Seoul's Seoro Market Opens Ahead of Chuseok with Regional Discounts and Gift Certificates

One of Seoul's largest annual farmers' markets will open at Seoul Plaza on Tuesday for three days, bringing more than 100 farms from across the country to the center of the capital ahead of Chuseok.

Selected regional products from participating farms, recommended by 87 local governments, will be sold at discounts of up to 30 percent, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

Visitors will be able to buy specialties including garlic from Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province; gat kimchi made with leaf mustard greens from Yeosu, South Jeolla Province; and fermented flounder from Sokcho, Gangwon Province.

The market will also offer processed foods made with local produce, including dried persimmon rolls filled with cheese and walnuts from Sangju, North Gyeongsang Province, and apple ice cream from Geochang, South Gyeongsang Province.

For shoppers who do not want to carry their purchases home, the city will offer a paid delivery service in partnership with the Seoul Central Post Office.

First launched in 2009, the Seoro Market is designed to give Seoul residents direct access to regional produce while helping farmers sell directly to consumers in the capital.

Visitors can also take part in traditional holiday activities such as making rice cakes and red pepper powder, wearing hanbok and playing games including tuho and yutnori.

The market is part of a broader city effort to ease Chuseok shopping costs. Seoul is also issuing 265 billion won ($197 million) worth of Seoul Love Gift Certificates from Monday through Friday, including a designated allocation for older residents for the first time.

The certificates are sold at a 5 percent discount, with users of citywide certificates also eligible for a 2 percent rebate.

Chuseok falls on Sept. 25 this year.