A Study on the Meaning of Consumption Culture of Community Currency Movement: Focusing on "Hanbat-LETS" Participants' Consumer Behavior

지역화폐운동의 소비문화적 의미 연구: "한밭레츠" 참여자의 소비행동을 중심으로

The purpose of this study is to explore the consumption cultural meaning of Community Currency Movement - a substitute currency institution - through an analysis of consumption behaviors and attitudes of Hanbat-LETS participants, who are recognized as the most active among Korea Community Currency Movements. The analytical method adopted in this study is the participation and observation method, along with the Focus Group Interview. Major findings are as follows: Hanbat-LETS participants experienced the following consumption behaviors and attitudes: economical consumption behavior creating the currency value, sustainable consumption behavior, consumption behavior shared with community, consumption behavior free from the need of competition and ownership, satisfaction from offering one's property, equal status and relationship among members, merry and happy attitude toward life. Community Currency Movement implies the consumption cultural meaning as followings: emergence of alienation through the realization of community society, practice of environment-friendly value, activation of region economy, development of one's ability and means of redemption of unemployment, construction of trustworthy society via trust.