Gwangju City to Host 'Social Economy Expo' on October 18-19

120 Companies from Across the Country to Participate
Sales and Experience Booths On Site
Expo Aims for Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Practices

Poster of the 4th Gwangju Social Economy Expo. Provided by Gwangju City

Gwangju City announced on October 14 that it will host the '4th Gwangju Social Economy Expo' over two days, from October 18 to 19, in the area surrounding City Hall.

This year’s expo is themed ‘Me and Value: Turning Consumption for Myself into Meaningful Consumption,’ and is designed to help citizens naturally experience and relate to the importance of the social economy in their daily lives. The event is organized by Gwangju City and co-hosted by the Gwangju Social Economy Association, Gwangju Social Economy Support Center, and the Social Economy Expo Promotion Committee.

The venue will feature over 120 booths, including promotional and sales booths for social economy enterprises, a policy promotion booth, an academic event booth, and a citizen participation experience zone. Notably, in addition to social economy enterprises from Gwangju, 16 outstanding companies from 11 local governments across the country-including Seoul, Sejong, Gangwon, and Jeju-will participate, presenting unique products and goods that embody the social values of their respective regions. This is expected to contribute to strengthening nationwide exchange and solidarity in social economy activities.

At 5:10 p.m. on October 18, the opening ceremony will be held on a special indoor stage at City Hall, accompanied by a brass band performance. The program will include welcoming remarks, congratulatory speeches, commendations for contributors to the social economy, and a performance, with around 200 participants including citizens and company representatives expected to attend.

Special lectures for citizens are also planned. Notable sessions include a special lecture titled ‘Sweet Moments with My Pet’ by renowned dog trainer Kang Hyungwook, and a ‘Relationship Recovery Camp’ lecture by Professor Lee Hosun, a psychological counselor from Soongsil Cyber University. In addition, a variety of integrated programs for the whole family will be offered, such as a social economy quiz competition for youth, a family pride contest, an eco-friendly solid soap-making experience, and an accessible festival map experience.

This expo encourages the use of reusable containers, personal cups, and shopping bags, and will be operated in an eco-friendly manner to reduce carbon emissions. Further information can be found on the website of the Gwangju Social Economy Support Center, and inquiries can be directed to the Enterprise Growth Team.

Lee Gyedu, Director of Labor and Employment Policy, stated, "The social economy is a key pillar for realizing a sustainable, people-centered economy," adding, "Through this expo, we will systematically support local social economy enterprises so that they can enhance the quality of life for citizens and grow together with the region."

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