Exploring Social Entrepreneurship of the First Social Enterprise in South Korea: The Case of the Founder of Dong Wha Pharm

Abstract

A great deal of attention has been paid to entrepreneurship and social enterprises that help improve societies' ability to solve social problems and develop new ways of thinking (Drucker 1995). Dong Wha Pharm, founded in 1897, was the first social enterprise in South Korea. The purpose of this study is to provide meaningful insights into the theoretical development of social entrepreneurship and how to achieve social innovation by fostering social entrepreneurship. Drawing on the five critical elements of social entrepreneurship developed by Dees (1998), we explore social entrepreneurship by investigating the first Korean social entrepreneur, Kang Min, the founder of Dong Wha, a 125-year-old company in South Korea. The findings offer meaningful and valuable insights to the literature on social entrepreneurship and to current and potential social entrepreneurs wanting to find new ways to achieve social improvement and move society forward.