Nowon-gu Hosts 'South Jeolla Province–Gwangju Integrated Special City Direct Trade Market Festival'

Nowon-gu District Mayor Seo Jun-o hosted the "South Jeolla Province–Gwangju Integrated Special City Direct Trade Market Festival" Friday afternoon at Junggye Culture Park and Deungnamu Culture Park, encouraging participating farmers and officials at the event.

The festival was organized to showcase, promote and sell premium agricultural, livestock and fishery products from the South Jeolla Province–Gwangju integrated special city area, and to strengthen communication and exchange between urban and rural communities. The market runs three days, from Friday through Sunday.

This year, 74 businesses operating 90 booths presented about 200 specialty products representing the region, including Naju pears, Yeosu mustard leaf kimchi, Sinan salted seafood, Wando abalone and Jindo dried seaweed. Throughout the event, visitors can enjoy agricultural product discount sales, a roulette event, brand rice and seaweed tastings, and a kimchi competition, among other activities.

The opening ceremony at Junggye Culture Park drew about 200 attendees, including District Mayor Seo, city and district lawmakers, farmers' organizations and regional community groups. The program opened with a pre-ceremony performance by percussion group Art-O, followed by congratulatory remarks from guests of honor, an opening performance, a celebratory stage by trot singers Jeong Sam and Lee Cheong-ha, and a tour of the market stalls.

"I hope this direct trade market opens new sales channels for farming households and gives residents a chance to meet trustworthy local agricultural products up close," Seo said. "We will continue working to sustain this exchange where cities and rural communities can thrive together."