The SOVAC (Social Value Connect), a leading platform for social value in South Korea, will co-host the 3rd "Korea Social Value Festival" at COEX in Seoul from September 21 to 22. This year, over 400 organizations will participate, with SOVAC showcasing various programs alongside 228 companies and institutions, including sessions, markets, and exhibitions.
According to industry sources, this year's key theme for SOVAC is "Local - The Future of Regions." As disparities between metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas widen, along with challenges such as population decline and youth outflow, there is a growing need for new approaches and collaborations for sustainable regional development.
Building on this awareness, SOVAC has been gathering diverse voices through offline meetings called "SOVAC Salon" since May, examining the challenges and opportunities faced by local communities from various perspectives.
The discussions will be further developed at SOVAC 2026. Notably, on the first day, the flagship program "SOVAC Flagship Session" will feature stakeholders from businesses, academia, and the social value ecosystem sharing challenges and response cases encountered in local settings, as well as discussing strategies for a sustainable future.
During this session, Ji Dong-seop, Chair of the SV Committee at SK Supex Council, will share insights on SOVAC's role and future direction. Keynote speeches will be delivered by Jeong Kyung-sun, Vice President of Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance, and Kim Jong-gul, a professor of sustainable economics at Hanyang University. Following the keynote addresses, a panel discussion will include participants such as Yuk Sim-na, Secretary General of Kakao Impact, and Heo Jae-hyung, Chair of Impact Alliance, who will explore collaboration strategies to enhance local sustainability.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to explore various local products and activities throughout the venue. The SOVAC Market will feature food and daily necessities made from local specialties by active businesses and organizations, while exhibition and promotional spaces will showcase key projects and activities from various organizations.
SOVAC will also host sessions aimed at finding solutions to various social issues, including local challenges. Social enterprises and non-profit organizations will present cases of creating social value by integrating AI into local care and addressing the AI gap. A "popup booth" will be available, featuring 57 companies and organizations, allowing small businesses with growth potential to showcase their activities intensively for a short period.
This year, a new initiative will leverage AI for solving social issues and creating social value. The non-profit Social Value Research Institute (CSES), established by SK, will unveil an open platform for measuring and evaluating the outcomes of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives based on AI at SOVAC.
This platform will analyze actual changes resulting from CSR projects, such as supporting social enterprises and vulnerable groups, and convert these changes into monetary value. This will help objectively assess project outcomes and enhance the effectiveness of future CSR activities. Research supported by CSES on social performance incentives (SPC) has also been published in an international social science journal (SSCI).
Ji Dong-seop stated, "SOVAC is a platform that connects various stakeholders working to solve social issues and shares experiences and ideas. This year, we hope to explore the diverse possibilities of local areas centered around 'Local - The Future of Regions' and that the voices from the field will lead to new collaborations and initiatives."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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