29 vendors to gather at the district office plaza on Sept. 16, offering 142 items spanning fresh produce, seafood and processed goods
Specialty products from Cheongsong, Naju, Namhae and Chuncheon sold direct from producers to ease holiday price burdens
Seoul's Dongdaemun-gu will host a "Sister City Agricultural and Marine Products Direct-Trade Market" at the plaza in front of the district office on Sept. 16, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., ahead of the chuseok holiday.
The market aims to help residents struggling with rising holiday prices buy high-quality produce at reasonable prices, while giving farmers and fishers in sister cities a reliable sales outlet — advancing mutual benefit between urban and rural communities.
Twenty-seven producer groups recommended by 15 sister cities — including Namhae, Naju, Jecheon, Chuncheon, Eumseong, Yeoju, Sunchang, Cheongsong, Cheongyang, Sangju, Yeoncheon, Boseong, Buan, Pyeongchang and Cheongdo — will take part. A total of 117 items representing each region's signature specialties will be on sale, among them Chuncheon dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken), Cheongsong apples, Naju pears and Namhae anchovies. Because producers sell directly to buyers, distribution markups are eliminated, allowing residents to purchase fresh ritual offerings and farm and seafood products at prices below those in ordinary retail stores.
Local civic organizations will also join the event. Two groups — a women's organization and Dongmun Entertainment — will offer 25 items including hangwa (traditional Korean confections), gat kimchi and ogok gangjeong (five-grain rice puffs). In total, shoppers will find 142 items from 29 participating organizations.
The district office has arranged several conveniences for shoppers. Depending on the vendor, card payments and traditional market gift vouchers will be accepted, and items eligible for courier delivery can be shipped directly to buyers' homes, sparing them the trouble of carrying heavy bags. Accepted payment methods and delivery availability can be confirmed on-site.
No advance registration is required — anyone can attend by visiting the plaza in front of the district office on the day.
"This direct-trade market is a win-win space where residents looking to ease their holiday spending burden and sister-city farmers and fishers in need of a sales channel can both come away smiling," Dongdaemun-gu District Mayor Choi Dong-min said. "We hope as many residents as possible will come out and take advantage of the chance to buy trustworthy local produce at reasonable prices."
Dongdaemun-gu plans to use the market as a springboard to deepen exchanges with its sister cities, and intends to continue running direct-trade markets around major holidays to help stabilize residents' cost of living and advance urban-rural cooperation.
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