| Title |
Changes of Social Functions and Roles of Neighborhood Small Shops - A Case Study of Hae-bang-chon in Seoul |
| Authors |
배선혜(Bae, Sun-Hye) ; 박소현(Park, So-Hyun) |
| Keywords |
동네가게 ; 사회 활동 ; 사회기능과 역할 ; 커뮤니티 구심점 ; 동네 생활기반시설 ; 골목 상권 Neighborhood Small Shop ; Social Activities ; Social Function and Role ; Community Hub ; Neighborhood Facility ; Local Businesses |
| Abstract |
This study is based on a qualitative research about the social functions and roles of the neighborhood small shops in Hae-bang-chon. Employing basic qualitative data collection tools such as interviews and participant observations, the study attempts to illustrate the new, additional social activities that the small shops carry out besides the old ones. The research findings are as follows : First, roles of small stores as a ‘hub’ for social interactions and fostering community activities in the neighborhood have been remarkably reduced. On the other hand, the stores were still being used as a community gate for thenewcomers and as a place to offer important sources of information. Second, roles of shops as an essential infrastructure of the neighborhood have also been weakened. However, small stores serve a particularly valuable role in meeting the needs of disadvantaged groups of elderly and disabled consumers. In other words, they support selections of goods for the community and provide accessibility within reach. Also, the elderly groups have been using the store as a public place to make contact with community. |