Editor's Note
This editor’s note highlights the key facts and market implications behind “Moss House CEO Ki Ha-ri Infuses Spaces with Vita”, with emphasis on sourcing, product fit, fabrication, logistics, or buyer impact.
The Gyeonggi-do Social Economy Institute's '2023 Impact Thematic Acceleration Program,' launched to develop and revitalize the social economy ecosystem in Gyeonggi Province, concluded its six-month social economy enterprise incubation program and announced 12 outstanding companies on January 6. Among them, Moss House Co., Ltd., selected as an outstanding company in the regional revitalization category, was interviewed.
Company Founding Background
Moss House CEO Ki Ha-ri is an interior design major and stated that her nine years of work experience in a prison gave her a deep understanding of the transformation and growth of inmates. The unique experience within the prison space provided insight into the internal and external changes inmates undergo. Based on this experience, Moss House not only addresses the difficulties ex-offenders face when reintegrating into society but also pursues personal maturity and emotional stability. The program focuses on vocational training, allowing ex-offenders to learn the skills necessary for self-reliance. Furthermore, the company plans to provide workshops and seminars promoting reconciliation between ex-offenders, their families, and victims, showing concern for healing wounds and restoring relationships. The project's ultimate goal is to create a world where ex-offenders can live as healthy members of society without reoffending. As interest in healing environments within correctional facilities grows, Moss House's approach is gaining attention among experts. There is anticipation regarding the project's future impact on reducing recidivism rates. This innovative program, combining professional expertise and prison work experience, is expected to provide a fresh start not only for ex-offenders but also for victims and families. Moss House's efforts, combined with community support and interest, are seen as a significant step toward a better future for ex-offenders and aim to resolve various difficulties they face upon re-entering society.
Company’s Main Business
This company uses mosaic tiles to artistically express customer-requested phrases or patterns, differentiating itself through custom production methods from mass-produced, uniform factory products. By turning customer-designed tile art into actual products, it provides an opportunity to reflect individual taste and personality in spaces. The company is also dedicated to producing mats made from various tiles, not just interior tiles, and plans to lead the market by developing more diverse tile art products. Additionally, it operates a tile art community program. This program, where multiple people create tile art together to beautify spaces, has been conducted in prisons based on the concept of creating healing spaces, receiving positive responses as a unique artistic activity involving inmates. The company's efforts, combining unique tile art products with social contribution activities, are evaluated as innovation that adds cultural and artistic value beyond mere products. It is expected to continue contributing to creating richer and more meaningful spaces through ongoing product development and social contribution activities.
Participation in the 2023 Impact Thematic Acceleration Regional Revitalization Program
The Gyeonggi-do Social Economy Institute's '2023 Impact Thematic Acceleration Regional Revitalization Program' was recognized by one participant as a decisive opportunity for business growth. A participant who initially had low expectations before the program's implementation expressed gratitude, stating that with the help of accelerator companies King Go Spring and Kang Ssen, they identified and improved business issues, leading to a new turning point. CEO Ki Ha-ri shared her thoughts:
“I didn’t have high expectations when I first entered the program. However, through participation, I was able to visually identify shortcomings in my business, receive advice from various experts, and explore paths for development.”
She added that in the 'Gyeonggi-do Regional Revitalization' themed category, she had the opportunity to deeply discuss her business's impact on the local community and establish specific revitalization plans. The program aims to share knowledge and strategies applicable in the field, beyond simple theoretical training. Many participating social entrepreneurs evaluated that it provided a practical foundation for growth that genuinely helped their businesses. The Gyeonggi-do Social Economy Institute hopes participants will develop the capacity to contribute to Gyeonggi-do's community development through this process.
Future Plans
CEO Ki Ha-ri clearly stated their future direction:
“I want to make it so that when people think of tile art, they think of ‘Moss House,’ and when they think of ‘Moss House,’ they think of tile art.”
They aim to expand beyond simple interior tile business by creating various interior accessories and artworks with tile art. 'Moss House' also shows deep interest in nurturing tile artists, planning to discover talented individuals and support their growth into professional tile artists. This activity aims to make tile art more familiar to the public by expressing various artists' works in tiles, allowing more people to enjoy tile art and gain artistic inspiration. To realize these goals, 'Moss House' is awaiting inquiries from artists hoping to collaborate and is prepared to lead change and development in new tile art works. Many are showing expectation and interest in the future steps of 'Moss House,' which imbues each tile with artistry. 'Moss House's' challenge, which opens new horizons for tile art, is expected to help elevate tile art beyond mere decoration into an art genre. Their passion is forecast to be a fresh breeze that allows people to discover artistic value in a single tile piece.
What is Moss House’s Social Mission?
Moss House focuses on creating social value based on a social mission centered on warm connections with the local community. The organization champions "Warm Connections between Inmates and Society" and carries out various activities driving positive change in the community.
Particularly, Moss House focuses on improving environments in underdeveloped areas through its tile art business. This project involves revitalizing discarded or neglected spaces through art workshops with direct community participation. Participants express their creativity through tile work and feel pride as community members. Moss House's efforts inject fresh vitality into the local community while also contributing to reducing unemployment and stimulating the economy. Their activities as a social enterprise are cited as a model case for local communities, opening new avenues for community development. Moss House's movements, striving for sustainable development and social welfare, inspire many and are setting new standards for social responsibility and corporate roles. Moss House stated it plans to further strengthen ties with the local community and expand its influence nationwide.
Source: Read the original article | Published: January 31, 2024