Seoul, 24 March 2026 - Representatives of the European cooperative banking sector joined Korean policymakers and financial sector experts and practitioners at the MOIS–KFCC International Symposium on Social and Solidarity Finance, held at the Paikbum Kim Koo Museum & Library in Seoul. The symposium provided a platform to exchange global experiences on cooperative finance and its contribution to the economic and social development of regions.
Jointly organised by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) of Korea and the Korean Federation of Community Credit Cooperatives (KFCC), a valued member of the EACB, the event gathered more than 300 participants. Opening the symposium, the Korean Minister of the Interior and Safety Yun Ho-jung and Kim In, President of KFCC both underlined the importance of cooperative and community-based finance for balanced regional development. In this vein, KFCC highlighted elements of its strategy, Vision 2030, which identifies strengthened support for local communities and small businesses as a key priority.
The CEO of the European Association of Cooperative Banks (EACB), Nina Schindler, echoed a similar commitment from European cooperative banks in Session 1: “Global Practices in Social and Solidarity Finance and Policy Implications”. She presented practical examples of cooperative banking financing SMEs and furthering the green and social transitions in Europe, while shedding light on EU political and legislative initiatives that have been successful in promoting the model. The session also featured international perspectives from Cristina Freijanes, Secretary General of Spanish UNACC; Matteo Cuda, Italy’s Federcasse representative in Brussels; and Martin Rohner, Executive Director of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values, followed by a panel debate.
“European cooperative banks have long demonstrated how locally anchored financial institutions can contribute to balanced regional development. Exchanges such as today’ symposium are essential to strengthening international dialogue on how cooperative finance can support communities in more economically vulnerable regions and ensuring the political and legislative framework needed to safeguard that role,” stated Nina Schindler.
The Symposium was a valuable platform for the EACB to share insights from Europe’s long-standing cooperative banking experience, and to highlight the role of cooperative banks as key partners in fostering inclusive growth and supporting sustainable development across regions.