[Food Desert] ⑥ Address as a Critical Welfare Issue Linked to Survival: "Need for Diagnostic System and Inter-Ministerial Cooperation"

Three Experts Interviewed... No Korean-Style Solution Yet
"An Integrated Diagnostic System for Food Deserts Is Needed"
"Additional Measures Must Follow, Not Just Mobile Markets"
"Attention Needed for Urban Food Deserts That Are Easy to Over

Editor's NoteHave you ever found grocery shopping difficult? In an era where you can buy the food you need anytime, both online and offline, it may seem unimaginable, but there are still places in South Korea where there are no supermarkets within walking distance, and even delivery services do not reach. In these areas, it is hard to obtain food, and such places are called "food deserts," akin to searching for an oasis in a desert. Food deserts are expanding due to factors such as an aging population, regional depopulation, and the digital divide. We aim to explore the problems that inconvenience in everyday grocery shopping can cause and reflect on them together.

"It may be hard to understand in Seoul, but there are places in South Korea where only two buses run a day. Watching elderly residents wait endlessly for a bus while carrying heavy groceries after shopping, it feels like grocery shopping is practically a struggle for survival." - Cho Wonji, Senior Research Fellow at the Jeonbuk Research Institute

Experts unanimously agree that food deserts should be approached as a welfare issue. The inability to access fresh food when needed significantly lowers the quality of life for residents. However, in South Korea, there is a lack of awareness about food deserts, and there are neither proper surveys nor statistics. Experts have advised that the government should establish a diagnostic system and seek ways to strengthen inter-ministerial cooperation.

Residents in Food Deserts Face Underweight and Nutritional Deficiencies... Impact on Mental Health as Well

Food deserts lead to nutritional imbalance among residents. According to a survey conducted by the Jeonbuk Research Institute targeting North Jeolla Province, the proportion of elderly residents in rural food deserts who are underweight (49 kg or less) is 17.4%, which is more than 1.9 times higher than that of elderly residents in urban areas. This is due to the lower quality of food consumed. While rural food desert residents tend to consume more fiber by growing vegetables in their gardens, their intake of protein, calcium, and vitamin A-nutrients essential for muscle maintenance and bone health-is significantly lower compared to urban residents.

The inconvenience of not being able to consume quality food when desired also affects mental health. Senior Research Fellow Cho explained, "Research has shown that the unstable situation of not being able to secure food reliably reduces cognitive function in the elderly and amplifies anxiety or depression." He added that ongoing nutritional deficiencies or stress related to dietary habits can impair brain function, increasing the likelihood of cognitive disorders such as dementia.

Yoo Chanhee, Research Fellow at the Korea Rural Economic Institute, emphasized that the existence of food deserts is itself a warning sign of regional extinction. Yoo stated, "The emergence of a food desert means that other businesses-such as gyms, hospitals, and pharmacies-have already closed and left. It is a sign that the local commercial district is disappearing, and thus it must be closely monitored."

There Is No Diagnostic System... Identifying Food Deserts Nationwide Is Urgent

The problem is that it is currently impossible to accurately identify food deserts nationwide. The National Data Office identifies administrative villages without grocery stores through the Census of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries every five years, but since this is done only every five years and only considers the presence or absence of stores, detailed diagnosis is difficult. At present, research on food deserts is being conducted independently by local research institutes, and there is no centralized nationwide survey or data collection. As a result, it is impossible to determine where and to what extent food deserts are distributed across the country.

Senior Research Fellow Cho advised that an integrated diagnostic system for food deserts is necessary. He explained, "To provide tailored support, we need to know how severe the situation is in each village. A system that comprehensively considers various factors-such as the proportion of elderly residents and public transportation conditions-should be established and continuously monitored."

Inter-Ministerial Cooperation Is Essential... Policy Support Needed Beyond Mobile Markets

There was also advice that a multi-faceted approach is needed rather than relying on a single solution. Research Fellow Yoo stated, "Current government projects such as the agri-food voucher program and mobile market initiatives are one way to address food deserts, but they alone are not effective. We need to find ways to create synergy, such as expanding demand-responsive transportation (public transportation operated based on user demand rather than fixed routes), which some local governments have recently implemented."

Senior Research Fellow Cho viewed inter-ministerial collaboration as essential. For example, linking the Food Bank program run by the Ministry of Health and Welfare with the Door-to-Door Mobile Market operated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Cho added, "Originally, mobile markets could not sell livestock products, but the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety lifted regulations to make it possible. Ultimately, these are issues that require multiple ministries to work together. The roles and services of public institutions need to be expanded accordingly."

Lee Nuri, who has studied food deserts in Seoul, expressed a similar opinion. Lee emphasized, "We must continuously remind residents in food deserts of the importance of healthy eating. This cannot be solved simply by ensuring access to supermarkets. Ultimately, we need to consider how to integrate these residents into some form of community and provide ongoing 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

Attention Needed for Urban Food Deserts as Well

Lee also stressed the need to pay attention to food deserts emerging in urban areas, not just in rural regions. He explained, "In cities, because the infrastructure is well established, people do not imagine that food deserts could exist. This makes them even harder to detect than in rural areas. Urban food deserts often arise in places where residents' economic power has declined, where redevelopment has driven up prices, or where communities for the elderly are not well established. Therefore, a detailed approach that takes into account housing types and local characteristics is essential." For example, many urban food desert residents live in environments where, even if fresh food is available, they cannot cook it. Lee added, "In such places, rather than increasing mobile markets as in rural food deserts, it is more efficient to provide fresh food in a ready-to-eat form or to expand nutritionally balanced meal services."