Gangjin-gun Gundo-myeon Holds Direct Transaction Market with Seoul Sangdo 4-dong Community Center

Sold Out 17 Items Including Paprika in 4 Hours, 30 Million KRW Sales

On the 3rd, a direct transaction market for agricultural products from Gangjin-gun was held in front of the Sangdo 4-dong Community Service Center in Dongjak-gu, Seoul. ⓒ Asia Economy

[Gangjin＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-su] Gundong-myeon, Gangjin-gun, Jeollanam-do, held a direct transaction market selling excellent agricultural products on the 3rd at the Sangdo 4-dong Community Center area in Dongjak-gu, Seoul.

According to Gangjin-gun on the 7th, Gundong-myeon and Sangdo 4-dong established a sisterhood relationship on June 18, 2009, laying the foundation for exchange. Residents of Sangdo 4-dong who participated in the 2019 Gangjin fam tour suggested the idea of a direct transaction market, which started the market for the first time and has been held annually for three years.

Last year, due to COVID-19, direct transactions were conducted via non-face-to-face delivery, but this year, following the government's phased daily recovery policy, a small-scale direct transaction event was promoted.

The market showcased fresh and diverse agricultural and specialty products from Gangjin-gun, such as white rice, glutinous rice, shiitake cookies, dried mushrooms, paprika, pickled napa cabbage, dried seaweed, choco ball tomatoes, honey, persimmons, sword bean, and bitter melon, as well as homemade soybean paste and soy sauce, receiving great response from Sangdo 4-dong residents.

At the sales site, Gundong-myeon Chief Kang Chun-hyuk, Kim Jae-shin, chairman of the Regional Development Council, Kim Eun-joo, head of the village chiefs, and producing farmers from Gundong-myeon participated. Sangdo 4-dong Chief Lee Jeong-sim, staff, and members of professional organizations also joined, creating a lively atmosphere from start to finish.

In particular, Kim Sang-hyun, president of the Gangdong-myeon Alumni Association in Seoul, and members actively took the lead by delivering more than 300 bags of rice with staff and actively promoting and selling, adding warmth by leading the sales of Gangjin-gun agricultural products.

The direct transaction market, opened from 11 a.m., sold Gangjin-gun agricultural products at prices 20% cheaper than the market price. Despite the cold weather, a crowd gathered, and by around 3 p.m., 500 bags of rice and 17 product items were all sold out, achieving total sales of about 30 million won.

Chief Kang Chun-hyuk said, “I am very pleased that the direct transaction market was successfully concluded amid the COVID-19 situation,” and added, “We will continue to operate the direct transaction market steadily to ensure that the connection between Gundong-myeon farmers and Sangdo 4-dong consumers is continuously maintained and will provide wholehearted support.”

Gangjin＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-su kys86120@asiae.co.kr