Presented at: GSEF2016 Montreal

Organisation: iCOOP KOREA (SSE organization)

Date: September 7, 2016

Presenter: Ms.Gwibok Oh (Managing Director)

Contacts: icoopkorea@gmail.com

Summary:

iCOOP KOREA, a consumer co-op federations, established ‘the Natural Dream Park’ consisting of 19 factories and houses in Gurye, South Jeolla Province that use local resources to manufacture products with the investment of members and producers. This region is located the farthest from Seoul, and has lost over half of its population in the last 50 years. In this context, ‘Concern for Community’, the 7th principle of co-operatives is a priority not only for the food manufacturing facility, but also to revitalize the culture and lives of the local community by providing cultural facilities such as cinemas, restaurants, cafes, accommodation, etc. and by supporting health service and education. As a result, young generations have been returning back to the region and the population decline has been reversed through the hiring of 450 people in the Park.