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Busan Metropolitan City Holds a Variety of Events to Celebrate the 2025 International Day of Cooperatives

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it will host the “Cooperative Week Event” starting today (July 3) through tomorrow (July 4) at the International Conference Room in City Hall to promote the value of cooperatives in celebration of the “2025 International Day of Cooperatives” (July 5).

○ The International Day of Cooperatives is observed annually on the first Saturday of July. It was established in 1923 by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) to promote the concept and activities of cooperatives.
○ The United Nations designated 2025 as the second “International Year of Cooperatives,” following the first in 2012. This designation reflects the global community’s renewed focus on the key role that cooperatives play in sustainable development and the social solidarity economy.
○ In Korea, the “Framework Act on Cooperatives” was enacted in 2012, and since then, efforts have been made to commemorate the International Day of Cooperatives each year and to promote the values of solidarity and cooperation.

The main events include the Commemorative Ceremony for the International Day of Cooperatives (July 3), the Cooperative Forum (July 3–4), and the Traveling Cooperative Music Performances (July 3–4, two days).

○ Busan’s commemorative ceremony, one of many held by local governments nationwide, will take place today (July 3) at 2:00 p.m. in the International Conference Room at City Hall. Approximately 200 participants from cooperatives will attend, and the ceremony will feature the presentation of commendations by the Mayor, celebratory performances, and a calligraphy performance.
○ The Cooperative Forum will also be held today (July 3) and tomorrow (July 4) at the International Conference Room in City Hall, targeting cooperative members and the general public. Under the theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World,” the forum will include lectures by related organizations and a talk concert.
○ The Traveling Cooperative Music Performances will be held over two days, today (July 3) and tomorrow (July 4), with performances at various locations including social cooperative self-support centers and local children’s centers. A cooperative musical performance troupe will visit these venues to present musical gala concerts to staff and local residents.

In addition to this week’s events, Busan Metropolitan City is conducting education and promotional activities for social cooperatives that provide care-related services for children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities to expand public understanding and support.
○ Starting in August, the city plans to implement the “Cooperative Public Engagement Promotion Project” to support the education and promotion of social cooperatives providing social services.

Kim Bong-cheol, Assistant Mayor of the Digital Economy Office, stated, “Cooperatives in Busan are key players sustaining the social economy ecosystem. They have provided creative solutions to various issues that the traditional market economy fails to address—ranging from care, housing, and education to energy, arts and culture, and job creation for youth and seniors.” He added, “Our city will continue to support cooperatives so that they can play an even greater role in the local community.”