[Food Desert] ④ Mobile Markets Run at a Loss... Only Four Local Governments Have Support Ordinances Nationwide

"Nothing Left to Gain"... Operators Voice Difficulties
Only Four Local Governments Have Support Ordinances
A Blind Spot With No Control Tower or Legislation

Editor's NoteHave you ever found grocery shopping difficult? In an era where you can buy whatever food you need anytime, both online and offline, it may seem unimaginable. However, there are regions in South Korea where there are no supermarkets within walking distance, and even delivery services do not reach, making it hard to obtain food. These areas, where buying food is as difficult as finding an oasis in a desert, are called "food deserts." Food deserts are expanding due to factors such as an aging population, rural depopulation, and information gaps. We aim to explore the daily inconveniences caused by grocery shopping difficulties and consider the broader issues together.

Mobile markets that regularly circulate in food desert areas are emerging as a solution to improve consumer access to groceries. However, operators report that it is difficult to avoid operating losses. Since these markets serve areas with small populations, it is hard to generate profits, and there are no relevant laws to provide financial support such as subsidies. As a result, it is difficult to expand or even maintain operations.

Mobile Markets Provide an Answer, but "Difficult to Sustain Without Support"

On the 1st, residents visiting the Door-to-Door Dangjin Rural Mobile Market set up at the Dogok 1-ri Village Hall in Hapdeok-eup, Dangjin, Chungnam, are purchasing goods. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

The main obstacles to expanding mobile markets in food desert areas are their unprofitable business structure and the lack of effective solutions to address this issue. Many residents cannot travel by car, so mobile market operators must visit every corner of the region. However, the average purchase per customer is not high enough to cover costs, making it difficult to break even.

BGF Retail, which operated a mobile market from December last year to January this year, believes that various forms of support are essential for the business. At that time, BGF Retail visited four villages in Jinan-gun and Imsil-gun, North Jeolla Province, once a week, selling ramen, snacks, beverages, meat, vegetables, and groceries. A representative who managed the project explained, "The fuel costs, labor costs, and expenses for disposing of unsold food when operating a mobile market vehicle are considerable. In reality, the more you operate, the more losses you incur," adding, "This system will be a major obstacle for other operators trying to run regular mobile markets in the future. For the system to become established, supportive measures must be implemented."

One way to reduce the operational burden for business operators is to receive government support, such as subsidies. Dangjin City in South Chungcheong Province, which began a pilot mobile market project this month, is an example. In March, Dangjin City was selected as a pilot local government for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' "Door-to-Door Rural Mobile Market" project, receiving support for consulting and vehicle costs related to the mobile market business. The goods loaded onto the vehicles are supplied through a partnership with Nonghyup Hanaro Mart, so all the activists need to do is pick them up. The main advantage is that activists can focus solely on operations without worrying about profits.

Kwak Byeongjin, an activist with the Rural Revitalization Support Center's Base Activation Team in Dangjin City, said, "It is difficult for the mobile market business to generate significant profits, so support is essential. In the case of Dangjin City, activists participating in the project are guaranteed wages and other compensation, but in areas without such support, it is difficult to secure manpower and overcome other challenges at various stages."

Only Four Local Governments Have Support Ordinances... No Legislation or Control Tower

Despite calls for essential local government support, there are still no laws in place to provide it. While the number of local governments operating mobile markets is increasing, only four (North Jeolla Province, Imsil-gun in North Jeolla Province, Haenam-gun in South Jeolla Province, and Chungju in North Chungcheong Province) have formalized support through ordinances.

Among the agricultural bills submitted to the National Assembly's legislative information system, only two directly mention "food deserts": the "Food Desert Prevention Act" (an amendment to the National Nutrition Management Act and the Framework Act on Agriculture, Rural Community and Food Industry), proposed by Democratic Party lawmaker So Byung-hoon on November 26, and the "Special Act on Improving the Quality of Life for Farmers and Fishermen and Promoting the Development of Rural Areas," proposed by People Power Party lawmaker Kim Seon-kyo. In addition, there are about three bills that define food accessibility as a "basic right to food," but none have even been brought to the plenary session.

Although food deserts are intertwined with a range of issues such as aging populations, low-income welfare, and regional extinction, there is no control tower to comprehensively coordinate measures across ministries. Currently, most food deserts in rural areas are addressed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' "Door-to-Door Mobile Market" project. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' "Fisheries Market" project is responsible for addressing food deserts in fishing villages. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is in charge of easing regulations for products that can be carried by rural and fishing village mobile markets. The "Food Bank" project, which supplies fresh fruit, meat, and dairy products, falls under the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Cho Wonji, Senior Research Fellow at the Jeonbuk Institute, advised, "Multi-faceted and multi-dimensional cooperation between ministries and between the public and private sectors is essential. It is time for the central government to consider how to provide support."