Page 66 - Varsity Special Issue

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Let the ists with developmental disabilities.
Disabled employees are paid a mini-
mum wage of 8,580 won ($7.51USD)
per hour or according to their degree
of disability and workload.
Disabled works in the crafting studio and the
Disabled artists create their art-

artworks are put on sale. “We sell art-
works to increase our revenue and we
have to be competitive in the market,”
Shine Kim says. Kim led his team to hold an
artwork exhibition “Sogon Sogon” in
December 2019, featuring artwork by
disabled artists. “I aim to pursue both
Kim Jongsoo, CEO of Spring Shine, social value and feasibility of this so- Design studi o f or diasabled artists in the design schoo l.
Design studio for diasabled artists in the design school.
cial enterprise,” Kim says.
shares stories working with disabled Kim says the company is having a must stay at home to take care of very honestly in disabled artists’ art-
artists in his social enterprise. difficult time this year because of the them,” Kim says. “This causes many work, and this makes it unique and
pandemic, and all physical classes are social problems, because family mem- special,” Kim says. “We do not merely
By Eve Lee in Seoul Kim J o ngsoo, CE O o f Spring Shine. cancelled. “This can be an opportunity bers of disabled children have to rely employ them because they are disa-
Kim Jongsoo, CEO of Spring Shine.
Photo c
ou
(Photo courtesy of Spring Shine) to strengthen our online connection on a single income source,” Kim adds. bled. We employ them because they
(
)
f Spring Shine
rtesy o
with the public,” he adds. Under the are talented,” Kim adds.
COVID-19 new normal, Kim plans to Spring Shine to Hearten People Kim hopes his company can let
im Jongsoo was offered a job want anyone to lose their jobs. pottery classes after the renewal of host more online exhibitions. After working at the social enter- every disabled artist’s talents shine like
by his friends in 2015. The He bought paints to renovate the the studio and the social enterprise’s prise for five year, Kim says, “My per- the company’s name. “I believe their
Knew opportunity was to be office with disabled artists and student financial difficulties were eventually Strivings for Stable Employment ception towards the disabled people artwork will touch people’s hearts like
the chief executive officer of a social volunteers. “The company’s core busi- resolved. In South Korea, private companies has changed a lot.” a warm and dazzling spring shine,”
enterprise, Spring Shine. But the com- ness was operating pottery classes. Kim launched a professional pot- with over 50 workers are required to Kim says his understanding of dis- Kim says.
pany was confronting severe financial So, I renovated a dusty company and ter cultivation project for the disabled employ disabled people who should abled was limited before he became a
difficulties at that time. “I had a sta- turned it into a proper crafting studio in 2017. It was a success and the pro- make up 3.1 per cent of a company’s CEO. He viewed disabled people as
ble life. Though I studied social work and office,” he says. ject helped the social enterprise enjoy workforce. But Kim believes the em- those who need help. But, now, he val-
at university and worked in a social While renovating the company, a stable income. The social enterprise ployment reality is still harsh for the ues each of them as a talented artist.
enterprise to help refugees, still I hesi- Kim continued to apply for social en- also opened a design school in Janu- disabled as there is barely any oppor- Kim observes the uniqueness in disa-
Edited By Regina Chen
tated to accept the offer. I had never terprises’ certification by the Korea ary 2020 to help talented disabled art- tunity for them. bled artists’ artwork. Edited By Regina Chen
been a CEO,” he says. Social Enterprise Promotion Agency ists to cultivate their potential. “If disabled children cannot find “Emotion and love are expressed
(KoSEA), a government-affiliated in- Kim says they welcome people a job after graduation, their parents
Reviving a Cash-trapped stitute under the Ministry of Employ- with different levels of disabilities to
Company ment and Labour. participate in the potter cultivation “
Spring Shine is a company estab- The semi-official agency defines project and join the design school.
lished in 2012 to provide employment social enterprise as a company or or- “Disabled artists can approach us in I believe their artwork
opportunities to disabled artists. ganisation which operates business many ways. Some disabled people are
“The first thing I did as a CEO was with social missions. The government recommended by partner institutions will touch people’s
to reform the company. The company subsidises them and recognise them such as LG Social Campus and Seoul
only had 600,000 won (USD$600) as certified social enterprises. Spring Rehabilitation Centre on Intellectual hearts like a warm and
in its bank account when I took Shine was officially recognised as a Developmental Disabilities, and some dazzling spring shine.
over,” Kim says. He decided to revive social enterprise in 2016. join us after buying our products such
the company so that he could help as clothes and cups,” Kim says. ”
disabled artists build their career and Art is for Everyone Kim hopes to let more disabled art-
let them create artworks. Kim says the With KoSEA’s subsidy, Kim and ists shine with their talents. The social
easiest way was to close the business his team were able to run more pot- enterprise now provides jobs to seven Potters created by diabled artists and students who joined the pottery
ts who jo
ined the pottery
den
otters created by diabled artists and stu
P
and restart it again, but he did not tery classes. More people joined the non-disabled employees and five art- class.
class.