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Busan Metropolitan City to Mark the 2026 International Day of Cooperatives with a Commemorative Ceremony, Forum, and Diverse Public Events

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, announced that it will hold a series of commemorative events, including a ceremony, forums, and traveling musical performances, in celebration of the International Day of Cooperatives on July 4.

Through these events, the City aims to strengthen solidarity and cooperation among cooperatives while expanding opportunities for citizens to experience the value of cooperatives firsthand. It also plans to continue building a sustainable ecosystem that will enable cooperatives to establish themselves as a self-sustaining pillar of the regional economy.

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 cooperative values and principles worldwide and encourage solidarity among voluntary economic actors.

Since the enactment of the Framework Act on Cooperatives in 2012, the Republic of Korea has officially commemorated the occasion each year. This year, Busan Metropolitan City has prepared a wide range of events under the theme, "Growing Together Through Solidarity and Cooperation."

Major events include the International Day of Cooperatives commemorative ceremony on July 2, the Cooperative Forum on July 2–3, and traveling cooperative musical performances on July 2–3.

The commemorative ceremony will be held today (July 2) at 2:00 p.m. in the International Conference Hall at Busan City Hall with approximately 150 cooperative representatives in attendance. The program will include the presentation of the Mayor's Commendations to distinguished contributors, congratulatory performances, and a special lecture.

The Cooperative Forum will take place today (July 2) through tomorrow (July 3) at the International Conference Hall and other venues within Busan City Hall under the theme, "Growing Together Through Solidarity and Cooperation," bringing together cooperative stakeholders and citizens.

As part of the traveling cooperative musical performances, the Busan Music Performance Cooperative will visit self-reliance support centers and other community facilities to present opera and vocal performances. Prize events will also be held to further enhance public engagement and awareness.

In conjunction with the commemorative events, Busan Metropolitan City will also expand efforts to increase public understanding of cooperatives.

The City will promote educational and outreach activities by social cooperatives that provide care services for children, older adults, and persons with disabilities. Beginning in August, it will launch the "Cooperative Public Awareness Expansion Project," targeting social cooperatives engaged in social services such as care, education, and support for persons with disabilities, with the goal of raising public recognition and awareness of cooperatives.

Kim Bong-cheol, Assistant Mayor of Digital Economy Office, said, "Busan's cooperatives have addressed challenges that the conventional market economy has struggled to solve through creative and compassionate approaches in areas closely connected to citizens' daily lives, including care, education, and housing. Busan Metropolitan City will continue to make every effort to build a sustainable ecosystem so that cooperatives can grow into a strong pillar of the regional economy and help enhance the well-being of our citizens."