25 Shared Refrigerators in Suwon Overflow with Compassion and Love

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Compassion and love overflow from the 25 shared refrigerators installed throughout Suwon. The 'shared refrigerators' placed at alley entrances and shop fronts where many neighborhood residents pass are special refrigerators that anyone can freely use—both those placing food inside and those taking food out. They are refrigerators for sharing food like family with neighbors. Another reason they are called 'special refrigerators' is that they do not rely on public budgets but are instead managed and maintained by residents themselves, allowing people to realize that there are livable neighbors to share life with. First proposed as a sustainable development task in 2017, the shared refrigerator project expanded from Coffee Page, a cooperative of the Gosaek-dong Eco-Traffic Culture Cooperative in January 2018, to the 25th location at Hwaseo Yeomso-tang in Hwaseo-dong, establishing itself as a 'food governance' initiative. We visited these shared refrigerators.

■ Shared Refrigerator Where Residents' Participation Circulates

In late March, a large commercial-grade refrigerator was placed in an alley in front of a small, modest cafe on the first floor of a building on Segyowon-ro in Gwonseon-gu. This is Suwon's 20th shared refrigerator. Any resident using the passage alley connecting from the roadside to an apartment complex can use this refrigerator.

Food that residents place in the 20th shared refrigerator is quickly taken by other residents. As a result, it is rare to see much food remaining in the refrigerator. One day there is an apple, a bottle of gochujang, and a package of rice cakes; another day delivery workers each place about ten different drinks in the refrigerator; yet another day a young resident holding their mother's hand places lettuce in the refrigerator. A note reading 'grown in an open field' is often returned as a reply in childlike handwriting saying 'thank you for the meal.'

The person managing the 20th refrigerator shared by all residents is Lee Yun-kyung (53), the representative. After operating a cafe in the same location for over five years, regular customers increased, and while pondering how to share the food that regular customers brought, she learned about the shared refrigerator project. She created an outdoor space so the shared refrigerator can be used even when the cafe is closed, and installed an outdoor folding awning for convenient use on rainy or snowy days. Taking advantage of quieter business hours, she checks the condition of incoming food, arranges it nicely, and takes on the task of cleaning the refrigerator.

■ Shared Refrigerator That Takes Care of Neighbors' Meals
The 4th shared refrigerator is a refrigerator that shares 'meals of love.' Since its installation in February 2019 in front of a restaurant in Seodun-dong, Gwonseon-gu, it has been providing great help to nearby elderly residents living alone in having a meal.

Kwak Sang-hee (49), who operates a restaurant serving Korean set meals for breakfast and lunch, prepares side dishes generously and after business divides remaining side dishes and stews into portions, placing them in the 4th shared refrigerator in front of the shop. As elderly residents living alone come to visit at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. when the refrigerator is filled with side dishes, the area in front of the refrigerator sometimes becomes an unexpected 'neighborhood community room.'

The neighborhood elderly who take home side dishes daily express their gratitude to the operator in their own ways. Some bring a handful of mugwort they've picked as a pastime, while others buy ice cream during hot summers. Moreover, due to the elderly moving their cherished potted plants that became difficult to care for to the front of the restaurant, many potted plants now grow in front of the restaurant like a flower shop.

Lee Jae-soon (82), a grandmother who used to take side dishes from the 4th shared refrigerator, patted the operator's hand saying, "Living alone, it's very difficult to prepare side dishes even though I can manage rice. Thanks to the shared refrigerator, taking care of my meals has become much easier, and I'm very grateful."

In response, operator Kwak Sang-hee smiled and said, "I started with the hope that the neighborhood elderly would want to eat different side dishes daily, but now they cherish it even more, and I am grateful."

■ Shared Refrigerator Creates Sustainable Suwon
The beginning of the shared refrigerator dates back to winter 2017. To establish Suwon's 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, the public and private sectors put their heads together, and the shared refrigerator project was proposed to reduce food waste, guarantee basic food rights, and restore community.

For the project, the Suwon Sustainable Development Council, Suwon Volunteer Center, and Suwon Community Welfare Council gathered opinions, and Suwon's first shared refrigerator was installed in January 2018 at Coffee Page, a cooperative of the Gosaek-dong Eco-Traffic Culture Cooperative.

Subsequently, the shared refrigerator expanded to old downtown areas, multi-family housing, and schools, reaching 25 units as of June 2021. As the shared refrigerator became more active, operators created an online chat room to share daily operational status and anecdotes about refrigerator management with each other.

Thanks to these efforts, the shared refrigerator received the Presidential Award at the 22nd Sustainable Development Awards competition held by the Ministry of Environment and hosted by the National Council for Sustainable Development last year, being recognized as an excellent case of implementing sustainable development goals.

Recently, the refrigerators contain more 'participation.' The community welfare council conducts periodic sponsorships, and nearby large supermarkets regularly sponsor the refrigerators. The 'Urban Agriculture Citizen Volunteer Group' conducting agricultural volunteer work at Top-dong Citizen Farm plans to share harvested produce (potatoes, kimchi vegetables, grapes, apples, etc.) with citizens through the shared refrigerators.

■ Follow the Rules and Feel Free to Use
Currently, 25 shared refrigerators are installed across Suwon.

In Jangan-gu, there are 7 locations: ▲8th-509 Gwanggyo-san-ro 13, Suwon Local Food Direct Sales Store ▲9th-69 Chang-hun-ro, Jindallae Samgyeopsal ▲14th-47 Jang-an-ro 89-beon-gil, Jeongja Market Public Parking Lot ▲16th-3 Pajang-ro 46-beon-gil, Samgeori Real Estate ▲23rd-52 Pajang-cheon-ro, Eolssigujyeolssiigu ▲24th-313 Paldal-ro, Hwangsil ▲26th-27 Yuljeon-ro 107-beon-gil, CU Yuljeon Sky Branch.

In Gwonseon-gu, 7 locations operate: ▲4th-12 Seoho-dong-ro 26-beon-gil, Urisaem Galbi ▲6th-15 Omok-cheon-ro, Pyeongdong, Sangsong Village Apartment Complex ▲10th-120 Sang-tap-ro, Bab-irang Myeon-irang ▲15th-20 Segyowon-ro, Delicious Suda ▲17th-149 Dongsuwon-ro 146-beon-gil, Yong's Kkamagic ▲19th-24 Guun-ro 64-beon-gil, I Seum Study Room ▲20th-32 Segyowon-ro, Central Plaza Yolo 32.

In Paldal-gu, 8 locations are open: ▲3rd-13 Changryong-dae-ro 210-beon-gil, Uman Comprehensive Social Welfare Center ▲5th-44-60 Suwon-cheon-ro 392-beon-gil, Samil Industrial High School ▲7th-733 Gwonseon-ro 401, Gyeonggi Suwon Regional Self-Reliance Center ▲11th-189 Jungbu-dae-ro, Kkot-mi-kyeong's Samgyeopsal Pojangmacha ▲12th-70 Gohhwa-ro, Whale Back 24-Hour Village Sharing Place ▲21st-34 Changryong-mun-ro, Jidong Changryong Village Creative Center ▲22nd-21 Gasmaesan-ro, Uri Nakji Hanmadang ▲25th-27-4 Seongseong-ro 157-beon-gil, Hwaseo Yeomso-tang.

Finally, Yeongdeungpo-gu currently has 3 shared refrigerators: ▲2nd-2 Maetan-ro 168-beon-gil, Bareun Saenghyeop Maetan Branch ▲13th-250 Gwanggyo Jungang-ro, Just Comma ▲18th-23 Gwanggyo Lake-ro 152-beon-gil.

Since the shared refrigerator is used freely by anyone, rules for placing and taking food must be observed. Vegetables and food ingredients, side dishes, processed goods such as canned food, beverages, semi-prepared foods, and frozen foods can be shared.

However, foods with less than 2 days remaining shelf life, alcoholic beverages, medicines, health supplements, and spoiled foods cannot be shared. Also, if there is a large quantity of food, the principle is that one person takes one item.

Glass bottles or recyclable containers containing food must be returned, and plastic bags and vinyl bags should be minimized to protect the environment.