Social enterprises take on AI, care gaps and regional decline as Labor Ministry pledges stronger support

The Ministry of Employment and Labor held the 2026 Social Enterprise Day ceremony Tuesday at the Textile Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, presenting government commendations to social enterprises, outstanding local governments and partner organizations.

The ministry said it would expand support for the social enterprise ecosystem, reflecting the growing role such businesses play in addressing social challenges including the spread of AI, gaps in care services and regional depopulation.

This year's event was held under the slogan "Shared Values, Shared Future," chosen through a public vote. A total of 27 government commendations were presented at the ceremony to social enterprises that contributed to realizing social value — through employing vulnerable groups and providing social services — as well as to organizations, local governments and individuals who helped build the broader ecosystem. A new category honoring contributions to social enterprise ecosystem development was introduced for the first time this year.

The minister's commendation for fostering social enterprises went to UD Impact Co., which has cultivated more than 30,000 entrepreneurs by offering tailored startup and AI education programs for vulnerable groups, along with nine other social enterprises and one social entrepreneur. In the newly created ecosystem-support category, two organizations received minister's commendations, including the Korea Environment Corporation, which contributed to specialized environmental mentoring for social enterprises and the establishment of a social solidarity economy fund.

North Jeolla Special Self-Governing Province took the top prize among local governments. The province was recognized for operating a social solidarity economy fund worth 3.6 billion won ($2.32 million), which has helped close gaps in financial access and laid the groundwork for nurturing social enterprises focused on solving local problems. Cheongyang-gun in South Chungcheong Province, which won the outstanding local government award in 2023, was named the top local government this year and designated a social enterprise-friendly city.

Seven organizations were selected as outstanding institutions for collaboration and market development, including Korea South-East Power and OM Interactive Co. They were recognized for their contributions to building a foundation for social enterprise growth through profit-sharing arrangements, expanding online and offline sales channels, and supporting overseas expansion.

"Social enterprises are the core actors building an economy centered on people and a society that grows together," Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon said. "As the role of social enterprises becomes ever more important amid rapid social changes — including the spread of AI, gaps in care and regional depopulation — we will further strengthen the institutional foundation so that social values can spread and creativity and innovation can flourish."

A range of side events accompanied the ceremony. The inaugural "SE Bridge Day" featured the sharing of public-private cooperation success stories and the introduction of social problem-solving models, alongside a networking event for social enterprises and an integrated academic conference on the social solidarity economy. Online, special discount sales of social enterprise products are also being held on platforms including Store 36.5, 11st, Lotte On and Korea Post Shopping.