services to guarantee basic living in rural township areas during the final keynote presentation.

The forum saw participation from the Economic Vitality Division of Gurye County Office and various social economy entities in the Gurye area, engaging in discussions for over three hours.

Im Hyun-su, CEO of Jirisan Ssi Cooperative, which organized the meeting, pointed out that despite the enactment of the ordinance on fostering and supporting the social economy at the end of 2018 in Gurye-gun, there had been no follow-up measures such as development plans or intermediary support organizations, emphasizing that “beyond central government policies, the joint solidarity of social economy actors and their role as cooperative agents in rural development is crucial at this time.”

Gurye-gun and Jirisan Ssi Cooperative, as part of the 2022 regional capacity-building project, plan to actively seek various networks and linkages among social economy and rural development actors and pursue related joint projects through this jointly hosted forum.

Gurye=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yuk Miseok hss79@asiae.co.kr