Gyeongbuk Province announced on the 30th that, based on the 2024 business report, social enterprises in the province have achieved record-breaking performance in most evaluation indicators, including sales revenue, operating profit, job creation and employment of vulnerable groups, and social contribution achievements.
Total sales revenue reached 557.4 billion KRW last year, an increase of 14.7 billion KRW compared to 2022, and the average sales revenue of certified social enterprises surpassed 2 billion KRW for the first time since related surveys began.
Representatives of social enterprises in the Gyeongbuk region held a special exhibition to support single mothers, donated funds, and took a commemorative photo with Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk (4th from the left).
The number of full-time employees also increased by 7.8% compared to the previous year, reaching 4,412, and employment of vulnerable groups, which can be considered the primary goal of social enterprises, accounted for 2,450 employees, representing 55.5% of the total workforce.
The number of beneficiaries receiving free social services such as care and education rose by approximately 17,000 compared to 2022, reaching an annual total of 106,700 people. Additionally, the amount reinvested by enterprises into social purposes increased by 14.7 billion KRW to 29.5 billion KRW. This represents an increase of over 201% compared to the previous year, marking the largest growth ever recorded.
The proportion of female representatives reached 43% of the total, and women accounted for 61% of employees, both reaching record highs, confirming that social enterprises play a significant role in promoting women's social participation and job creation.
Gyeongbuk Province has fostered 72 companies that achieved the ‘10-10 Club’ (simultaneously reaching 1 billion KRW in sales and 10 employees) as part of its goal to cultivate ‘large-scale and sound social enterprises.’ For the first time, the number of companies with sales exceeding 1 billion KRW surpassed 100, exceeding 30% of the total number of enterprises. This indicates a growth trend in scale as well.
Separate social contribution programs responding to local social issues, such as the support festival for low-income children with incurable diseases (2021?2022), crowdfunding for Gyeongbuk haenyeo (female divers) support (2023), and special sales events supporting single mothers and unmarried mothers (2023?2024), are planned and operated annually, receiving high acclaim from local residents.
In particular, in response to the national social issue of low birth rates, the special sales event to support low-income single mothers involved participating social economy enterprises donating 10% of the sales generated from the event. Additionally, 20 single mother and unmarried mother households in the Gyeongbuk region receive monthly regular support of childcare and daily necessities, contributing to solving local social problems through the realization of corporate social value.
The background of these achievements is evaluated to be the effect of Gyeongbuk Province’s uniquely implemented projects. Park Dong-sik, Chairman of the Gyeongbuk Social Enterprise Council, stated, “For over 10 years, Gyeongsangbuk-do has pursued support policies to strengthen corporate competitiveness under the motto ‘companies that perform in the market and are recognized by society,’ including fostering the ‘10-10 Club,’ supporting B-corp certification, linking resources with large corporations, nurturing excellent and promising companies, and providing education and consulting according to growth stages. Even when national funding was completely cut, we have steadily led collaboration with private specialized institutions.”
Choi Young-sook, Director of the Economic and Trade Bureau of Gyeongbuk Province, said, “I respect the entrepreneurs in the field who do their best to achieve steady growth and realize social value despite the difficult economic situation. We will do our utmost to establish support policies and foster social enterprises for Gyeongbuk, the capital of good companies that contribute to society and revitalize the region, creating leading models worthy of nationwide learning.”
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