Gangjin "Half-Price Travel" Drives 34-Fold Surge in Online Sales of Local Agricultural Products

Gangjin County in South Jeolla Province announced on January 7 that, following the implementation of its "Half-Price Travel" policy, local small businesses saw their online sales increase by up to 34 times.

According to Gangjin County, as of the end of December last year, online sales of local agricultural and specialty products rose by 120% compared to the previous year. This figure represents a 34-fold increase compared to the period before the introduction of the "Gangjin Half-Price Travel" policy, which was first implemented in 2024.

Number of vendors, product categories, and sales trends of the 'Chorok Mideum Gangjin' online shopping mall. Provided by Gangjin County

With the introduction of the Half-Price Travel policy in 2024, the county completely revamped its local agricultural and specialty product online mall, "Chorok Mideum Gangjin." The mobile regional gift certificate system, Chak 2.0, was integrated into the shopping mall, enabling tourists to use the payback they received from the Half-Price Travel program for online purchases as well.

As a result, tourists visiting Gangjin received 50% of their spending back in the form of mobile Gangjin Love gift certificates, which they could use both offline and on the "Chorok Mideum Gangjin" online shopping mall.

Consequently, the proportion of shopping mall sales attributed to tourists who benefited from the Half-Price Travel program increased to approximately 64% last year. The number of members also grew by 15 times, highlighting the significant impact of the policy on revitalizing the local economy.

This year, with the central government piloting the Gangjin Half-Price Travel program and implementing the "Regional Vacation Support Program," the county expects the policy's effects to expand even further.

The county established a dedicated team for the "Chorok Mideum Gangjin" shopping mall within its Fourth Industrial Revolution Task Force, directly managing store onboarding, marketing, and operations. The number of participating vendors grew from 78 to 142, and the number of product categories increased from 188 to 633.

In addition, the county expanded sales channels by collaborating with external open markets such as Gmarket, Auction, and Namdo Marketplace to run special promotions and live commerce events. In 2024, the county secured project funding and invested 220 million won in these initiatives.

Furthermore, the county is supporting digital entrepreneurship to help producers and aspiring entrepreneurs enter the online market, while also strengthening promotional efforts using social media and digital channels.

A county official stated, "Advance reservations for the 2026 Half-Price Travel program will be available starting January 19, and once settlement is completed after January 22, payback can be used on the 'Chorok Mideum Gangjin' online shopping mall," adding, "We hope this will serve as an opportunity to boost both tourism and consumption."