전북 농촌에 찾아가는 정육점…‘순창 곳간’ 운영

A 'moving restaurant' is operating in rural areas of North Jeolla province to address the challenges faced by the elderly and those with limited mobility. With declining populations and an aging demographic, traditional retail establishments have dwindled in these rural regions. To alleviate the inconvenience of elderly residents needing to travel to the town center to purchase fresh food, the local government, in collaboration with the National Pension Fund and the local cooperative union, has introduced the 'moving restaurant' initiative.

The initiative involves operating a mobile kitchen that travels directly to rural communities to sell meat products such as beef and pork, in response to residents' requests. The National Pension Fund has contributed 30 million won to the project, which will commence operations in September, supported by the cooperative union and administrative assistance from the province.

The initiative is expected to commence in February this year, coinciding with the implementation of the rural basic income program in the region. By encouraging residents to utilize their basic income within the community, the program aims to enhance the convenience of rural residents while simultaneously injecting vitality into the local economy.

The basic income program targets raising residents' purchasing power, but the lack of adequate living infrastructure in rural areas remains a challenge, particularly for the elderly who may struggle to access necessary goods. The move is expected to address this limitation in consumer spending. The National Pension Fund's management of the initiative emphasizes maintaining ongoing communication with the community to ensure the sustainable continuation of socially responsible actions.

The Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs for North Jeolla province expressed a commitment to carefully observing the daily difficulties faced by rural residents and expanding life-supporting services that align with the region's circumstances.