Seoul City Opens Direct Trade Market 'Nongbu Market'... Up to 30% Cheaper, Held 40 Times a Year

Direct Trade of Healthy Food from Over 110 Farms in 65 Cities and Counties Nationwide... Urban Markets Opened
Operating at Seoul Children's Grand Park, DMC, and Mallidong Plaza with Compliance to Quarantine Guidelines

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul City announced on the 25th that it will open the 'Seoul City Farmer's Market,' which serves as a sales channel for more than 110 farms in 65 cities and counties nationwide, at Seoul Children’s Grand Park starting from the 26th. The 'Seoul City Farmer's Market' is a direct transaction market where consumers can purchase healthy agricultural products, carefully selected and recommended by local governments, at prices up to 30% cheaper than market prices.

This year’s Farmer's Market operates under the theme of ‘The Farmer’s Sincerity,’ sharing healthy Korean agricultural products?fruits of farmers’ dedication and effort?with urban consumers, and fostering mutual exchange between producers and consumers in a win-win direct transaction market between rural and urban areas. Since its launch in 2012, the ‘Seoul City Farmer's Market’ has served as a marketplace where local farmers and Seoul citizens communicate, allowing consumers to purchase excellent local agricultural products directly at affordable prices, while also functioning as a cultural market with various enjoyable activities. Last year, due to COVID-19, the market, which could not be held offline, connected live commerce and online direct transactions, achieving new sales channels and sustainability.

This year, the Farmer's Market will be held at three locations: at Seoul Children’s Grand Park on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Wednesdays and Thursdays of each month (excluding the hot summer season), at Mapo-gu DMC on the 2nd Friday and Saturday, and at Malli-dong Square on the 4th Friday and Saturday. Seoul City plans to operate 40 sessions of the ‘Farmer's Market’ throughout the year while strictly adhering to COVID-19 prevention guidelines.

The Farmer's Market will feature participation from 110 farms across 65 cities and counties recommended through nationwide city, county, and district offices. There will be special exhibitions of seasonal agricultural products, such as seasonal produce fairs and color food collections, showcasing directly cultivated local specialties. Various farms will also operate experiential programs, including making upcycled flowerpots.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, Seoul City will conduct pre-event disinfection, electronic entry log registration, and temperature checks at the market opening, and hand sanitizers will be placed throughout the venue. All vendors and visiting consumers must wear masks at all times, and no tasting or sampling will be allowed. Additionally, entry will be controlled to manage the number of participants, and a person responsible for quarantine will be designated to thoroughly prepare for any suspected COVID-19 cases.

Kim Ui-seung, Director of the Economic Policy Office, stated, “Seoul City has been conducting various projects such as direct transaction markets in cooperation with local communities. In particular, this Seoul City Farmer's Market was prepared to support sales channels for local farms suffering from consumption downturns due to the impact of COVID-19,” adding, “We hope many citizens will visit this direct transaction market where healthy food carefully selected and recommended by local governments nationwide can be found in one place, and help support the farms.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.