돈보다 사람 먼저 본 ‘연대기금’ 7년…232억이 1885억 됐다

On July 19, 2023, the Korean Social Value Trust Fund (Social Investment Fund), also known as "연대기금," marked its 7th anniversary with a "2019-2025 Social Investment Monthly Distribution Management Performance Review Forum" at the Dae Plaza Hotel in central Seoul. The event was attended by representatives from banks, the Ministry of Government Legislation, and various provincial governments' associations dedicated to social economic economies.

Established in 2019, 연대기금 is the first-ever public-interest financial investment fund in Korea. It collaborates with social financial intermediaries such as banks and the Korea Housing Co-operative Association, aiming to provide funding to organizations and individuals who typically face challenges in obtaining loans from traditional banks. This includes businesses employing disabled individuals or those with financial accessibility limitations.

One notable example of this approach is the "건맥1897" pub in Mokpo, which creates and serves its own speciality, "geonmak," a traditional rice wine, alongside local specialties such as grilled fish. 연대기금 stepped in to provide initial capital to this local business through the intermediary service of 주식회사 비플러스. This support enabled the pub to thrive and contribute to regional economic growth despite its inability to secure funding through conventional banking channels.

The success of 연대기금 is evident from the financial performance of the original 232 billion won investment fund, which has grown to 1885 billion won (as of 2025). Professor Kim Jong-gil of Hanyang University, a researcher on sustainable economics, noted that the fund's average annual return of 4.3% demonstrates that investing in social value can also generate financial returns.

A significant benefit of 사회적 가치 투자 is its ability to help social organizations overcome difficulties and generate income over time, a process that requires a long-term investment perspective. 연대기금 operates on a seven-and-a-half-year average investment period and a five-and-a-half-year average loan period, reflecting this commitment to the long-term growth of the organizations it supports.

An example of this is the "Tand-Tand Housing Cooperative," which was established by the victims of a fire in Gyeongsangbuk-do's Dongtan in 2023. The victims used the support of 연대기금 to purchase damaged apartment buildings and generate rental income, eventually returning security deposits to the victims in stages while offering short-term full payment guarantees for immediate needs. Approximately 90% of the total compensation was recovered within two years.