iCOOP KOREA launches the International Year of Co-operatives

To celebrate the International Year of Co-operatives, Korean co-operatives including iCOOP KOREA and social enterprises will come together at Work Together Foundation on January 12, 10:30 am (KST). The Korea Preparatory Committee for Planning Committee for IYC will request a proposal to launch the Planning Committee on the day.

Attending the launch of IYC will be iCOOP KOREA, the department of co-operative business management at Sung-kong-hoe University, Korean Self-Support Center Association, Korean Health Co-operative Federation, Korean Society for Co-operative Studies. Corea Co-operative Institute, Hansalim Consumer Co-operative and YMCA have co-arranged the event.

One of the programs is the publication of Korean-language version 'How the Bumblebee Files: cooperation, ethics and development' by Ivano Barberini, former ICA president. The book focuses on ideas such as social welfare, equality, and solidarity that co-operators have endeavored to achieve for a long time as well as the development of co-operative movement

To promote public awareness and provide information on co-operative movement in Korea, three staff members from iCOOP KOREA translated the book, which was published on January 6. All proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated by the Barberini family to the Rita Levi-Montalcini Foundation to support a project for African people.

With the book, the celebration of the publication of 'The Most Humanistic Medical Care' by Korean Health Co-operative Federation, and 'Co-operative Enterprise: Facing the Change of Globalization' by Stefano Zamagni and Vera Zamagni, which has been translated by Corea Co-operative Institute, will be held together.

A Celebration of Enactment of Korean Cooperative Fundamental Law will also be a major part of the event, which was passed on December 29. With UN International Year of Cooperatives, guaranteeing establishment of workers’ co-operatives and social co-operatives by law is very significant outcome in Korea. According to the law, a minimum of five members is required to form cooperatives on the various sectors such as child care service, education, welfare, etc.

The law is expected to vitalize co-operative movement in Korea to supplement the vulnerability of current economy and to contribute to local communities. Also, approx. 4,000 to 8,000 enterprises, which have been operated as corporate due to the absence of legal basis, could switch to co-operatives on the law.