Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Hyungjoon) will be accepting applications for designation as a preliminary social enterprise for the year 2025 from August 11 to August 29, 2025.
A preliminary social enterprise refers to a business entity that, in accordance with the Social Enterprise Promotion Act, has not yet fully met the certification requirements for a social enterprise but already possesses the substance of a social enterprise, such as conducting business activities aimed at achieving social objectives.
Each year, the city designates and fosters companies as preliminary social enterprises that create jobs for vulnerable groups and provide social services tailored to the characteristics of the region. Currently, a total of 44 companies are designated and operating as Busan-type preliminary social enterprises.
Once designated as a preliminary social enterprise, companies can enjoy various benefits, including: eligibility to apply for support projects for three years; consulting support to meet the certification requirements of the Ministry of Employment and Labor for social enterprises; preferential purchasing and market support from public institutions; and financial assistance.
Companies wishing to be designated as preliminary social enterprises should apply through the Integrated Social Enterprise Business Management System to the relevant social enterprise department of their district or county office.
The city plans to conduct a document review and on-site inspection in September and October, followed by evaluations by an expert review committee and the Social Enterprise Promotion Committee in October. The final selection results will be announced on the city's official website.
Busan Metropolitan City will hold an information session at 10:00 a.m. on August 7 at the City Hall International Conference Hall. The session will provide detailed guidance for interested companies on eligibility for application, required documents, and application procedures using the Integrated Social Enterprise Business Management System. For more information, please contact the relevant district or county office in your area.
Kim Bongcheol, Director of the Digital Economy Bureau of the city, stated, "Through this call for applications, we aim to discover Busan-type preliminary social enterprises suited to the characteristics of our region and will actively support these companies so that they can realize social values such as solving community issues and creating jobs for vulnerable groups."
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