• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.593-611
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• 2005

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.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.745-764
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of ethical consumption in the Community Currency Movement participant's daily life as a consumer. Qualitative research methods are used for the understanding about the participation activities and the daily lives as a consumer of Hanbat LETS participants'. The characteristics of ethical consumption used for analysing of the Community Currency Movement are the subjective participation, production process-aware consumption, others care to consumption, sustainable consumption, voluntarily simple life. The major results of this study show that the Community Currency Movement is the alternative economic system practicing the ethical consumption. The Community Currency Movement increase the subject participation, realize the social responsibility and community society and the ecological value and voluntary simple life. This research get the meaning for considering the Community Currency Movement & the ethical consumption on the discriminatory perspective.