"Helping Farmers with Blocked Sales Channels" LGU+ Road Online Market Opens on the 29th

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] LG Uplus is launching the ‘U+Road Online Market’ to help farms struggling due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and to provide customers with opportunities to purchase fresh and affordable agricultural products.

According to LG Uplus on the 22nd, ‘U+Road’ is a program that partners with local commercial districts to offer discounts, prize events, and revitalize the areas. It first started in 2018 in Seochon Village and has since been held in areas such as Pil-dong in Jung-gu, Incheon Open Port, Gyeongridan-gil in the metropolitan area, and Haeundae Haeridan-gil in Busan.

The U+Road Online Market, opening on the 29th and operating for eight weeks, will sell fresh agricultural products directly connected to production sites at special prices about half the price of regular supermarket prices. LG Uplus purchases agricultural products directly from farms and delivers them to customers at discounted prices with free shipping. The products for sale are revealed every Wednesday at 10 a.m. Quantities are limited to 2,000 units on a first-come, first-served basis. Sponsored by Nongshim, customers who purchase will receive free ramen such as ‘Jjawang Dry Noodles’ and ‘Kalbim Noodles’ that can be cooked together with the agricultural products. On the 29th, they will sell 2 bundles of green onions from Sinan (2,000 KRW) with 2 packs of Nongshim ‘Jjawang Dry Noodles’; on May 6 (Wednesday), 3 kg of fresh onions (5,000 KRW) with 2 packs of Nongshim ‘Kalbim Noodles’; on the 13th (Wednesday), 1.5 kg of sweet potatoes (5,000 KRW); and on the 20th (Wednesday), 1.5 kg of cherry tomatoes (5,000 KRW). Additional products will be announced later.

Additionally, LG Uplus will donate an amount equal to half of the money customers spend purchasing agricultural products at the U+Road Online Market to the Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association. The donation will be used to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The U+Road Online Market agricultural products can be purchased not only by LG Uplus customers but also by customers of other companies through the dedicated shopping service ‘Members Shopping,’ accessible via the ‘U+ Members’ app. Detailed information about the U+Road Online Market can also be found in the event menu on the website.

Kwon Ah-young, head of the Customer Experience Innovation Team at LG Uplus, said, “As farms continue to face difficulties due to COVID-19, we are conducting this ‘U+Road’ as an online market to support farmers. We hope many will participate in this ‘good consumption’ where you can buy delicious agricultural products at affordable prices, get popular ramen as a bonus, and contribute to donations.”