Seongbuk-gu in Seoul held its "2026 Seongbuk-gu Cooperative Week" events on June 30 and July 4.
The first Saturday of July is designated "Cooperative Day," and Seongbuk-gu marks the entire first week of July as Cooperative Week each year, organizing programs to promote solidarity and exchange among local cooperatives and to raise public awareness of their meaning and value.
This year's events kicked off with a cooperative forum and networking session held June 30 at the multipurpose hall of the Seongbuk-gu District Office. The program opened with a guest lecture by Deokjo, the head monk of Gilsangsa Temple, followed by an exchange session involving about 10 cooperatives.
Also that day, commendation awards were presented to four organizations — Maul Eomma Cooperative, the Korea Clothing Resource Circulation Social Cooperative, Media Cooperative Wabosyong and Happy Children Social Cooperative — as well as two individual residents, Kim Beom-jun and Hwang Gi-uk, in recognition of their contributions to cooperative development.
On July 4, the district office's outdoor Baram Madang plaza hosted the "Cooperative COOP Festa," providing a showcase for Seongbuk-gu's cooperatives.
The event opened with a celebratory performance by Haegeum Kyeoneun Eunhan and featured promotional booths run by 10 cooperatives. Hands-on activities and one-day classes drew an enthusiastic response from local residents, including lemonade making by Maul Eomma Cooperative, wire-flower crafting by Alrokdalrok Cooperative, and coffee drip-bag and tteok hot dog making by Seongbuk Moa Cooperative.
Since enacting an ordinance to support cooperative development in 2013, Seongbuk-gu has continued to offer a range of support programs, including a cooperative community school and cooperative consulting services.
"I am delighted to have created a space for communication and exchange to promote cooperatives," district mayor Lee Seung-ro said. "In step with the growing movement to invigorate cooperatives, our district will support their sustainable growth and the realization of social value."
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