A Special Spring Day Enjoying 'So-hwak-haeng'... Happiness Sharing Market with Gumi Citizens

Opening of This Year's Saemaeul Altteul Flea Market

Gumi City, under the supervision of the Saemaeul Women's Association (President Shin Aeyoung), held the opening of the 2023 ‘Citizen Small but Certain Happiness Service and Saemaeul Thrifty Flea Market’ for the first time on the 11th at the rear parking lot of Gumi City Hall, with over 1,000 citizens participating.

The scene of Gumi City's 'Citizen Small but Certain Happiness Service and Saemaeul Thrifty Flea Market'.

With the opening declaration by Shin Aeyoung, president of the Saemaeul Women's Association, this Citizen Small but Certain Happiness Service and Thrifty Flea Market featured booths operated by citizens’ voluntary participation, including a recycled goods sales booth, lunch booth, experience booth, and thrift book booth. Starting this year, new lifestyle service booths such as spring companion plant planting and recreational activities, which are essential for citizens, were added, providing great enjoyment and memories to visitors through citizen-centered lifestyle services and resident participation programs.

The Saemaeul Thrifty Flea Market, inheriting the Saemaeul spirit of ‘diligence, self-help, and cooperation’ and established in April 2007 to promote the culture of saving and sharing, has been held regularly except for unavoidable cancellations due to COVID-19 and rain. It has been held seven times annually, totaling 89 times, attracting about 7,000 visitors each year. This year, starting with the first opening on March 11, it is scheduled to be held seven times on the second Saturday of each month until November, excluding the hot summer months of July and August.

Shin Aeyoung, president of the Saemaeul Women's Association, said, “With a renewed mindset and to spread a culture of frugal consumption, we will do our best to establish the ‘Saemaeul Thrifty Flea Market’ as Gumi City’s representative free market.”

Kim Jang-ho, Mayor of Gumi, visiting the Small Happiness Experience Booth.

Kim Jangho, mayor of Gumi City, said, “I hope the ‘Saemaeul Thrifty Flea Market,’ a living site of environmental education for resource recycling and environmental protection and a symbol of good consumption, will become even more active in the future, and that it will establish itself as a happiness-sharing market where citizens can enjoy small happiness and joy.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.