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영어

The purpose of this study was to explore the meaning of consumerism of Community Currency Movement through an analysis of the consumer experience of Hanbat-LETS participants. Consumerism is also an effort to try to brings to solution of the market economy system’s problem, for example the unequal problem of between corporation and consumer.
Hanbat-LETS is the active institution which is the most active in the midst of Korea Community Currency, so Hanbat-LETS is selected by the subject of this study. The analytical methods adopted in this study were the participation & observation method and the Focus Group & In-depth Interview method.
Major findings of this study were as follows:
Hanbat-LETS participants experienced the following consumer experience ; the creation of value through the exchange trade, the solidarity shared with community, the experience free for the need of competition and ownership, the satisfaction from offering oneself property, the practice of sustainable consumption life.
Community Currency Movement imply the following meaning of consumerism. First, the autonomous participation, Second, the practice of environment-friendly value, Third, the development of oneself ability, Fourth, the construction of trust society through belief, Fifth, the realization of community society. Therefore it is proved Community Currency Movement is a complementary institution of the monetary system and a desirable and new-style economical institution that cure the anxiety and relative comparison, alienation. This study is significant as a exploratory work probing the participants of Community Currency Movement and the extension of scope of consumerism and consumption study.