Seo-gu, Gwangju to Open Fifth 'Item Sharing Center' to Promote Sharing Culture

Scheduled to Open Next Month
Rental Services for Camping Gear, Baby Products, and Tools

On June 26, Seo-gu District in Gwangju (headed by District Mayor Kim Ikang) signed a business agreement with Wolgwang Church and the Gwangju Seo-gu Volunteer Center to establish and operate 'Item Sharing Center No. 5.' Through this public-private partnership, Seo-gu aims to promote a sharing culture in daily life.

Gwangju Seo-gu Opens 'Item Sharing Center No. 5' Through Public-Private Partnership. Provided by Seo-gu

According to the agreement, Wolgwang Church will provide space free of charge and renovate the facilities; the Gwangju Seo-gu Volunteer Center will support with volunteer manpower; and the Seo-gu District Office will handle overall operations, including securing, repairing, and retrieving shared items. Together, the public and private sectors plan to open the Item Sharing Center next month.

The Item Sharing Center is a space where residents can rent items such as camping and baby goods, tools, and toys?items that are not frequently used, difficult to store, or expensive?at a low cost.

Anyone who lives in Seo-gu or is affiliated with a workplace, school, or organization within the district can use the center. Rental fees range from 1% to 3% of the item’s value, depending on the rental period.

Previously, Seo-gu established and has been operating four other Item Sharing Centers: at Hwajeong 2-dong Administrative Welfare Center (No. 1), Dongcheon-dong Administrative Welfare Center (No. 2), Nongseong 1-dong Seoroium Center (No. 3), and Seochang-dong Sangmu Station Gold Class Shopping Center (No. 4).

Kim Ikang, Mayor of Seo-gu, stated, "Securing and remodeling space, which requires a significant budget, is the key challenge for the Item Sharing Center, but through this agreement, we have found a meaningful breakthrough together with the local community. We will continue to expand sharing services to improve residents’ convenience and reduce their economic burden."

Meanwhile, last year Seo-gu improved user-centered services by reorganizing item placement and enhancing the online reservation system, resulting in a 187% increase in usage compared to the previous year.