Special Products Selected for Christmas Market: Local Wine Kits, Real Nurungji, and Dakumalong

Confirmed 'Top 100 Special Products for 2021 Christmas Market' Made by Small and Micro Enterprises

Specialty Wine Kit.
Photo by Ministry of SMEs and Startups

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jong-hwa] Regional specialty wine products made from grapes and apples produced in the Yeongdong area of Chungbuk, such as Yeongdong Daebenture Food Co., Ltd.'s 'Specialty Wine Kit,' and healthy snack products handmade using a cast iron pot with rice harvested in Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, such as Dubitnarae Cooperative's 'Real Nurungji,' have been selected as part of the 'Top 100 Special Christmas Market Products.'

The 'Top 100 Special Christmas Market Products' is a contest held as a preliminary event for the '2021 Christmas Market,' which is promoted in response to the formation of collective immunity systems at the end of the year and gradual recovery, emphasizing the need for large-scale consumer promotion events to alleviate damage to small business owners.

This year's contest was conducted under the slogan "National Santa! Let's Support Small Business Owners Together!" and saw a total of 1,507 companies apply, a 41.8% increase compared to the previous year (1,063 companies), demonstrating strong interest and participation.

In particular, the national evaluation titled "Top 100 Special Products! National Santa's Choice (Nov. 22?28, one week)" conducted through an online platform received about 57,000 votes and messages of support. Heartfelt encouragement comments were also added, reflecting the public's hopes for a new normal for small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners affected by COVID-19.

Among the 'Top 100 Special Products' selected by the public, Yeongdong Daebenture Food Co., Ltd.'s 'Specialty Wine Kit' stands out. The Specialty Wine Kit is an experiential kit that allows users to create their own unique wine, the only one in the world, by themselves. It can be used as an event wine by placing it in a beautiful glass bottle with commemorative phrases and photos attached.

Yeongdong Daebenture Food has attracted attention as a 'social enterprise' contributing to the local community by purchasing, processing, and commercializing imperfect apples caused by recurring natural disasters such as cold damage, heatwaves, and heavy rain, thereby increasing farm income and creating jobs. It is characterized by providing fermentation containers, fruit juice, and yeast together so that wine can be made according to individual preferences.

Dubitnarae Cooperative's 'Real Nurungji' is also a noteworthy product. Dubitnarae Cooperative was established to help people with developmental disabilities become independent, providing jobs and vocational training simultaneously. They manufacture and sell nurungji using premium domestic rice harvested in Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, through a cast iron pot. A portion of the sales proceeds will be donated to schools for students with intellectual disabilities.

Macaron Days' 'Dakumarong' is a macaron about 6 cm in diameter, larger than typical macarons on the market, offering a sense of abundance. After appearing on SBS's 'Baek Jong-won's Alley Restaurant' in 2018, sales temporarily increased but then sharply declined due to COVID-19, pushing the business to the brink of closure. However, they persevered at the Sinpo Market Youth Mall and started online sales, overcoming the crisis with a touching story.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups plans to exhibit and promote the products selected for the '2021 Christmas Market Top 100 Special Products' at the main event venue, Mapo Festival Street, and provide marketing and sales opportunities through online and offline support such as live commerce from December 18 to 26, during the Christmas Market period.

Lee Ha-nyeong, Director of the Online Economy Promotion Team, stated, "With the gradual recovery of daily life, we will make the 'Christmas Market' an opportunity to support the new normal and leap forward for small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners," and added, "We ask for the public's active participation in 'supportive consumption,' which will be a warm encouragement and support for small business owners."