Mayor Kim Bora of Anseong: "Social Solidarity Economy Is the Key Pillar for Addressing Local Issues in the 9th Administration"

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Kim Bora, Mayor of Anseong, has made social solidarity economy a core policy tool for addressing local issues ahead of the launch of the 9th popularly elected administration, and has begun working to strengthen cooperation among local governments nationwide.

Bora Kim, Mayor of Anseong. Screenshot from Mayor Bora Kim's Facebook homepage

On June 30, Mayor Kim announced via her social media that a social solidarity economy policy meeting had been held the previous day at The Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, with about 20 elected heads of basic local governments in attendance. The meeting was organized by the National Council of Local Governments for Social Solidarity Economy and sponsored by the Korea Social Value and Solidarity Foundation.

The main agenda items discussed at the meeting included the policy direction of social solidarity economy for the 9th local administrations and ways to cooperate with the central government. Attendees agreed on the need to expand the role of social solidarity economy in tackling local issues such as population decline, care gaps, energy transition, and job creation.

Mayor Kim stated, "During the 8th administration, some regions experienced difficulties as organizations supporting the social economy, cooperatives, village enterprises, and social enterprises were weakened," adding, "In the 9th administration, we must revitalize the ecosystem for social solidarity economy through cooperation among local governments."

Officials from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety were also present at the meeting. Minister Hojoong Yoon remarked, "Social solidarity economy is gaining attention as an alternative for addressing various social issues such as polarization and care gaps," and expressed the central government's commitment to supporting these efforts.

Support was also pledged from the National Assembly. Lawmakers Yeongbae Kim, Giwang Bok, and Geontae Lee attended the meeting and stated that they would work together for the enactment of the Framework Act on Social Solidarity Economy, which is currently pending in the National Assembly, within this year.

Mayor Kim referred to the government's recently announced "Three Mega Projects for Korea's Leap Forward"—focusing on semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), data centers, and physical AI—and emphasized that the fruits of growth should not be concentrated in the hands of only a certain group.

She said, "Even if the national growth strategy succeeds, there should be no citizens left behind from the results," adding, "The social solidarity economy should play a role in spreading the benefits of growth to local communities and citizens, and in restoring communities."

Approximately 20 newly elected heads of local governments are taking a commemorative photo after holding a social solidarity economy policy meeting on the 29th at The Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo captured from Mayor Bora Kim's Facebook page.

She continued, "Social solidarity economy is not just an economic policy, but a system in which citizens and communities work together to solve local issues," and stated, "In the 9th administration, local governments, civil society, cooperatives, and social enterprises must work together to create a sustainable model for local development."

Meanwhile, the National Council of Local Governments for Social Solidarity Economy plans to expand cooperation between the central government, the National Assembly, and on-the-ground organizations after the launch of the 9th administration, and will support the enactment of the Framework Act on Social Solidarity Economy and the establishment of local implementation plans.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.