Less for me, means more for us — Sharing economy

“Keep only those things that speak to your heart.” This quote from Marie Kondo’s international bestseller The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up has been a trending concept for many of the millennials. While consumerism is still deeply ingrained and pursued in every inch of their surroundings, many are deciding to 'give up' what they already have. Of course, there are more practical reasons in this, too: with the lack of job security and increasing cost of housing, buying more can mean more burden to deal with. Nevertheless, the concept of sharing for the purpose of sustainability is quite a new realization for many of us.

While it can be defined in different terms, elements of sharing economy is easily found in our every life in Seoul. For example, the Clozet company lends luxury bags. For a fixed rate of 100,000 won a month, you can change bags 3 times per month, via free delivery services. Car sharing is popular too, with SoCar as a major player of the field. With available vehicles located all over the country, you can easily find and rent one located near you. All you have to do is make a reservation for a particular car on the mobile app and pay through the app for the amount of time you spend in the car. Children's toys and furniture sharing are available in Seoul as well.

There are also physical places where people share time and space for increased sustainability. Located near Gongdeok Stationm, for example, is the Mapo District communal space. After registering with the district office, you will be able share with other members a farm patch and a market booth, in which performances, cooking classes and flea markets are set up and led by members. While working together at the communal space, which during the summer and autumn seasons also serves as an outdoor cinema and a venue for barbecue parties, what comes out as a result is, ultimately, shared experiences and a larger gain for the community.