Cutting out middlemen, the district's local food store and unmanned kiosks deliver eco-friendly produce at prices rivaling conventional goods, drawing strong praise from residents
Amid soaring oil prices driven by instability in the Middle East and persistent inflation squeezing household budgets, Seoul's Gangdong-gu announced Wednesday that its Singsing Dream Local Food Direct Store and unmanned eco-friendly produce kiosks are drawing strong interest from residents. Both cut out distribution middlemen to offer eco-friendly agricultural products at reasonable prices.
The Singsing Dream Local Food Direct Store, located at 922 Dongnam-ro in Godeok-dong, Gangdong-gu, sells freshly harvested produce from 17 local eco-friendly farms as well as processed agricultural goods from the district's sister cities, all through a direct-trade model.
Vegetables sold at the store are either certified organic — grown without synthetic pesticides or chemical fertilizers — or pesticide-free. Eco-friendly produce typically commands a premium due to the demanding cultivation process, but Singsing Dream minimizes complex distribution steps and transportation costs, keeping prices close to those of conventionally grown goods. The model benefits both sides: consumers gain access to safe food, while farmers secure a stable sales channel.
The store operates Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Alongside this, the district runs unmanned eco-friendly produce kiosks at six locations across Gangdong-gu, making it easier for residents to shop close to home.
The kiosks sell eco-friendly produce priced between 2,000 won and 6,000 won, with all items available in 1,000-won increments for added convenience. Particularly, 10,000 won is enough to fill a basket with a variety of eco-friendly vegetables, making the kiosks a practical shopping option in an era of high prices.
The six kiosk locations are Gangdong-gu Office Annex, Sangil 1-dong Community Center, Farmix Center, Ise Food (214 Jinhwangdo-ro), Cheonho Library and Amsa 2-dong Community Center. Situated at public facilities and everyday lifestyle hubs close to where residents live, the kiosks are accessible to anyone. They operate on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
