"Here with Son's Chance"... Parents of Soldiers Become Regulars at Military Off-Base Mart

Affordable for Families Too
Household Goods and Food Ingredients Mart at Half Price

On the afternoon of the 4th, Sadang Yeongoe Mart located in Namhyeon-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul is operating.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] # Can you go to an off-base mart if your son is in the military? After reading reviews about using the online off-base mart, Choi Eun-kyung (56) carefully read the usage instructions and headed to a nearby off-base mart. She was able to buy a lot of snacks, drinks, and dairy products at about half the price of large supermarkets. Choi said, "I can use the mart thanks to my son currently serving in the military," adding, "Every time I come here, it's truly a new world. You can't find prices like this anywhere else."

The off-base marts operated by the Armed Forces Welfare Service are emerging as a ‘hot place’ for military families. These military marts offer various products at discounted prices, and since alcohol is duty-free, eligible users can purchase daily necessities and food ingredients at prices cheaper than large supermarkets. In the past, families of active-duty soldiers were often unaware of these benefits, but recently, as much information and reviews have been shared online, the number of users has increased.

◆ Parents of active-duty soldiers also use it = On the afternoon of the 4th, Sadang Off-base Mart located in Namhyeon-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, was in a residential area about 10 minutes from Sadang Station. The mart is 116㎡ (35 pyeong), about 1.5 to 2 times the size of a typical convenience store. On that day, about 3 to 4 military family members were shopping there, each leaving with their hands full of purchased goods. Lee Mo said, "I can use the mart thanks to my father, who is a national merit recipient," adding, "There are many affordable items, and since it’s close to home, I come often."

The biggest advantage of the off-base mart is the price. For rice, Hoengseong Ssal Eo-sa Jinmi 10kg is sold for 31,500 KRW, and 20kg for 61,200 KRW. Considering the lowest internet prices are 35,000 KRW and 69,000 KRW respectively, this is about 10% cheaper. For beer, a can of Cass (355ml) costs 1,080 KRW, and a can of Terra (355ml) costs 700 KRW. This is about 54% of the convenience store price for Cass.

◆ 44 locations available in major metropolitan areas = According to the Armed Forces Welfare Portal, as of this month, there are 112 off-base marts nationwide. Most are located near military units, but there are quite a few in residential areas of major cities such as 23 in Seoul, 3 in Gwangju, 6 in Daejeon, 7 in Daegu, and 5 in Busan. They usually operate from 10:30 AM to 7:30 PM on weekdays. They are either closed or have reduced hours on Saturdays. All are closed on Sundays.

Eligible users include active-duty soldiers, cadets, officer candidates, non-commissioned officer candidates, military personnel, Ministry of National Defense officials, soldiers who have served for more than 10 years and retired, military public employees, national merit recipients, and veterans. Their spouses, direct lineal relatives, and families from military distinguished households can also use the marts. Those who are not eligible cannot enter the mart. Military officials state that an ID card is required, and family members must have proof documents such as a family relation certificate issued within the last 6 months. Obtaining a Defense Family Mobile ID card makes using the mart even more convenient.

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