Seoul subway stations turn into farmers markets selling regional produce

Five Seoul subway stations will host farmers markets through Nov. 28, where people can buy regional farm products at prices up to 30 percent below retail, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Monday. The pop-up market, named Seoro Itda Local Market, is run with five local governments: Ganghwa County in Incheon, Hongcheon County in Gangwon Province, the city of Gongju in South Chungcheong Province and Uiseong and Cheongsong counties in North Gyeongsang Province. In the name, “seoro” combines the first letters of Seoul and “local” and also means “each other” in Korean. “Itda” means “to connect” and plays on the English word “eat.” The market is linked to Seoul Pick, a program run by Seoul Metro, the city’s subway operator, that turns unused space in stations into pop-up shops for regional farmers. Because farmers sell directly to shoppers, the middlemen are cut out, which lets them offer lower prices. A preview market with 14 farms from all five regions runs Monday and Tuesday at Gwanghwamun Station on Seoul Metro Line 5. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and the heads of