[6.3 Election] Min Hyung-bae Urges Gakhwa Wholesale Market to Secure Digital Distribution Competitiveness

"Moving Beyond Traditional Auction Methods"
Emphasizing the Need for Innovation in Distribution Structure

Min Hyung-bae, the Democratic Party candidate for the special mayor of Jeonnam-Gwangju Integration, visited the Agricultural Wholesale Market in Gakhwa-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju, where he met with merchants to listen to their concerns about aging facilities and parking shortages. There was also a sense of urgency that the distribution structure needs to be transformed, not just repaired.

In the early hours of May 4th, candidate Min visited the Gakhwa-dong Agricultural Wholesale Market and met with auctioneers, intermediate wholesalers, and porters involved in the distribution process. He observed the live auction and personally purchased a box of zucchini produced in Gurye, Jeonnam.

Merchants at the market requested, "Please pay close attention to the market, as times are tough," to which candidate Min responded, "I hope you receive good prices at auction and make good profits," as he took in the atmosphere on-site.

In the early morning of the 4th, candidate Min Hyungbae is seen conversing with merchants and inspecting the market site at the Gwangju Gakhwa-dong Agricultural Wholesale Market. Provided by the Min Hyungbae campaign team

Since its opening in 1991, the Gakhwa-dong Agricultural Wholesale Market has served as a central hub for agricultural product distribution in the Gwangju area for over 30 years. Currently, the market sees an average of 10,000 users and 8,000 vehicles entering daily. As of 2024, a total of 223,670 tons of produce, valued at 520.3 billion won, are traded annually, with about 800 people working there, including employees, auctioneers, intermediate wholesalers, and porters. However, persistent issues with aging facilities and insufficient parking have continued to be raised.

After his visit, candidate Min held a meeting with Park Kwang-seok, President of the Intermediate Wholesalers Association, and others to discuss the current status of market operations and the progress of the facility modernization project. The association pointed out that, despite Gakhwa Wholesale Market maintaining a surplus among the 32 public wholesale markets nationwide, there is still a lack of sufficient support.

In response, candidate Min stated, "Innovation in operational software is even more important," emphasizing that, "In an era where artificial intelligence leads distribution, we cannot remain stuck in the old auction methods. Intermediate wholesalers must enhance their competitiveness through digital transformation, such as operating online shopping malls."

He also addressed the phenomenon of major distributors opting for Seoul's Garak Market instead of local markets, stressing, "We need to create an environment where buying here is more advantageous by improving both quality and price competitiveness." He further mentioned the need to guide workers' vehicles to external lots to secure more parking for customers.

Meanwhile, the modernization project for the Gakhwa-dong Agricultural Wholesale Market is underway with a total project cost of 314.9 billion won, aiming for completion in 2036 in the Hyoryeong-dong area of Buk-gu, Gwangju. The new facility will consist of one basement floor and three above-ground floors, featuring more than 2,000 parking spaces, as well as separate vegetable, fruit, general logistics, and management buildings.

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