Health ministry names 17 new preliminary social enterprises

The Ministry of Health and Welfare said Friday it designated 17 new preliminary social enterprises in the health and welfare field, giving them three years of eligibility for government support as they work toward full certification.

Designation brings eligibility for hiring-cost subsidies, management assistance and sales-channel support from the labor ministry, as well as referral toward formal social-enterprise certification. Certified enterprises can receive full corporate and income tax reductions for three years.

Twenty-eight companies applied during a 30-day window from June 11 to July 10; eight withdrew, leaving 20 for review, and the ministry selected 17 after document screening, on-site inspections and a designation panel.

By social-purpose category, nine of the new designees fall under "other," covering creative and innovative models, while five provide social services, two provide jobs and one contributes to its local community.

The ministry has run the preliminary social-enterprise program since 2012 to identify and foster entrepreneurs pursuing social value in the health and welfare field. It has designated 235 companies as preliminary social enterprises since then, and 72 of them have gone on to win formal certification.

"I hope the preliminary social enterprises designated this time will contribute to providing social services and solving local problems," said Chang Jae-won, the ministry's director-general for social services policy. "We will continue to work with the labor ministry and other relevant agencies to support these companies so they can grow steadily into social enterprises."

The full list of designees is available on the ministry's website and the social enterprise portal.