Jeju shifts from 'social economy' to 'solidarity economy'... 31 local initiatives gathered in one place

[Financial News, Jeju = Reporter Jeong Yong-bok] Jeju is launching an experiment to expand its "social economy," centered on social enterprises and cooperatives, into a "solidarity economy" that also links care, the environment and local communities.
According to Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Social Economy Support Center on the 27th, the "2026 Jeju Social Solidarity Economy Commemorative Week" will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 5 at the Convention Hall of the Halla Convention Center at Cheju Halla University.
The event is hosted by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and co-organized by the Jeju Social Economy Solidarity Council. The council includes nine groups: the Jeju Social Economy Network, the Jeju Social Enterprise Association, the Jeju Self-Sufficiency Enterprise Association, the Jeju Village Enterprise Association, the Jeju Hanmaeum Cooperative Federation, the Jeju Regional Consumer Life Cooperative Council, the Jeju Social Cooperative Council, the Jeju Network for Revitalizing the Social Economy, and the Jeju General Trading Company Social Cooperative.
The Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Social Economy Support Center and the Korea Social Enterprise Promotion Agency (KOSEA) will also cooperate in the event.
This year's theme is "Connecting Values, Beginning Solidarity - The Future of Jeju Drawn Together by Jeju's Social Solidarity Economy."
The solidarity economy is a way of doing business that does not pursue profit alone. Instead, it treats cooperation, solidarity and the creation of social value as important standards of economic activity. It broadly connects social enterprises, cooperatives, village enterprises and self-sufficiency enterprises, as well as a wide range of organizations and activities that address community issues such as care, the environment and local food systems.
Rather than simply explaining the concept, this event is designed so that residents can experience the products, services and activities directly.
Around 31 hands-on and exhibition booths will be set up in the venue's hall and corridors, with themes including local communities, youth, the environment, care and solidarity. Participants will include village enterprises, local creators, companies in the environment and care sectors, credit unions and newly launched social solidarity economy organizations.
The program is designed to show how the solidarity economy plays a real role in daily life, from locally produced and consumed food to care services and solutions to environmental problems.
Awards will also be presented to individuals and organizations that contributed to the revitalization of the solidarity economy over the past year. A total of 11 commendations will be given, including six governor's citations, three citations from the Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Council chair, and two citations from the Jeju superintendent of education. Four companies that created outstanding social value will receive the "Social Value Achievement Award."
A separate program will also be offered to help companies boost actual sales and expand distribution channels. From 2 p.m., a business matchmaking networking session will be held in a meeting room to connect Jeju-based solidarity economy companies with private and public purchasing institutions. The goal is to create contact points between companies and demand-side organizations so that social value can lead to actual purchases and transactions.
At 12:30 p.m., there will be an experiential program combining food care and local food, followed by themed programs such as performances and talk concerts starting at 3:30 p.m.
The event is also meaningful in that Jeju's social economy policy is expanding beyond "organizational support" toward building a structure of solidarity and cooperation across the entire local community.
Kang Ho-jin, standing representative of the Jeju Social Economy Network, said, "I hope residents will directly feel the value of the solidarity economy and the power of solidarity through a variety of experiences," adding, "I also hope this becomes an opportunity for social value created locally to be connected more broadly."


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