Korea hosts 2024 Social Enterprise Leaders Forum, championing social entrepreneurs as problem-solvers
On 22 November 2024, Ms. Simel Esim, Head of ILO Cooperative, Social and Solidarity Economy delivered a video message at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Social Enterprise Leaders Forum in the Republic of Korea.
28 November 2024
Geneva (ILO News) - On 22 November 2024, the Ministry of Employment and Labor of Korea and the Korea Social Enterprise Promotion Agency (KoSEA) successfully hosted the 2024 Social Enterprise Leaders Forum. KoSEA is a public organization that was established in December 2010 and is affiliated with the Ministry of Employment and Labor of Korea. It supports the stable growth of social enterprises and fosters a healthy social economy ecosystem, working with social economy entities, including social enterprises and cooperatives, to build a hopeful society.
The forum, held under the theme, “The Key to Solving Social Problems, ‘Social Entrepreneurs’ - Create Collective Impact Through Collaboration Among Resource Holders,” brought together policymakers, thought leaders, and social entrepreneurs to discuss innovative solutions to pressing social issues.
One of the highlights of the forum was the keynote video address by Ms. Simel Esim, Head of the ILO's Cooperative, Social and Solidarity Economy Unit. Ms. Esim underscored the critical role of the SSE in providing accessible and affordable solutions to social problems, particularly in the face of multiple, converging global crises.
She elaborated on the ILO’s pivotal role as the only UN agency with a dedicated mandate on SSE, referencing the organization’s adoption of a Resolution, Strategy and Action Plan in 2022 on decent work and the SSE. She also pointed out that creating an enabling environment for SSE was a key challenge. She noted that the proponents of such an environment include enabling policies and laws, but also education and finance.
Notably, Ms. Esim highlighted Korea as a pioneer in Asia and the Pacific region in its support to the advancement of the SSE for decent work and social justice through dedicated public institutions. “Korea stands as a pioneer in supporting the social and solidarity economy. KoSEA represents a model that we hope will expand across Asia and the Pacific region,” she stated.
The forum featured thematic sessions that explored diverse social challenges, such as caregiving, aging populations, housing and disabilities. Presenters shared innovative business models developed by social enterprises to address these issues sustainably. The sessions emphasized collaborative innovation as a pathway to achieving sustainable solutions to social challenges.
The annual forum is widely regarded as an invaluable platform for sharing global trends on social enterprises, fostering knowledge exchange, and exploring pathways for sustainable growth of the SSE. It concluded with a strong commitment from all participants to foster collaboration and drive collective impact through partnerships, ensuring that social entrepreneurs remain central to efforts in creating a more equitable and sustainable future.