Food Deserts in Korea: How Grocery Access Gaps Are Forming
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
Many rural villages in South Korea lack grocery stores, creating so-called “food deserts” where residents struggle to buy fresh food. As young people move to cities, local purchasing power drops, prompting supermarkets and large retailers to close. Reduced public transport, high logistics costs, and aging populations who may not use delivery apps further weaken distribution networks and local shops. Nearly 27,609 administrative villages had no food retailer in past surveys, and nearly half of local districts cannot get early-morning delivery from major online grocers. Experts say Korea lacks a unified government definition of food deserts (regions where residents cannot easily access fresh food), and suggest criteria should consider travel time, not just distance. Addressing intertwined issues — demographic decline, transport, digital access, and economic viability — is essential to prevent food deserts from expanding.
