"Baemin and Coupang Eats Step Aside"... 'Dongjak e-Market' to Launch Within the Year

E-commerce Selling Near-Expiry Products from Traditional Markets and Local Shops
Dongjak-gu "Zero Commission, On-Foot Delivery, and Job Creation: Three Benefits in One"

A Baedal Minjok sticker is attached to a restaurant in Seoul as Baedal Minjok announced that the brokerage fee borne by restaurant owners will increase from the current 6.8% to 9.8% (excluding VAT) starting this August. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Dongjak-gu, Seoul (Mayor Park Il-ha) announced on the 19th that it plans to develop a new model of public delivery platform, an e-commerce platform tentatively named Dongjak e-Market, and pilot launch it within the year in response to the increase in delivery app fees.

Started from Mayor Park Il-ha's idea, Dongjak e-Market aims to be an e-commerce space that connects the entire district residents and allows the sale of near-expiration products from traditional markets and local stores.

The district explained that it is a win-win model that reduces the burden on small business owners by charging zero commission fees, promotes environmental practices through resident foot delivery, and creates local jobs. If businesses donate near-expiration products, consumers only pay a fixed delivery fee to receive the products, aligning with the 'zero waste' policy that reduces unnecessary resource waste.

Dongjak e-Market is responding to recent commission fee increases by major delivery platforms such as Baedal Minjok and Coupang Eats by prominently offering a 0% intermediary usage fee. It is also considering using the lowest fixed-rate delivery fee in the country.

Additionally, Dongjak-gu plans to recruit delivery supporters among residents to provide short-term jobs. Supporters who deliver food and goods on foot (within a 300m radius) or by bicycle (within about a 1km radius) upon delivery requests from nearby stores will receive a fixed delivery fee.

Mayor Park Il-ha said, “We are preparing an e-commerce platform as part of Dongjak-gu’s unique regional logistics innovation project,” and added, “We will launch it quickly to reduce the burden on local small business owners.”

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