"Feel one heart, double the value."
The South Jeolla-Gwangju Integrated Special City will hold the 2026 South Jeolla-Gwangju Integrated Special City Social Solidarity Economy Fair from Friday to Sunday at the outdoor plaza of Kim Dae-jung Convention Center.
The event is jointly organized by the Gwangju Social Economy Federation, the Gwangju Social Economy Support Center and the Social Solidarity Economy Fair Organizing Committee, under the theme "One Heart, Double the Value: South Jeolla and Gwangju's Social Economy Together."
The opening ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. Friday on a special stage in the outdoor plaza, featuring a pre-opening performance, an opening declaration, awards for contributors to the social solidarity economy, and an opening performance.
During the fair, about 60 local social solidarity economy enterprises will run sales and experience booths, alongside promotional booths for related institutions and startup teams, as well as various event booths. A total of 80 booths will operate during the fair.
A policy promotion hall will introduce the current state and key policies of the social solidarity economy in South Jeolla and Gwangju, and visitors can take part in a keyword vote in support of the Framework Act on the Social Solidarity Economy.
A Chuseok Gift Fair will also be held, bringing together products from social solidarity economy enterprises ahead of the holiday.
A special Chuseok discount event will also run at the same time on the online shopping mall "Gachisasemol," which sells social solidarity economy products. Separate consultation sessions on public institutions' priority purchasing and on startup support will also be offered.
An academic forum organized by the Gwangju Social Economy Support Center will take place Friday and Saturday. It will focus on regional strategies and case studies in the social solidarity economy. It will also address the role of local governments following the enactment of the Framework Act on the Social Solidarity Economy. On Sunday, a forum organized by the Chosun University Social Economy Graduate Students' Association will follow.
A range of citizen participation programs will also be on offer. Visitors of all ages can enjoy a social solidarity economy true-or-false quiz, a random-play dance event, a 20-person jegichagi (a traditional Korean shuttlecock-kicking game) contest, a free-throw tournament and stage performances.
Nam Byung-hyo, chairman of the Social Solidarity Economy Fair Organizing Committee, said, "This is a meaningful occasion where Gwangju and South Jeolla join forces to announce a new leap forward for the social solidarity economy." He added, "Ahead of Chuseok, I hope people will purchase quality local products and take part in value-based consumption."
sij@heraldcorp.com
