“Local problems, solved with local strength” ... South Chungcheong Province launches social solidarity economy initiative with 4.5 billion won

[Financial News, Hongseong = Kim Won-jun, correspondent] South Chungcheong Province is moving ahead in earnest with its “Chungnam-style social solidarity economy” initiative, which aims to address local issues through the strength and networks within communities. Moving beyond the old, linear approach to problem-solving led by the administration, it is a new public-private partnership model in which diverse local stakeholders—including residents, social enterprises, cooperatives and intermediary support organizations—work together.
 South Chungcheong Province said on the 22nd that it would invest a total of 4.5 billion won over three years, from this year through 2028, in projects across four key areas. The funding comprises 3 billion won from a provincial-level fund and 1.5 billion won from city and county budgets. The “Collective Impact” approach, in which diverse local stakeholders set shared goals and combine their resources and capabilities, will be applied throughout the initiative.
 The four main areas are startup support, sustainable tourism, social services in rural and fishing communities, and artificial intelligence (AI) capacity building. First, 1 billion won will go toward establishing a local social solidarity economy startup support system. Shared offices at the Chungnam Social Economy Innovation Town will be linked with intermediary support organizations in cities and counties to foster entrepreneurs rooted in local communities.
 The 2-billion-won “Locally Circular Sustainable Tourism Villages” initiative will connect distinctive cultural and ecological resources with accommodations, experiences and agricultural products, creating a virtuous cycle in which tourist spending returns to the community as income and jobs. The 1-billion-won “Pilot Model for Social Services in Rural and Fishing Communities,” targeting nine population-decline areas, aims to improve living conditions by filling gaps in everyday services such as care, transportation and food. In addition, 500 million won will be used to support the digital transformation of social solidarity economy organizations, including by providing basic AI training and consulting on AI use to 100 organizations.
 South Chungcheong Province plans to extend successful models developed through the initiative to other population-decline areas and maximize their sustainability by linking them with central government policies and subsequent competitive grant programs.
 Lee Jong-pil, head of South Chungcheong Province’s Social Solidarity Economy Bureau, said, “The most sustainable solutions to local problems can be found when residents and local stakeholders who know the area well join forces,” adding, “We will build a system in which achievements within the region circulate back into the region.”
 South Chungcheong Province’s initiative stems from the judgment that one-off cash assistance or isolated projects alone would do little to stem population outflows and regional decline. Unlike the province’s northern area, which is adjacent to the capital region, population decline is worsening in the south and along the west coast. As a result, an endogenous development strategy centered on “local reinvestment”—preventing resources from flowing out of the region and keeping added value circulating within it—has emerged as an urgent priority.

[email protected] Kim Won-jun Reporter