Onion Prices Plunge... Song Miryung Steps Up as One-Day Show Host

Live Commerce Appearance to Promote Onion and Agricultural Product Sales
May 19, 1-2 p.m. on Naver Shopping Live and NongHyup e-Market

On May 19, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Miryung will participate as a guest show host on a live commerce broadcast taking place at the Iksan Horticultural Agricultural Cooperative online studio in Jeonbuk. Minister Song is stepping in as a show host herself in response to a sharp drop in wholesale prices caused by an increase in production of early-maturing onions compared to the annual average.

According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT), as of May 18, the wholesale price for onions (15kg) sold by intermediate wholesalers was 9,696 won, a 33.6% decrease from last year’s 14,610 won. Retail prices have also dropped to 1,880 won per kilogram, down 23.1% from a year earlier.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs held a ‘Direct Sales Market for Fresh Onions Delivered Directly from Farms’ at the Government Complex Sejong the previous day for resident government employees and others. In addition, the ministry extended the agricultural product discount event (up to 40% off), which had been running in major supermarkets and traditional markets, from mid-May to the end of May.

On this day, Minister Song will also sell watermelons and cherry tomatoes in addition to onions. To encourage public interest in onions and other agricultural products, Minister Song will personally explain the health benefits of onions and how to store them. The live commerce broadcast will air for 60 minutes on Naver Shopping Live and NongHyup e-Market channels. Various promotional events will also take place, including providing onion pickling sauce to the first 1,000 customers and melons to 100 customers who provide proof of purchase. Minister Song stated, “I ask everyone to generously purchase our delicious and highly nutritious agricultural products grown with care by farmers, enjoy them, and send warm encouragement to our farmers.”

The Iksan Horticultural Agricultural Cooperative online studio, where this broadcast will take place, is supported by the ministry’s ‘Online Direct Sales Platform Development Project.’ Employees plan, produce, and appear as show hosts for the ‘Farm Direct Delivery Live Commerce’ broadcasts, which are held regularly.

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