A weekly direct-trade market in downtown Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, has opened for its 33rd year of operation [1].
By removing complex distribution steps, the market allows farmers to sell directly to shoppers. This system provides consumers with more affordable, fresh produce, while ensuring farmers maintain a reliable sales channel.
The market, which is served by Nonghyup Kangwon headquarters, operates every Thursday [1]. It first began in 1994 [1], establishing a long-term tradition of local commerce in the heart of the city.
Shoppers visit the downtown area to find a variety of regional goods. One vendor offered samples of honey berries from Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, to passersby [1].
Lim Kyung-hee, a visitor from Dongan-gu, Anyang, said that the local vegetables are good and that she is purchasing various items because the products are traditional, fresh, and inexpensive [1].
Reporter Hong Seong-wook said that the Thursday direct-trade market has been held since 1994 and is now in its 33rd year [1]. This longevity highlights the continued demand for direct-to-consumer agricultural sales despite the rise of modern retail chains.
“The market, which is served by Nonghyup Kangwon headquarters, operates every Thursday.”
The persistence of the Chuncheon direct-trade market for over three decades suggests a strong consumer preference for traceability and lower prices. By bypassing intermediaries, the market serves as a critical economic buffer for small-scale farmers and a cost-saving measure for urban residents in Gangwon Province.
