Mapo, Gwangjin, and Yangcheon Districts Hold 'Chuseok Direct Trade Market'

[Seoul District News] Mapo-gu, September 1-2, 10 AM - 6 PM at District Office Plaza... Gwangjin-gu, September 1, Up to 30% Discount Chuseok Direct Market Opens... Yangcheon-gu, September 1-2 at Yangcheon Park, 21 Local Governments Participate... Songpa-gu, Chuseok ‘2022 Chuseok Holiday Event’ Held

Direct Transaction Market for Chuseok held in 2019 at Mapo-gu Office Plaza

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Mapo-gu (Mayor Park Kang-su) will operate the ‘Chuseok Agricultural and Specialty Products Direct Market and Bazaar’ at the district office plaza from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on September 1-2 in celebration of Chuseok.

Since 2020, Mapo-gu has operated the holiday direct market online to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but this year’s Chuseok direct market will be held offline for the first time in about three years, in line with the atmosphere of returning to normal life.

This event was prepared to directly introduce agricultural and specialty products from sister cities to residents, supporting the sales channels of farmers facing difficulties, and helping residents prepare for Chuseok with excellent specialty products.

In particular, by eliminating the middle distribution process, products will be sold at prices lower than the market price, which is expected to greatly reduce the shopping burden for residents ahead of the holiday.

The Chuseok direct market and bazaar will bring together sister cities of Mapo-gu such as Gochang-gun, Yecheon-gun, Sinan-gun, Cheongyang-gun, and Namhae-gun, as well as professional organizations, to sell ritual items like apples and Korean traditional sweets, traditional processed foods such as soybean paste, red pepper paste, and fermented soybean paste, as well as local specialties like cheese, salt, and Korean beef at prices lower than the market.

The district actively promotes various urban-rural exchange cooperation projects that help both consumers and producers during major seasonal events, such as opening ‘direct markets’ during holidays when agricultural and specialty product consumption increases, and operating ‘salted shrimp markets’ during kimchi-making season.

Park Kang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, “I hope this direct market and bazaar will provide some help to the struggling farmers,” and added, “I also hope residents who feel burdened by rising prices in preparing for the holiday will have a generous Chuseok with affordable and high-quality agricultural and specialty products.”

Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Kyung-ho) will open the ‘Chuseok Agricultural, Marine, and Specialty Products Direct Market’ at Guui Park from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on September 1 in celebration of the Chuseok holiday.

The Chuseok agricultural, marine, and specialty products direct market is designed to allow residents to purchase excellent specialty products from sister friendly cities at affordable prices, while providing farmers and local businesses with opportunities to sell their products directly, contributing to urban-rural exchange and regional economic revitalization.

Although Gwangjin-gu held an online market in 2020 due to COVID-19, this year, for the first time in three years since 2019, it will meet residents directly to sell products at prices 10-30% lower than market prices, adding vitality to the market.

First, six sister friendly cities?Inje-gun, Yeonggwang-gun, Chungju-si, Boryeong-si, Mungyeong-si, and Taebaek-si?along with four cities?Yeoju-si, Gapyeong-gun, Cheongsong-gun, and Yanggu-gun?will operate sales booths together.

Consumers can purchase regional specialties such as ▲Inje dried pollack ▲Yeonggwang dried yellow corvina and moshi rice cakes ▲Chungju chestnuts ▲Boryeong shiitake mushrooms ▲Mungyeong omija syrup ▲Taebaek bracken fern, as well as about 40 kinds of quality holiday items including wild greens, various sauces, red pepper powder, honey, and beans produced in sister cities, all at affordable prices.

Additionally, to help revitalize the local economy, products from local small and medium enterprises and social economy enterprises will also be sold. Items include Chuseok gift sets such as scarf sets, leather wallets, Korean traditional sweets sets, and daily necessities like wooden cutting boards, dishwashing soap, and shampoo bars.

At the traditional market booths, artisan-made products such as young kimchi, marinated crab, fermented skate salad, as well as discounted peaches and plums will be sold.

Along with this, various experiential events will be held to provide entertainment for residents visiting the direct market.

From 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., visitors can participate in making loofah scrubbers, hand sanitizer sprays, and mini Tillandsia horticulture experiences. However, these activities will not be available from 1 to 2 p.m.

Kim Kyung-ho, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, said, “This year’s Chuseok is expected to see the highest-ever costs for holiday ancestral rites due to the aftermath of heatwaves and floods,” and added, “I hope this direct market will be a place where residents, farmers, local businesses, and traditional market merchants communicate and coexist through affordable prices and good quality.”

Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Lee Ki-jae) announced that it will hold a ‘Chuseok Direct Market’ from September 1 to 2 to help farmers and provide residents with fresh and high-quality local specialty products in celebration of the traditional Korean holiday Chuseok.

The direct market will be held for two days at Yangcheon Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sister cities including ▲Buyeo-gun ▲Suncheon-si ▲Wando-gun ▲Hwasun-gun, as well as other consistent participants such as Hapcheon-gun, Goesan-gun, and Naju-si, totaling 21 local governments, will participate.

A variety of products will be sold, including local specialties, holiday ritual items, and fresh agricultural, livestock, and marine products directly shipped from production areas. For residents’ convenience, free delivery service within Yangcheon-gu will also be provided.

The ‘Chuseok Direct Market’ is expected to greatly contribute to revitalizing economic exchanges between urban and rural areas by supplying excellent local specialty products to residents at affordable prices while helping farmers secure sales channels and increase revenue.

In particular, this year, a dalgona (Korean sugar candy) experience shaped like Yangcheon-gu’s map and a nostalgic lottery event will be held to share the serene atmosphere and fun of the holiday with residents. For more details about the ‘Chuseok Direct Market,’ please refer to the related notices on the district office website.

Lee Ki-jae, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, said, “The Chuseok Direct Market is a golden opportunity for those worried about the high cost of holiday meals to purchase high-quality agricultural and marine products at affordable prices,” and added, “I hope everyone visits the direct market held on September 1-2 to feel the warm hospitality of their hometown and the abundance of the Chuseok holiday.”

Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Kang-seok) will hold the ‘2022 Chuseok Holiday Event’ together with traditional markets and merchant associations in celebration of Chuseok.

Starting with Pungnap Market and Saemaeul Market on September 1, followed by ▲Macheon Central Market and Macheon Market on the 5th ▲Bang-i Market, Seokchon Market, and Munjeong-dong Rodeo Shopping Street on the 7th, ritual items, Chuseok gift sets, clothing, and more will be sold at discounted prices, with Onnuri gift certificates given according to purchase amounts.

For Macheon Central Market, Macheon Market, and Bang-i Market, Onnuri gift certificates worth 5,000 KRW will be given for purchases over 50,000 KRW, and for Saemaeul Market and Seokchon Market, certificates will be given for purchases over 30,000 KRW. Event schedules and discount rates vary by market, and the gift certificate giveaway may end early once the prepared quantity is exhausted.

The district expects an increase in visitors to traditional markets during the Chuseok holiday and is working hard to prevent COVID-19 by conducting disinfection and supplying self-diagnosis kits to traditional market merchants and employees.

Seo Kang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, “I hope the traditional market Chuseok holiday event will ease the burden on consumers in this era of high prices, help residents prepare for the holiday economically, and contribute to increasing sales for small business owners who have struggled due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.”