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This study aims to investigate perceptions of bullying‐like behaviours in South Korea, from young children to adults; why they happen and how people judge them.

Focus groups were conducted across different age ranges, from preschool to workplace employees, in Seoul. A total of 113 participants were shown cartoons or descriptions of negative behaviours and asked “why these happened”, and “what do you think about them?” Interview transcripts were analysed by grounded theory.

Similarities and differences across ages were found for two themes, origins and judgments of behaviours. Situational and interpersonal factors were seen as important in causing the behaviours, both in school and the workplace. Pupils aged 15‐17 and mothers considered the behaviours less acceptable than younger pupils; whereas, ten to 15‐year‐old pupils and workplace employees gave more justification of the behaviours and were more likely to attribute the situation to victim's responsibility.

This is the first study investigating perceptions of bullying‐like behaviour from a life‐span perspective and also provides findings on the particular nature of Korean bullying or wang‐ta.

Public food procurement (PFP) plays an important role in establishing agri-food systems. The study explores local food system stakeholders' response to PFP interventions by addressing the question of how PFP transforms agri-food systems and how this new agri-food ecosystem is governed.

This article presents and discusses a unique case study of Jeonbuk, a rural province in South Korea, which successfully transformed its agri-food system into an ecosystem through its sustainability-oriented innovations (SOIs) among born ecopreneur farmers. This case not only offers insights into a novel way to create value chains through legislative, executive and judicial governance but also extends the body of knowledge on agri-food systems by introducing the concept of an agri-food ecosystem.

The findings indicate the importance of the ecosystem governance and knowledge exchange among internal and external ecosystem stakeholders. In particular, PFP institutions play a crucial role in facilitating the operation of public meal centers and cooperation among actors.

Taking an ecosystem lens to agri-food systems may offer agricultural cooperatives a wider perspective and better understanding of the governance structures necessary to successfully execute public interventions. Lastly, the Korean case differs from other developing countries, but its role model qualities could help to implement successful school meal programs elsewhere.

This paper reviewed and applied a conceptual framework aimed at identifying the role of PFP institutions in the value chain governance by studying a case study of a South Korean local school meal program. The study further extends the agricultural cooperatives research and contributes to a better understanding of the role of a municipality and an agri-food intermediary in the governance process involving producers and kitchens.