Hamkke Mandeuneun Sesang (Social Solidarity Bank) received the Ministry of Interior and Safety minister's award in the social welfare category at the first Korea Public Interest Activity Impact Awards, held Wednesday at the Grand Ballroom of FKI Tower in Yeouido, Seoul. The organization was recognized for its small-business growth support program for vulnerable populations.
The awards were established this year to identify cases in which corporate social responsibility initiatives and public-interest organizations have contributed to solving social problems and transforming communities. The Ministry of Interior and Safety, the Korea Charity Association, the Korea Volunteer Council and the Better Future co-organized the event, with iM Financial Group as sponsor. A total of 31 programs were selected across six categories — social welfare, international development, culture and arts, education, fostering a culture of giving and promoting volunteerism — and 20 received the minister's award.
The winning program is a small-business support initiative for vulnerable populations that Social Solidarity Bank has operated for nine years since 2017 with backing from JPMorgan Chase. Through programs including "Woori Dongne Hidden Hero" and "ON&OPEN," the organization built an integrated support system combining on-site diagnosis, business management education, one-on-one consulting, operational improvement funding and sales-channel expansion.
Support began with consultants visiting each business in person to assess its management condition. Participants then received face-to-face consulting alongside assistance expanding into online channels and live-commerce platforms. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the program connected single-parent small-business owners with resources to grow their online sales. From 2017 through 2024, a cumulative total of 160 businesses participated, including repeat participants.
At the Public Interest Activity Sharing Conference held after the awards ceremony, Social Solidarity Bank presented the process behind the program, its integrated support approach and its key outcomes.
Social Solidarity Bank is a leading social finance institution founded in 2003. It provides startup, operational and livelihood-stabilization funding to low-credit, low-income individuals, small-business owners and social enterprises.
mhj@heraldcorp.com
