Farmers’ market to help farmers near dams

K-water and peach- and pear-growing farmers near dams held ‘the 4th Friends of Water Sharing Market- Peaches and Pears Pop-up Store’ at the K-water Head Office on August 30, 2022.
‘Friends of Water Sharing Market’ is one of K-water’s ESG projects aimed at promoting coexistence with—and giving back to—local communities and newly launched in celebration of the 55th anniversary of its foundation. K-water operates a farmers’ market online and offline to help farmers near dams sell their products. K-water employees buy some of the products and donate them to the socially disadvantaged class. The project runs all year round.
Marking its fourth year, this farmers’ market was organized to help farmers growing peaches and pears near Chungju Dam, Seomjingang Dam, and Juam Dam as they are struggling to sell their products due to heavy rain and hot weather. Key attendees of the event include Chungju-si of Chungcheongbuk-do, one of the country’s leading pear-growing areas, and Naju-si of Jeollanam-do, a major pear-producing region. Participating farmers advertised and sold their local specialty products such as peaches, pears, and pear juice.
K-water also received pre-orders via the company bulletin board in addition to sales at the Pop-up Store; thus generating additional income for the farmers.

A charity event for the vulnerable social group is concurrently held

That same day, K-water concurrently held a charity event wherein peaches and pears were donated to the vulnerable social group, making it all the more meaningful. K-water CEO Park donated 24 million won to vulnerable social group living near Chungju Dam, Seomjingang Dam, and Juam Dam through the Chungbuk and Jeonnam branches of the Community Chest of Korea.
K-water buys peaches and pears from the participating farmers to help increase their income and give back to the local community by donating the purchased fruit; thus promoting a virtuous cycle of ethical spending.
K-water CEO Jae-hyeon Park said, “K-water employees personally got involved in helping local farmers going through difficulties ahead of the Chuseok holidays due to heavy rains and droughts and gave back to the local community by sharing.”
Friends of Water Market was held three times from January to March, and various products including apples, strawberries, and red ginseng grown near dams were sold, with total sales reaching approximately 150 million won; thus creating the value of shared growth and co-prosperity.

※ This interview was conducted in accordance with the COVID-19 safety rules.