Support Local Businesses and Local Ads
Wondering how South of Seoul survives if it’s managed by volunteers? Who pays for the hosting and services the South of Seoul blog needs to run?
Support Local Businesses and Local Ads
About the South of Seoul
South of Seoul volunteers dedicate their time to serving Korea’s international community by providing accurate, practical, and culturally respectful information to help navigate daily life in South Korea. Transparency around our ownership and funding sources is fundamental to building and maintaining the trust of our readers, partners, and community members.
Ownership Structure
- Collaborative Management: Two organizations collaborate to make South of Seoul possible. Organization 1: South of Seoul Society a community-focused organization. Lanae Rivers-Woods founded the volunteer organization in 2015. It’s based in Wilmington, Delaware, USA. Organization 2: South of Seoul Strategy and Education Consulting (SOS SEC), a consulting business founded by Lisa Maria Peck in November 2022 in Pyeongtaek-si, South Korea. Together, these entities combine resources, expertise, and community insights to create content and events for international residents of South Korea.
- Independent and Community-Focused: South of Seoul is independently operated and does not answer to outside investors. This independence allows us to prioritize the needs and interests of our community in Korea. It also enables us to create content that focuses solely on informing, educating, and empowering our readers and prioritizes their needs.
Funding Sources
- Directors’ Personal Contributions: As of 2024, approximately 40% of South of Seoul’s monthly budget is funded directly from the directors’ personal contributions. The Directors do not receive a salary or compensation for running the South of Seoul project. This reflects their dedication to the organization’s mission and to serving the community. This commitment helps ensure continuity in operations, supports our capacity to provide free resources, and upholds our editorial independence. From 2015-2023, 98% of South of Seoul’s operating costs came from Director’s personal contributions.
- Partnerships, Collaborations, and Sponsorships: South of Seoul Society and SOS SEC collaborate with select partners, including local businesses, organizations, and government agencies, whose products, services, or missions align with our goal of supporting the international community in Korea. Partnerships are chosen based on their value to our community. We carefully vet each partner to ensure they meet our standards of integrity, quality, and relevance. These are limited and time-bound projects.
- Grants and Community Funding: SOS SEC creates some events through grants and funding local organizations that support our mission of building cross-cultural understanding and improving life for foreigners in Korea. We are selective in accepting these funds, prioritizing grants or projects that align with our values and respect our editorial independence. Projects clearly share our partner organizations’ information. The funding goes to specific projects and not to South of Seoul in general.
- In-House Projects and Consulting Services: SOS SEC generates income by providing educational programs, consulting services, and event management for organizations and businesses that wish to better connect with and serve the international community in Korea. Examples include curriculum development for cultural exchange courses, guided market tours, consulting, and community integration events.
- Advertisements and Sponsored Content: Some content may include advertisements or sponsorships that help support our operational costs. Sponsored posts or partnerships are always clearly labeled, ensuring our readers are aware when content has been funded by an outside source. We don’t actively recruit these opportunities but appreciate it when organizations reach out to help us cover costs.
Commitment to Integrity
- Clear Disclosure: We disclose our funding sources and sponsorships on all relevant content. Sponsored posts and partnerships are clearly marked, and any financial relationships with external organizations are disclosed upfront. That said, as of 2024 South of Seoul rarely has sponsored content so you don’t often see it marked on articles.
- Editorial Independence: South of Seoul maintains full editorial control over all content, including that which may be funded or sponsored. No partner, sponsor, or outside organization has influence over our editorial decisions. We are committed to delivering unbiased, high-quality content that serves the interests of our readers first and foremost.
- Reader-Driven Approach: South of Seoul’s primary goal is to serve the international community in Korea by providing reliable, informative, and culturally relevant content. Our funding and partnerships are aligned with this goal, ensuring that our readers’ needs and interests remain the foundation of our work.
Thank you for trusting South of Seoul as your resource and guide in Korea. We are committed to maintaining transparency and upholding the highest standards of integrity to support you on your journey of navigating life in Korea. For any questions or additional information regarding our ownership and funding, please contact us at blog@southofseoul.net.
Support Local Businesses and Local Ads
