Recently, the role of social enterprises has received special attention for developing both national and local societies as well as solving the unemployment issue in Korea because they are expected to not only create new jobs but also provide social services of diverse purposes. Understandably, social enterprises, like other general private enterprises, mainly pursue profit maximization and wealth creation. However, their business goals and targets are not limited to simple profit maximization. In particular, social enterprises based on sustainable business activities have been recognized to fulfill valuable social roles as follows:
i) to create employment opportunities especially for the economically and socially alienated persons,
ii) to provide local residents outside the economic mainstream with opportunities to participate in the markets as customers,
iii) to improve economic and social infrastructure in local communities, which can result in network formation and capital development in them,
iv) to provide social and public services for various purposes, etc.

According to the characteristics and functions mentioned above, social enterprises have become a noticeable alternative to overcome the crisis in social welfare and solve social alienation issues. Therefore, it is necessary for the government to establish medium-and long-term policies and plans to promote and support social enterprises under the stage of growth in Korea. Through this study, the authors would like to propose the following policy plans to the Korean government in order to achieve the policy goal of promoting social enterprises.
i) Establishment, reorganization, and enhancement of a policy enforcement system including modification of relevant laws and regulations which the local authorities can carry out the policy with under the auspices of the central government,
ii) Establishment of financial independence and economic stability of social enterprises based on the promotion system,
iii) Promotion of social enterprise-friendly environment through the improvement of recognition for social enterprises,
iv) Construction of online public-relations and cooperation systems for social enterprises, and
v) Establishment of educational programs to develop entrepreneurs of social enterprises and transparent management systems.

Social enterprises are expected to contribute to solving various social issues in Korea, such as unemployment, social and regional inequity or unbalance, insufficiency of social services. Accordingly, the Korean government should recognize the positive effect of social enterprises, actively establish medium-and long-term policies, and preemptively arrange the relevant legal system.