Sunchang County, Only Region Nationwide Selected for "Fresh Food Delivery Project to Address Food Deserts"

Fresh Food Delivered to Remote Areas with Two KIA Electric Vehicles

"More Than Simple Delivery – Becoming 'Mobile Welfare Units' That Care for Residents' Lives"

Sunchang County was the only region in the country selected for the “Fresh Food Delivery Project to Address Food Deserts,” a public initiative jointly promoted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and KIA. As a result, the county secured two refrigerated cargo electric vehicles (PV5) and 40 million won in national funding.

Sunchang County Office View

This public project holds significant meaning as it is not merely about supplying groceries, but about providing a people-centered, integrated service model that addresses the dual crises of an aging population and regional depopulation.

In particular, Sunchang County identified the limited use of basic income due to a lack of affiliated stores as a core issue and strategically designed and responded to this project as a solution. As a result, the county passed both the document review and on-site evaluation, overcoming fierce competition to be ultimately selected.

The core of the project is to use two KIA cargo electric vehicles (PV5) to establish a fresh food delivery system that reaches down to each administrative village. This aims to fundamentally solve the “food desert” problem in areas where access to fresh food is difficult due to a lack of transportation infrastructure and economic constraints.

Additionally, by linking with the rural basic income pilot project, the county aims to expand the consumer base at the township level, strengthen the local consumption circulation structure, and alleviate resident inconvenience caused by a lack of affiliated stores. Through these efforts, welfare and the local economy are expected to benefit simultaneously.

An official from Sunchang County stated, “Being selected for this public project is the result of Sunchang County’s accurate reading of the local situation and its rapid response. The vehicles carrying fresh food will go beyond simple delivery to become ‘mobile welfare units’ that care for residents’ lives.”

The official added, “We will continue to pursue policies that bring about small but essential changes close to the lives of our residents. Taking this project as an opportunity, we will complete a Sunchang-style living service model and develop Sunchang into a place where all residents can be happy.”

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