[Seoul's News] Seoul Receives World’s First Fair Trade City Recognition among Megacities
Seoul Receives World’s First Fair Trade City Recognition among Megacities
07/11/2018
Of cities with a population of over 10 million people, Seoul is the first in the world to receive the official ‘Fair Trade City’ recognition. The goal was reached within 6 years of the 2012 ‘Fair Trade Capital City Seoul’ announcement.
The title of ‘Fair Trade City’ is given to cities that meet all 5 standards set by the International Fair Trade Town Steering Committee, including △ support of an area assembly, △ supply of fair trade products by area merchants, △ use within the area community, △ promotion, and △ convention of a local fair trade steering group.
Seoul was selected as a Fair Trade City by satisfying all five of the International Fair Trade Town Steering Committee’s standards, through their △ fair trade support resolution and ordinance resolve, △ expansion to 1 fair trade provider per 25,000 people (about 400 providers), △ fair trade organization announcements within area workplaces and living areas, △ citizen participation in fair trade campaigns, promotions, and education (over 700,000 people), and △ assembly and management of a Fair Trade Steering Committee.
Continuous efforts have been made since the presentation of the ‘Fair Trade City, Seoul’ announcement in cooperation with the Korea Fair Trade Organization during Seoul’s ‘World Fair Trade Day Festival in Korea’ in 2012.
Mayor Park Won-soon stated, “This is a symbolic meaning and opportunity for Seoul, coming from a place that went from a poor country to a trade giant within one generation, to receive recognition as the world’s most populated fair trade city. We will ensure that Seoul is truly the capital of world fair trade by boosting citizen awareness on ethical consumerism.”