"You were shocked by the price, right? This is the heartbreaking reality."
On the afternoon of Jul. 7 in front of Dongwha Duty Free in Jongno-gu, Seoul. From office workers after lunch to nearby residents, people lined up to buy fruit and vegetables.
Cucumbers were 600 won for three, zucchinis and eggplants were 500 won for two, and cherry tomatoes were about 1,000 won per pack (500g). That was more than half off consumer retail prices. It was the same for cabbage, Korean melon, onions, and more.
Korea Peasants League began selling produce at the prices farmers actually receive at wholesale auctions starting at 2 p.m. ahead of the "National Farmers Rally" that afternoon. The aim was to show how far farmgate prices have collapsed.
Korea Peasants League argued that the government, in the name of managing grocery prices, is inducing a collapse in farmgate prices. It noted that with production costs for agriculture—such as fertilizer, pesticides, and seeds—surging, farmers cannot sell at fair prices, annual farm income is stuck at 10 million won, and only farm household liability is growing.
At the rally, Korea Peasants League plans to demand that the state compensate for agricultural production costs and implement a fair pricing system for farm products that guarantees appropriate wages for farm households.
It will also call for halting the push to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Korea Peasants League and other farmers' groups say that expanded market opening for agricultural products through CPTPP membership would be little different from a "death sentence for Korean agriculture."
After the rally, Korea Peasants League plans to march to the presidential office. It was reported that the gathering would conclude by "returning" any produce that was not sold on site that day.