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Football in Public Squares Around the World: Does the World Cup Create Social Capital?

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  When Koreans think of football, there is one unforgettable moment that comes to mind: the 2002 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by South Korea and Japan.   I was a high school student at the time. Normally, we would have been studying during evening self-study sessions, but whenever a World Cup match was on, teachers and students gathered together to watch the broadcast and cheer. Whenever South Korea scored a goal, people hugged each other and jumped with excitement. Some students were even moved to tears. We celebrated together and shared the joy together. Even decades later, those memories remain some of the happiest moments of my youth.   Today, the FIFA World Cup is once again capturing people's attention. While the atmosphere may not be as intense as it was in 2002, many people are still gathering to support their national teams. Recently, I watched a news interview in which a high school student said that cheering together with friends was so enjoyable that it wa...
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The Power of a Village Built on Sunlight: Sunlight Income Villages in South Korea

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  One of the initiatives currently attracting significant attention in South Korea is the Sunlight Income Village program. As the name suggests, it is a model that generates income from sunlight. I have mentioned Sunlight Income Villages several times on this blog, but in this article, I would like to explain what they are and why they matter.   🔆 What Is a Sunlight Income Village?   First, let's take a look at what a Sunlight Income Village actually is.   A Sunlight Income Village is a community-led renewable energy project in which local residents install and operate village-scale solar power facilities on idle land, public land, or other underutilized spaces. The revenue generated from these solar facilities is then used to improve community welfare and support the local economy.   The most important feature of this model is that residents participate directly. Community members are involved in both the installation and operation of the solar...
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The Force That Sustains Society: Why Relationships Are Also Social Infrastructure

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  When you hear the word infrastructure, what comes to mind?   For me, it brings to mind essential facilities and systems that form the foundation of everyday life. And when those systems stop functioning, daily life can quickly come to a halt. Without roads, electricity, or internet networks, for example, it becomes difficult to live and work normally. This is also why a lack of infrastructure is often cited as both a cause and a consequence of regional decline.   But are physical facilities the only infrastructure that keeps society running?   🌸Is Physical Infrastructure All That Matters?   In a previous article, I wrote about WESTAY Byeolnae, a cooperative housing community. Throughout this blog, I have also written repeatedly about collaboration and connection. At the heart of these topics lies one common theme: relationships between people.   Throughout our lives, we build many kinds of relationships — with family members, neighbor...
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