[Yonhap Imagine] Namdo Market as a Public Comprehensive Distribution Platform

Despite the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been observed that there is still a significant proportion of purchases made online rather than offline. This trend is attributed to the normalization of online shopping and the increasing demand for purchasing products at lower prices through price comparison. In line with this trend, online shopping malls operated by local governments, selling specialty products of each region, have experienced significant growth. These platforms have garnered considerable attention and love from both producers, who can secure stable sales channels, and consumers, who can purchase fresh seasonal produce at affordable prices.

Operated by Jeollanam-do, the online shopping mall "Namdo Market" has recently seen a significant increase in sales, highlighting the professionalism of its operational system and the transparency, safety, and efficiency of its business management. Consequently, Namdo Market completed its corporate registration in December 2022 and has been operating an online shopping mall for agricultural and marine products. It aims to enhance support for farmers and small business owners by establishing a dedicated organization focused on transparent fund management and systematic quality and customer management.

The operating method through the foundation holds significant meaning as it transitions from solely focusing on operating online shopping malls to performing the role of a public comprehensive distribution platform pursuing public value. Whereas previously, the focus was mainly on limited tasks related to operating online shopping malls, the foundation is expected to perform various missions such as discovering and expanding local specialty products, supporting small-scale businesses, enhancing the competitiveness and marketing capabilities of farmers' products, and more.

This year, Namdo Market plans to focus more on strengthening the operational stability of the shopping mall. It aims to stabilize the system through gradual function acquisition to minimize operational gaps and enhance self-reliance capabilities. Furthermore, it plans to alleviate the financial burden of tenant companies by implementing planned promotions for agricultural products and settling sales proceeds (twice a month), while also securing loyal customers through quality management system construction and the redevelopment of the shopping mall and mobile app.

Kim Kyung-ho, CEO of Namdo Market, stated, "We will do our best to ensure that all local residents can easily use Namdo Market in their daily lives as both sellers and consumers," and emphasized, "We will focus on revitalizing the local economy and increasing the value of products produced in Jeollanam-do."

Established in 2004, Namdo Market started with sales of 300 million won and achieved sales of 60.3 billion won in 2022. Last year, 1,826 companies and 33,155 products were listed, with an online membership of 430,000 people.

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