The SNU Student Society for Social Responsibility ‘Ugly Culture’ team, housed within the SNU Social Responsibility (SNUSR) successfully completed their campaign program, in which they attempted to improve customers’ awareness of ugly agricultural products that were being discarded solely for the reason that they didn’t match up the product standard.

From August to December, last year, the ‘Ugly Culture’ team sought out measures to utilize agricultural products that were being unnecessarily discarded, and conducted a project hoping to have a positive affect on farmhouses’ income by improving customers’ awareness. First of all, to improve awareness of ugly agricultural products, they released and promoted a new time-limited menu. By collaborating with ‘SNUCO’, they suggested a way to utilize ugly agricultural products, selling beverage and waffle menu using ugly strawberries. They also collaborated with ‘Café & Meal Chipoli’, a cafe managed by the social venture ‘Antenna’, devising a menu using ugly carrots and onions, with 7% of the revenue being donated to the local community.

Beverage and waffle menu made using “ugly strawberries”

In addition, the team members opened a ‘Healthy Juice Cooking Class’ for children, which allowed them to experience that discarded agricultural products actually taste the same as other products, and that the only difference is their shape. Children were able to joyfully participate in the activity, touching and trimming the ugly vegetables. Moreover, team members of ‘Ugly Culture’ used the cooking kitchen of Seoul National University College of Human Ecology to make the ‘Ugly mushroom Shabu Meal Kit’ and distributed it to the local community, spreading the way to utilize ugly agricultural products and shared love with their neighbors.

The Meal Kit

Participants of the project expressed their impressions, saying “We didn’t know so many ugly agricultural products were being discarded just for the matter of their shape.” The ‘Ugly Culture’ team raised awareness for ugly agricultural products and get the foothold for consuming them.

Since its foundation in February 2013, the SNUSR has become the hub organization within the university for social responsibility. They have been practicing in the arena of social responsibility domestically and globally, as well as in the area of education for social responsibility based on innovational profession and social responsibility. More information about SNUSR can be found through the Global Social Responsibility Center (880-2253) or The SNUSR website (https://snusr.snu.ac.kr/).

Translated by
Hye Young Kim (Department of Aesthetics)