Kim Kyung-ho, President of Seoul Agro-Fisheries & Food Corporation, "This Year Will Be a Stepping Stone Toward the Future Wholesale Market"

President Kim Pledges in 2021 New Year's Address to Make the Wholesale Market One That Prioritizes Producers and Consumers Above All Else

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Kim Kyung-ho, President of the Seoul Agro-Fisheries & Food Corporation, stated, "This year, we aim to enhance the public value of the wholesale market and create a stepping stone toward the future wholesale market."

In his 2021 New Year's address, President Kim emphasized, "Above all, we will ensure the wholesale market considers both producers and consumers."

He also said, "To achieve this, reforming the wholesale market transaction system is urgently needed. We will steadfastly complete the transaction system reform to protect the interests of producers and consumers."

He continued, "We will also faithfully fulfill the fundamental role of establishing a fair trading order in the wholesale market," adding, "Through the advancement of the fair trade detection system and the operation of a permanent trading order enforcement team, we will secure fairness and transparency in wholesale market transactions."

Below is President Kim Kyung-ho’s New Year's address.

New Year's Greeting

The new year of 2021, the Year of the White Ox (辛丑年), symbolizing diligence and sincerity, has dawned. Last year was a year that left many physical and emotional scars due to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. However, I am confident that with the united strength of the people, we will surely overcome this and make 2021 a year of greater leap forward. I wish everyone a hopeful new year, leaving behind the hardships of last year and making a fresh start.

This year, we intend to enhance the public value of the wholesale market and create a foundation for the future wholesale market.

Above all, we will make the wholesale market one that considers producers and consumers. For this, reforming the wholesale market transaction system is most urgent. We will steadfastly complete the transaction system reform to protect the interests of producers and consumers.

We will also more faithfully fulfill the fundamental role of establishing a fair trading order in the wholesale market. By advancing the fair trade detection system and operating a permanent trading order enforcement team, we will ensure fairness and transparency in wholesale market transactions. Currently, the Illegal Trade Reporting Center (02-3435-3000) operates 24 hours a day, and we plan to promptly address any inconveniences faced by shippers and buyers to maintain an always open market.

This year marks the start of the full-scale construction of the wholesale district modernization project. We will do our utmost to ensure thorough progress management and communication and consultation with stakeholders so that the project proceeds without setbacks. Additionally, during the construction period, we plan to secure parking spaces and implement measures to facilitate traffic and logistics to minimize inconvenience to market users and local residents.

We will also concretize the blueprint for the future of Garak Market. By March, a plan for implementing a smart market will be finalized. We are reviewing various tasks to become a "future-oriented wholesale market integrating online and offline logistics" and a "wholesale market with a strengthened logistics hub role for consumption areas," and will proceed step by step.

Garak Market has grown into a world-class market today thanks to the warm support of producers, shippers, buyers, and distributors. In the Year of the White Ox (辛丑年), the corporation will do its best to create hope for our agriculture and fisheries. Thank you.

January 2021

Kim Kyung-ho, President of Seoul Agro-Fisheries & Food Corporation