‘Support to make Jeju’s social economy the country’s best’
Social economy: cooperatives, nonprofits, charities, etc.

The governor says he wants Jeju to have South Korea’s best social economy.

Won Heeryong made the comments Friday afternoon during a talk show at the Ramada Plaza. Comedian (김미화) Kim Mi-hwa was the host, and the governor joined two other people in discussions about the sector of the economy that includes cooperatives, nonprofits, charities, and the like.

The governor said there is a lot of room for Jeju’s social economy to grow within the overall local economy, provided there is adequate initial support. He pointed to the island’s success in developing a matured agricultural industry and a booming tourism sector: Jeju welcomes over ten million tourists a year. Won also said the Jeju people have a sense of community and fellowship, which serves them well in these types of endeavors.

Currently the social economy accounts for about five percent of the gross regional domestic product. The governor said his administration will work hard to support and develop it into the nation’s best example of a “cooperative economy.”

"제주, 사회적경제 1등 지역으로 육성"

원희룡 제주특별자치도가 제주를 전국 지자체 가운데 사회적경제 1등 지역으로 만들겠다는 포부를 밝혔습니다.

원 지사는 어제 오후 라마다호텔에서 개우그먼 김미화씨의 사회로 진행된 사회적경제한마당 토크쇼에서 제주의 경우 1차산업이 발달돼 있고 많은 관광객들이 찾아오고 수눌음 같은 공동체 정신이 살아있기 때문에 초기에 적절한 지원과 몇 개의 성공사례만 주어지면 다른지역보다 사회적경제가 차지할 수 있는 비중이 클 수 있다고 말했습니다.

특히 사회적경제가 전체 GDP의 5% 수준으로만 가도 상황은 좋아질 것이라며 전국 1등 지역으로 성장할 수 있도록 적극 지원하겠다고 강조했습니다.