What does ‘iCOOP’ stand for? “i” individual, ideal, intention, and innovation Individuals promoting the ideals(sharing and cooperation) of the group, never losing sight of our original intention and practicing innovation, as a consumer COOPerative. iCOOP KOREA 171-9 Singil-dong Yeongdeungpo-gu Seoul, R.O.Korea(150-050) Tel. 82-2-1577-0014 E-mail. [email protected] www.icoop.or.kr ※ This book is made from recycled paper to save trees and the environment. No chloride bleach or fluorescent pigments included. 2012 is the International Year of Co-operatives by the U.N. Ethical consumerism: a most beautiful practice iCOOP KOREA 2011 Annual Report iCOOP Solidarity of Consumer Co-operatives(iCOOP KOREA) iCOOP KOREA iCOOP KOREA Today Target contribution for 2011 300,000,000,000 KRW(approx. 267m USD) Contribution for 2010 263,277,000,000 KRW(approx.234m USD) Membership as of March 2011 129,666 persons Membership as of Dec. 2010 118,824 persons Local co-op membership as of March 2011 75 member societies In spite of hard economic condition surrounding consumers, iCOOP Solidarity of Consumer Cooperatives (referred to as “iCOOP KOREA” hereafter) has achieved powerful performance. The contribution of 263 billion KRW and 118,824 members are valuable records that show We do band together, as times get hard spirits of all members. These records are highest in South Korea’s consumer co-op group, almost double times than other consumer co-op groups. Part 1 Introduction Introduction Foreword iCOOP KOREA will shed a glimmer of hope in Korean Society Historically, co-operatives have operated democratically-controlled, economic activities with active member participation while successfully providing for their members. At the same time, they were able to set right directions for the society they are in. From the very start, iCOOP KOREA has based itself on its philosophy of honesty and trust, and valued the most member participation as they carried out a series of innovative and experimental policies and actions, letting the world know the importance of cooperation. iCOOP KOREA did not stop there, but constantly asked itself what it can do for our country and arduously sought answers. The year 2010 was a very painful one. The impacts of unpredictable climate changes have ceaselessly caused trouble to countries across the globe including Korea. Last fall when the Korean cabbage price shot to an unprecedented 15,000 KRW, the Koreans were forced to rethink about the fundamental structure of the agricultural industry. It was then and there that the public’s attention flicked towards iCOOP’s direct trade and contract-based production systems that it has evolved for the past 20 years. The economy was getting ever more unstable due to the world-wide economic crisis, and rocketing prices of oil and produce. Once again, it was ordinary Koreans that had to bear the brunt of economic imparity and high prices. As has been the case in the past, however, iCOOP’s organizational and business capabilities have shone a glimmer of hope in the dark economic tunnel in 2010 again, and have successfully helped broaden iCOOP’s organizational and business horizons by leaps and bounds. Only when consumer co-operative is able to garner the people’s participation beyond their own boundaries, they can realize their social values in the community. munity. mt the comwhen iCOOP began to lay the foundation for realizing iegasocial values. There is still a long way to go until we will be able to bring about or realiin eity. corner of ourasociety, buto go uood newliis that ouramembership has surpases. Tgo 1munewlimark. Business capinesscreated byg wtive member participation has given birth to NatesscDream stores. Theyg sscnuraj pa eco-friendly organic food stores, butoaip hast reinventing Tgomasovong munplacp has sharing,asolidarity and communication that re-inviuorates locessnd commuand facilitates social tiesicin 2010 ner ofhikes putopressesscrn the societyg munwhole, we will besoarner ofhikes puvegetes ls suchg m beean cabbage. Through a series of its policies such as direct trade, contract-based production, price sta- bilization funds and double rice price, iCOOP KOREA has brought fresh hope to producers while providing livelihood to its members. This positives waves are now flowing over the iCOOP KOREA threshold to reach other parts of the society. In the spirit of co-operative pioneers, iCOOP leads by example in realizing social justice. In 2010, as part of its effort to fulfill universal welfare, iCOOP launched Free School Meal campaigns and provided meals made of eco-friendly food ingredients to all students regardless of their families’ income levels. In the process, iCOOP is helping to revamp unfair international trading frameworks by opening a window of opportunity for overseas producers and Korean consumers to unite with each other. One of the most touching achievements that iCOOP has made in 2010 is the earnest start of the [iCOOP Eco-friendly organic food cluster] project. This project is unprecedented in that it is one exclusively driven by private contributions and will serve as iCOOP KOREA’s production and logistics base camp. It was again through member economic participation that this project has come into being and secured the land www.icoop.or.kr for construction, and the train will continue to chug forward fuelled by our members’s will power in the future. iCOOP has long committed itself to promoting its co-operative movement, and has come to a new starting line. In line with the year 2010 theme, “the International Day of Co-operatives”, iCOOP KOREA will continue to do our utmost to make the world a better place and to shine a glimmer of hope to our country. I extend my deepest gratitude to members and all the people who support iCOOP KOREA. iCOOP Association of Consumer Co-operatives(iCOOP KOREA) Chair Oh, Mi-yea 01 Part 1 Introduction iCOOP KOREA’s iCOOP KOREA began with 6 local cooperatives in the Seoul-Gyeonggi area in 1997. Since History then it has contributed greatly in popularizing the consumer cooperatives movement in Korea, and its cooperatives membership has grown to 75 in 2010. ・ Jan. I Ownership hand-over completed on 5.94 million m2 wide primary land for “Eco-friendly organic 2010 food cluster” ・ Feb. I Nation-wide Signature Campaign by local co-operatives for resolution of “The Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan” issue I ICA Relief Fundraising for Haiti in Korea I Scholarship for Department of Co-operative Business Administration, Sungkonghoe University ・ Mar. I iCOOP KOREA receives Plaque of Recognition from Ganghwa Woori Village I Participates in “Korea-Japan 2,500km Walk with Terasita Takesi” in memory of independence activist Ahn Jung-geun ・ Apr. I Launches iCOOP office for Eco-friendly Free School Meal I Opens iCOOP Gyeongnam Logistics Center(specializing in eco-friendly produce) ・ May I 8th Suncheon Native Wheat Festival I Campaign to set up Stationery Banks in fair trade producer countries ・ June I Walking Activity on Goesan Eco-friendly organic food cluster land I Site Visit to Co-operatives in UK and Mondragon Group in Spain ・ July I Celebration Event for 88th “International Day of Co-operatives” I Briefing on Eco-friendly Organic Food Cluster for Goesan residents ・ Aug. I ICA/iCOOP Workshop on Development of Consumer Cooperatives in Asia I Signature and Fundraising for Newspaper Ads Campaign Against Cable Cars at Mt. Jiri ・ Sep. I Attending in 9th Regional Assembly of ICA Asia Pacific in China and 6th Asia Pacific Coop Forum (OH Mi-yea, incumbent iCOOP Association of Consumer Co-operatives Chairwoman and president of iCOOP Mutual Aid Society for Korean Agriculture delivers keynote speech) I Korea Certification Center for Eco-friendly Foods Inc. approved as “Gyeonggi-do Eco-friendly Produce Certification Center” I Promoters Meeting for iCOOP Seed Foundation(former iCOOP Share-Happiness Foundation) ・ Oct. I iCOOP members/producers/employees participates fundraising campaign to build Fair Trade Mascobado Sugar Mill at Panay, Philippines I iCOOP KOREA’s Co-op Festival ・ Nov. I iCOOP donates Sharing with Neighbor Rice at Goesan-gun(Chilseong-myeon) I Korean Eco-friendly Organics Accreditation Center Inc. designated as “Certification Organization for Organics Processing” I Site visit to Lega coop and ANCC in Italy(Roma and Bologna) ・ Dec. I Breaks ground for Fair Trade Mascobado Sugar Mill in Philippines I Campaign of Member bonds and Fund Raising for Stable Purchases from producers in 2011 I iCOOP Seed Foundation established and approved as non-profit foundation ・ Jan. I Inaugural assembly of iCOOP Association of Producer groups 2009・ Apr. I Symposium in celebration of ICA membership ・ May I World Fair Trade Day Festival in Korea I Opening ceremony for Suncheon Native Wheat Confectionary ・ June I Consecutive exhibition program of showing Documentary film, My heart hasn’t broken(tale of Ms. Song, a sex slavery of former Japanese Imperial Army), for local co-ops ・ July I Guest lecture of a mascobado sugar producer’s from Panay Fair Trade Center(the Philippines) I Establishment of the Council of Korean Cooperatives I International Co-operative Day 2009 Ceremony and Workshop ・ Oct. I Campaign for increasing Share Capital of 70 thousands members launched ・ Nov. I Events for celebrating the 50th Natural Dream store lauching (the Seminar and Festival on Native Wheat) / Attended to ICA GM in Geneva. ・ Dec. I Attended to the 43rd Meeting of ICA Committee on Consumer Cooperation for Asia and the Pacific in Pune(India) ・ Jan. I Name change from ‘Korean Solidarity of Consumer Co-operatives’ to ‘iCOOP Solidarity of 2008 Consumer Co-operatives’ ・ Feb. I Korea-Japan Symposium on the 10th Ramsar Convention and Biodiversity in Rice paddies I Founding of Center for KCOD Co.Ltd I Awarded Medal of Honor by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry ・ Mar.