Social Cooperatives Blooming Trust

What Social Cooperatives Blooming Trust does

Social Cooperatives Blooming Trust (사회적협동조합 꽃피는신뢰) is a South Korean social cooperative headquartered in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, founded in 2018 as a nonprofit project team ("Project Team Ggotsin") and legally converted to a social cooperative in May 2019. The organization operates a multi-service portfolio targeting food insecurity, social isolation, and mental health among vulnerable populations. Core offerings include five shared village kitchens (꽃신마을부엌) repurposing idle cooking facilities for elderly, youth, and volunteer programming; Restaurant CommonCook (레스토랑커먼쿡) at Wiryestorybox; the Ggotsin Heart Garden Counseling Center (꽃신마음정원상담실) providing professional psychological counseling; and contracted operation of two Gwangju City Integrated Care Centers (다함께돌봄센터 1호점 and 7호점) serving children. The cooperative also runs social dining programs, food basket distribution, a youth restaurant (똑똑 청년식당), volunteer cooking corps, and a micro-loan/mutual aid program under Korean cooperative law.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model combining membership fees (30,000 KRW share purchase plus minimum 10,000 KRW monthly), government-subsidized service contracts (e.g., Seongnam Youth Mental Health Support at 540,000–630,000 KRW government portion per participant; elderly emotional support at 160,000 KRW/month), commissioned operation of public care facilities, restaurant and food service sales, and tax-deductible donations. The cooperative serves four primary personas: isolated elderly/single-person seniors, youth aged 19–34, low-income families, and children through care centers. Distribution is exclusively offline and community-based, relying on welfare center referrals, local government partnerships, and the Seongnam Social Welfare Council for participant acquisition, with no e-commerce or digital platform in operation.

Underlying technology is minimal: no proprietary platform, app, or API exists. Operations are delivered through physical community spaces and offline program participation. The cooperative has been recognized as a Gyeonggi pre-social enterprise, Seongnam Sharing Company No. 16, an authorized donation recipient, and a public interest corporation (re-designated 2025–2030). It is governed by a member-elected board led by Chairman Yoo Seung-tae (3rd term, 2025–2028), with 29 members as of the 2024 general meeting.

Name

Social Cooperatives Blooming Trust

Legal name

사회적협동조합 꽃피는신뢰

Website

https://bloomingtrust.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Social Cooperatives Blooming Trust is a South Korean social cooperative operating shared village kitchens, a restaurant, a psychological counseling center, and contracted child care centers in Seongnam and Gwangju, serving isolated elderly, youth, low-income families, and children through government-subsidized community welfare programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Welfare and Community Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Stakeholder Grocery Cooperatives (CRAHALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Member-Owned Food Cooperatives (CRAHALAA), Co-Op / Parent-Participatory Childcare Centers (EDACAAAM)

Keywords

• Community social services
• Elderly meal programs
• Psychological counseling services
• Childcare care centers
• Social cooperative welfare

Headquarters

HQ city

Seongnam

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees (조합비/출자): Members pay a one-time share purchase (1 share = 30,000 KRW) and monthly membership fees (minimum 10,000 KRW/month). Members are classified as producer-members, employee-members, or patron-members.
2. Commissions and service contracts (수탁운영): The cooperative operates commissioned public service facilities including 다함께돌봄센터 (Integrated Care Centers) at locations 1 and 7 in Gwangju, which generates contracted service revenue.
3. Restaurant and food service operations: Restaurant CommonCook (레스토랑 커먼쿡) at Ureae Story Box provides dining services. Village Kitchen (꽃신마을부엌) programs and food distribution activities generate revenue through participant fees and food sales.
4. Donations and sponsorship: Individual and corporate donations are collected via dedicated bank accounts. Tax-deductible donation receipts are issued. Donation income is publicly disclosed annually (2019: ~2.47M KRW; 2020: ~20.4M KRW; 2021: ~29.8M KRW; 2022: ~11.95M KRW; 2023: ~11.64M KRW).
5. Government-subsidized social services: Services such as the Seongnam Youth Mental Health Support program provide government-funded psychological counseling. Participants pay a small co-payment (60,000–70,000 KRW total for 10 sessions) while the government covers the remainder (540,000–630,000 KRW).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Social Cooperatives Blooming Trust operates shared community kitchens, a restaurant, a psychological counseling center, and contract-operated integrated childcare centers in Seongnam and Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province. Its programs deliver communal meals, social dining, food basket distribution, mental health counseling, and elderly and child care services aimed at reducing social isolation and food insecurity among vulnerable populations.

Product overview

Social Cooperatives Blooming Trust operates as a multi-service social cooperative offering a portfolio of interrelated community well-being programs anchored in food security and social connection. The core offerings include: (1) Flower Shin Village Kitchens — shared kitchen locations across Seongnam that serve as social dining hubs for seniors, youth, and volunteers; (2) Restaurant Common Cook — a sit-down restaurant operating as a social dining venue and meeting space; (3) Flower Shin Heart Garden Counseling Center — a professional psychological counseling service; (4) Gwangju Da-ham-kke-dolbom Centers (Branches 1 & 7) — contracted child and community care facilities; (5) Side dish and agricultural produce basket distribution for vulnerable populations; and (6) Social dining, volunteer cooking, and youth dining programs. The cooperative also provides micro-loan and mutual aid financial services as permitted under Korean cooperative law. The portfolio is unified by the mission of building social relationships and alleviating food insecurity among isolated and impoverished community members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 꽃신마을부엌 (Ggotsin Village Kitchen): Community shared kitchen program operating across multiple locations in Seongnam, offering cooking activities and meals for seniors and vulnerable residents.
• 똑똑(talk-talk) 청년식당 (Young People's Restaurant)
• 꽃신 마음정원 상담실 (Ggotsin Heart Garden Counseling Center)
• 레스토랑 커먼쿡 (Restaurant Common Cook)
• 꽃신 마음을만나다 심리상담센터

Products and services

• Ggotsin Village Kitchen (꽃신마을부엌) A shared kitchen program operating across 5 locations in Seongnam where elderly residents, youth, and volunteers cook and share meals together to build social relationships and address food insecurity among vulnerable populations.
• Restaurant CommonCook (레스토랑 커먼쿡) A dine-in restaurant at Wirye Story Box E-dong 2F providing community dining services, a social dining space, and the venue for the cooperative's annual general meeting.
• Ggotsin Heart Garden Counseling Center (꽃신 마음정원 상담실) A professional psychological counseling center providing mental health services including government-subsidized youth mental health counseling (86 slots funded at 540,000–630,000 KRW), free counseling for social welfare workers (7–10 sessions), and brain and mind assessments.
• Gwangju Integrated Care Centers (다함께돌봄센터 1, 7호점) Contract-operated integrated care centers providing childcare and educational services to help children develop their potential and pursue their dreams, operated on behalf of Gwangju City municipal government.
• Side Dish and Agricultural Produce Basket Sharing (반찬 및 농산물 꾸러미 나눔) Regular distribution of prepared side dishes and fresh produce bundles to vulnerable populations including lonely elderly singles and low-income households, contributing to food security and social relationship building.
• Together Dining Table Program (같이밥상 프로그램) A free social dining program for seniors aged 60+ combining communal cooking, shared meals, brain function activation activities, and recreation, offered free of charge year-round across the village kitchen locations.
• Show Me The Cooking Volunteer Corps (쇼미더요리 봉사단) A cooking volunteer team that prepares and shares meals with vulnerable community members, collaborating with local schools and community organizations to address meal insecurity.
• Talk-Talk Youth Restaurant (똑똑 청년식당) A youth dining program hosting social dinners and gatherings for young adults aged 19–34 in Seongnam, providing a space for relationship-building and community engagement outside of institutional settings.
• Micro-Loan and Mutual Aid Program (소액대출 및 상호부조사업) A small loan program (up to 10 million KRW at 3% interest, requiring 24 months of membership) and a mutual aid fund providing up to 20 million KRW to eligible members facing life events such as weddings, deaths, or illness.

Quantifiable outcome

• Operated 5 village kitchen locations serving elderly and vulnerable residents with regular meal programs and social dining.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Gyeonggi Province Social Welfare Workers Association (경기도사회복지사협회)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023Partnered for the Social Welfare Worker Crisis Response System (사회복지종사자 위기대응체계구축사업). The association supports psychological counseling, testing, and treatment costs for welfare workers. Blooming Trust's Heart Garden Counseling Center provides free counseling services (7–10 sessions) and psychological testing (up to 200,000 KRW) for qualified welfare workers.
• Seongnam City Social Welfare Council (성남시사회복지협의회)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive partner in multiple programs including the 'Food Security Council' (식생활 안정성 협의회) formed in 2018. The council consists of 7 institutions working together to address food insecurity among vulnerable populations in Seongnam.
• Jaehye-gyohapdang (자혜경로당)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpace-sharing arrangement (공간나눔) for the 5th village kitchen location (opened November 2018). The cooperative uses the senior center's kitchen facilities during off-peak hours to run shared cooking and dining programs.
• Jonggak Welfare Center (중앙동복지회관)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpace-sharing partnership (공간나눔) for the 3rd village kitchen location (opened July 2018). Also partnered on joint activities with the senior citizens association (대한노인회 성남시중원구지회).
• Sanseong Comprehensive Social Welfare Center (산성종합사회복지관)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpace-sharing for the 4th village kitchen location (opened October 2018). Board member linkage (임은휴, project team leader, listed as board director from the welfare center).
• Taepyeong 2-dong Welfare Center (태평2동복지회관)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpace-sharing for the 2nd village kitchen location (opened March 2018). Active partner in community programs.
• Seongnam Technical High School / Seongbo Management High School (성보경영고등학교)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the 외식조리경영과 (foodservice management department) starting March 2018. 15 students participated in monthly 'Show Me Cooking' volunteer activities (쇼미더요리) serving vulnerable residents.
• Seongnam City Volunteer Center (성남시자원봉사센터)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlooming Trust is registered as a Volunteer Demand Institution (자원봉사 수요기관) with the Seongnam City Volunteer Center, facilitating volunteer recruitment for village kitchen and food sharing programs.
• Seongnam City Government (성남시청)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlooming Trust is designated as a Seongnam Youth Mental Health Support service provider (성남청년마음건강제공기관). The city government funds the program and residents apply through the government's bokjiro.go.kr portal or local administrative welfare centers.
• Gwangju City Government (광주시)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContracting authority for the operation of Gwangju City Integrated Care Centers (광주시 다함께돌봄센터) at locations 1 (opened August 2021) and 7 (opened December 2023). The cooperative operates these centers on behalf of the municipal government.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Beautiful Store (아름다운가게): Established Korean social enterprise combining retail operations with donations, welfare services, and community programs. Comparable to Blooming Trust on social enterprise model, government partnership, and integrated welfare services, though operating at significantly larger national scale.
• Good Neighbors International (좋은이웃들): Major Korean social welfare NGO operating child welfare, community development, and food security programs domestically and internationally. Comparable to Blooming Trust on social services mission, government contracting, and integrated welfare delivery, though at a much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Hansalim (Korean Producers' & Consumers' Cooperative): One of Korea's largest consumer-producer cooperatives focused on food and sustainable agriculture with member-owned governance. Directly comparable to Blooming Trust on multi-stakeholder cooperative structure and food-centered community mission, though operating at a far larger national scale.
• Korea Food Bank (한국식품은행): National food bank organization distributing food to vulnerable populations through a network of partner organizations. Comparable to Blooming Trust on food security mission and government/nonprofit partnership model for serving low-income households.
• iCOOP Korea (Cooperative Consumer Network): Federated cooperative consumer network operating shared kitchens, food distribution, and community welfare programs across Korea. Comparable to Blooming Trust on cooperative structure, food security mission, and community-led dining/welfare services.
• Dure Cooperative (두레생협): Korean cooperative food network focused on sustainable food systems and community welfare. Comparable to Blooming Trust on cooperative model, food-centered mission, and member-driven community activities.

Others

• Community Chest of Korea (대한적십자사): National donation and welfare platform distributing funds to community welfare organizations. Comparable to Blooming Trust as a donation channel and Korean social welfare infrastructure participant, though at vastly larger scale.
• KCDF (Korea Community Development Foundation): Foundation supporting community-based social enterprises and cooperatives in Korea. Comparable to Blooming Trust as an ecosystem partner supporting social cooperatives in Korea, though operates as a grantmaker rather than direct service provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bloomingtrust
• Instagraminstagram.com/bloom_trust

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Social Cooperatives Blooming Trust