손가락 경매에서 전자식까지 40년의 보람 [6411의 목소리]

In 1986, at the age of 21, I visited a market in Guraek-dong, Seoul, and was shocked to find that a 4kg box of strawberries was priced at 35,000 won. At that time, communication was limited, and farmers had to wait 15 days for payment after delivery. Seeing the discrepancy between the actual price and the one displayed on the receipt, I realized that continuing farming under these conditions was impossible.

A year later, I returned to the Guraek market, starting with delivery work and gradually taking on more responsibilities. Farmers in rural areas often received inadequate payment for their produce, leading to the introduction of a bidding system for transparent pricing. As the first batch of auctioneers, I began working for the Korean Customs Service in 1991.

The auction price set in Guraek market became the standard for all distribution channels nationwide. Despite the demanding hours and physical strain, I remained dedicated to ensuring fair prices for farmers. Recently, there has been concern over the "market agent system" promoted by Seoul Metropolitan Government's Food and Agricultural Products Management and large-scale agents, as it may lead to inadequate information and compromised livelihoods for farmers.

My commitment has been to maintain stable prices for producers and provide safe, fresh produce to consumers, contributing to national well-being. I aim to build upon the strengths of traditional auction systems, improve the online market system, and create a healthy distribution order for the benefit of both farmers and consumers.