SOVAC to Co-Host Social Value Festa... Addressing Regional Disparities and Population Decline

First Public Release of AI-Based CSR Measurement and Evaluation Platform

SOVAC, a social value ecosystem platform, announced on September 20 that it will co-host the 3rd “Korea Social Value Festa,” which will be held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul from September 21 to 22.

This year’s event, hosted by the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will see the participation of around 400 organizations. SOVAC, in collaboration with a total of 228 companies and organizations, will introduce a range of programs including sessions, markets, and exhibitions.

'SOVAC 2026' poster. SK

The central agenda for SOVAC this year is “Local—The Future of Regions.” Topics to be discussed include regional challenges such as the gap between metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas, population decline, and youth outmigration.

On the first day of the event, September 21, the main program “SOVAC Flagship Session” will feature representatives from business, academia, and the social value ecosystem, who will share the challenges they have faced and response cases from the field, and engage in discussions on ways to ensure a sustainable future for local communities.

During this session, Ji Dongseop, Chair of the SV Committee at the SK SUPEX Council, will discuss the role of SOVAC and its future directions. Kyung Sun Chung, Vice President of Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance, and Kim Jonggeol, Professor in the Department of Sustainable Economics at Hanyang University, will each deliver keynote speeches examining the necessary conditions for local areas to offer new opportunities to youth and the social value ecosystem, as well as the institutional foundations needed to support these opportunities.

Notably, this year will introduce new efforts to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) in addressing social issues and generating social value. The Center for Social Value Enhancement Studies (CSES), a nonprofit foundation established by SK, will unveil an open platform that measures and evaluates the outcomes of corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects using AI. This platform analyzes actual changes brought about by CSR initiatives such as fostering social enterprises and supporting vulnerable groups, quantifying these changes into monetary value using AI.

The event will also showcase examples of social enterprises and nonprofit organizations leveraging AI to create social value in areas such as local care and bridging the AI divide. The “AX Special Exhibition” will offer free AI prompts that social value ecosystem practitioners can immediately use for tasks such as report planning, writing, and research.

The venue will feature more than 300 exhibition and market booths. Among these, 57 companies and organizations will participate in the newly introduced “popup booths.” Additional programs, such as a mini job fair introducing social value-related employment opportunities and docent-led tours, will also be available.

SOVAC was launched in 2019 at the suggestion of Chey Tae-won, Chairman of SK. Since 2024, SOVAC has participated as a co-organizer of the Korea Social Value Festa, hosted by the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Ji Dongseop, Chair of the SV Committee at the SK SUPEX Council, said, “SOVAC is a platform that connects various stakeholders working to solve social problems and facilitates the sharing of experiences and ideas. This year, with a focus on ‘Local—The Future of Regions,’ we hope to explore a range of local possibilities and that the voices from the field will lead to new collaborations and initiatives.”

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