Meeting with Seongmisan/Sungmisan Village Activists from South Korea

Friends,

I am helping to organize a trip to the UK by a group from the South Korean alternative community of Seongmisan.

Just for information, Seongmisan is a community based in Seoul that was first embryonically established some 15 years ago. There are several elements to it: co-parenting; an experimental school; regional recycling ventures; fostering the resilience of communities and citizens, and doing much of this through cultural expression as much as direct social and political work - the Seongmisan Town Theater being part of this.

Some further information about the 'village' and other alternative communities in South Korea can be found at: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2011/08/142_93105.html and http://kossrec.org/board/imgfile/KSSJ%20Vol.36.no.2(Do-Wan%20Ku).pdf

The group's aim in coming over here is really to fulfill a fact-finding mission to observe how alternatives are made possible in the UK, to share networks, and to take inspiration back to Seoul.

There are 6 people in the party who have different backgrounds (municipal  regional economy (including social enterprises)/welfare/education/cultural/and in ecological communities). They arrived today and are conducting their first visit at Schumacher College in Totnes.

They will then be in London (around 12~15th), and then Birmingham (around 15~18th), with plans to visit several sites at each. Their programme is very fluid after Totnes, and so I'd be grateful if anyone would be prepared to allow them some insight into how their particular communities, co-operatives, social capital ventures etc. operate and realize both value and aims.

I realize that this is very late notice but if anyone would themselves find discovering more about this community an interesting prospect and have opportunities for them to learn in London and Birmingham, I would be so obliged if you could let me know!

Thanks very much,

All best,

Mike