Aligning cooperative principles with platform cooperatives: challenges and insights from South Korea’s domestic service sector

Purpose: This study aims to explore the alignment between platform cooperatives (co-ops) and cooperative principles, with a focus on worker co-op activists’ perceptions and the challenges faced by domestic service co-ops in South Korea. Design/methodology/approach: A multiple-case study approach was used to examine two major worker co-ops in South Korea’s domestic service sector: the National House Managers’ Association (NHMA) and Life Magic Care Co-op (LMCC). Findings: This study reveals contrasting perspectives between NHMA and LMCC on integrating platform co-ops with cooperative principles. While NHMA raises concerns about deteriorating working conditions and a diminished sense of community, LMCC’s experience suggests that a well-designed, worker-owned platform can address these issues. However, NHMA’s concerns about the loss of a sense of community and funding challenges remain valid in LMCC’s experience, raising fundamental questions about the cohesion of platform co-ops in maintaining cooperative values. Establishing a sustainable funding mechanism, especially for platform maintenance and marketing, is crucial. Co-op communities must recognize the challenges platform co-ops face in balancing scalability with active member participation and community cohesion and develop strategies to address these issues before launching platform co-ops. Originality/value: This study highlights the unique challenges of implementing platform technology in domestic worker co-ops and emphasizes the need for innovative strategies to ensure alignment with cooperative values. The research provides key insights for co-ops considering platform adoption, especially in sectors where trust and personal relationships are vital.