Suncheon Local Food, which marks its 10th anniversary, is drawing attention as a "Suncheon-style food virtuous-cycle model" that resolves regional food issues within the region through a citizen-shareholder structure involving producers, consumers, and civic groups. The value of Suncheon-style local food shines even brighter following its A-grade Excellence Award in the Regional Food Index and its selection as a certified workplace for direct trade of premium agricultural products.
According to Suncheon city on Monday, Suncheon Local Food, launched on March 3, 2016, has over the past 10 years secured stable sales channels for regional agricultural products and provided fresh, safe food to citizens, establishing itself as the central pillar of the regional food system.
In particular, it has expanded its role as a food platform integrated into citizens' daily lives, linking direct stores, an online mall, and a dining business.
As a result, Suncheon Local Food achieved cumulative sales of 100.6 billion won from May 2016 to December 2025, with 86% of total sales returned to farms, contributing to income generation for regional farmers.
The base of farm participation has also widened. The number of farms earning more than 1 million won per month rose fourfold, from 50 in 2017 to 199 in 2025, while shipped items expanded roughly tenfold, from 320 to 3,192.
Suncheon Local Food has grown into a food space that citizens can easily find and use in their daily lives.
Beginning with the opening of its Suncheon Bay National Garden branch, it expanded direct stores to the Jorye Lake Park branch and the Sindae branch, and operates the online mall "Hamkke Gage," broadening citizen accessibility and the consumption base. Currently, registered members at direct stores number 40,000, equivalent to 31% of Suncheon's households, while online mall members reach 10,000.
Above all, Suncheon Local Food has expanded its public role within the community, going beyond the sale of agricultural products.
Through a regional integrated care support project, it has provided healthy food to vulnerable groups such as elderly people living alone, and has practiced a food welfare model that simultaneously increases consumption of regional agricultural, livestock, and fishery products.
It has also steadily continued cooperation with the community, including meal support for the elderly and cultural activities, the creation of a women-friendly job environment, and field training and talent development in partnership with universities.
It is also expanding activities that share the value of local food with citizens, through environmental practices such as a resource-recycling festival and an Earth Day cleanup walk, as well as participation in local festivals.
In this way, Suncheon Local Food is realizing social value that extends beyond farm income and citizen food supply to care, education, the environment, and the local community.
Kim Young-nam, director general of the Agricultural Policy Innovation Bureau at Suncheon city, said, "The 10 years of Suncheon Local Food are a history of the regional food virtuous cycle created together by farmers, citizens, and the administration." He added, "We will further develop a sustainable Suncheon-style local food model, providing stable sales channels for farmers and safe, trustworthy food for citizens."
