On February 24th, the first Korea Local Impact Strategy Forum was held at the National Library of Korea in Yeouido, filled with enthusiasm to find new solutions to the crisis of regional extinction. The forum, centered on the theme of 'diagnosing with data and solving through solidarity,' aimed to discuss the expansion of social solidarity economy and policy frameworks, while sharing experiences and solutions from the field. Participants stressed that enhancing impact investment based on local data before establishing the Basic Law for Social Solidarity Economy would positively contribute to widening the sector's scope and creating a supportive ecosystem.

Professor Jeon Young-soo from Hanyang University emphasized the importance of finding and addressing weaknesses that lead to asset outflow, rather than simply expanding support to regions at risk of extinction. He explained that local data serves as indicators that examine regional characteristics and contexts, suggesting that by diagnosing the strengths and weaknesses of a locality and uncovering unique stories and characters, tailored support policies could be applied. This approach would allow regions to enhance their strengths and transform weaknesses into potential opportunities.

The concerns raised at the forum align with the policy considerations of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, which has supported the growth of various social solidarity economy organizations such as social enterprises and cooperatives over the past 15 years. However, the Ministry acknowledged limitations in policy effectiveness due to uniform design. There has been a focus on discovering and nurturing social solidarity economy organizations through support measures such as market access and funding increases, but this has resulted in regional disparities and challenges in sustainability. Director Eom Seong-wook highlighted the need for a locally-focused self-reliant growth plan and emphasized the importance of diagnosing problems based on local data to foster a more robust and sustainable ecosystem for regional economies.