Changwon’s “Again, Green” Store: Pioneering Senior Employment and Upcycling in South Korea

Changwon City, South Korea, is bolstering its commitment to senior citizens and environmental sustainability with the launch of “Our Neighborhood Circular Nuriter Again, Green,” an upcycling store and senior employment initiative. Opened on February 20, 2026, at the Burim Underground Shopping Mall in Masan Happo-gu, the store represents a unique model for community-focused economic activity and resource management.

A First-of-Its-Kind Initiative

“Again, Green” is Changwon’s first upcycling cultural space specifically designed to provide employment opportunities for older adults. The store was provided rent-free by the Masan Happo-gu Office and remodeled using the operating budget of the Community Business Group, demonstrating a strong commitment from local government to the project’s success.

Promoting a Circular Economy

The initiative aims to promote the circular economy of local resources, offering a sustainable economic activity model centered around the older generation. Visitors to “Again, Green” can witness and participate in the upcycling process, specifically the transformation of waste plastic bottle caps into keyrings. The store offers experience programs including crushing bottle caps, keyring injection, and the creation of custom keyrings, wappens, and resin keyrings, with finished products available for purchase on-site.

Community Engagement and Senior Empowerment

The store is staffed by 20 elderly job participants working in shifts, fostering a sense of purpose and community engagement among seniors. The program builds upon the success of a pilot operation that engaged over 1,000 residents and is part of Changwon City’s larger “Smart Senior Center” program, launching fully in March 2026.

Expanding Welfare Infrastructure in Changwon

The launch of “Again, Green” is part of a broader effort by Changwon City to expand its welfare infrastructure, including the establishment of a dementia-specialized care center with an investment of 2.2 billion won, and the relocation of the Masan Welfare Center for the Disabled to a modern facility by the end of 2027. These initiatives are designed to improve the quality of life for all citizens, including children, the disabled, and the elderly.

Masan Happo-gu: A Growing District

“Again, Green” is located in Masan Happo-gu, a district of Changwon with a population of approximately 184,000 as of 2010. Historically, Masan Happo-gu was a significant harbor, attracting attention from both Japanese and Russian interests in the late 19th century.

Looking Ahead

According to Choi Young-sook, director of the Welfare and Women’s Health Department, “Again, Green” is a platform for circulating local resources and exemplifies social innovation in Changwon, converting the experiences of the older generation into environmental and economic value. Changwon City aims to create a sustainable resource circulation city through initiatives like this, demonstrating a commitment to both its senior population and environmental responsibility.