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Farmers' market returns to Seoul in 3 locations

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By Bahk Eun-ji
  • Published KST
  • Updated KST

People buy locally grown products at a farmers' market set up in Digital Media City, Mapo-gu, in this Sept. 27, 2019 photo. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

By Bahk Eun-ji

People in Seoul will be able to buy fresh produce and other products from various parts of the country at a farmers' market which will be running this Friday and Saturday.

The annual event was canceled last year due to COVID-19.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said that the farmers' market will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in three locations around the capital ― Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall, Mallidong Square west of Seoul Station and Digital Media City in Mapo District.

A total of 111 farms from 74 cities and counties will participate, offering fresh agricultural products recommended by local governments for up to 30 percent below supermarket prices.

A special sale section will also be held at Seoul Plaza for agricultural and marine products that haven't been selling well due to the cancellation of local festivals where they are traditionally sold. This will include hairtail from Jeju Island, ginseng from Geumsan County, South Chungcheong Province, and rice from Cheorwon County, Gangwon Province. Hairtail will be sold at 6,000 won ($5.09), about 70 percent off the supermarket price.

The city government will limit the maximum number of shoppers to 100 at all times, with fever checks and visitors' logs being recorded.

Ahead of the winter kimchi-making season, a separate shopping event for kimchi ingredients will be held at Garak Market in Songpa District this Saturday.

About 45 tons of kimchi ingredients, including pickled cabbage, radish, salted shrimp, garlic, chives and red pepper powder, can be purchased at the market at 30 percent below market price.

“We hope this event will be an opportunity to help promote the healthy and fresh agricultural products by farmers who have had difficulty selling them due to COVID-19, so that it will revitalize the economy,” a city government official said.