Grocery 'Desert' Forces Elderly Koreans to Risk Their Lives to Shop
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
In Dogok-ri, a remote village in Dangjin, South Chungcheong, 59 residents with an average age of 70 live more than 2–3 km from any grocery retailer — an area media call a 'food desert' (식품사막). Only three sparsely located convenience stores lie about 3 km away, offering mostly instant foods; fresh produce, dairy and meat require a 7 km trip to the nearest Nonghyup Hanaro Mart. The route from the village is narrow and winding, then meets a busy two‑lane road used by heavy equipment trucks from nearby industrial zones. With limited public transport, many elders use slow electric wheelchairs (nicknamed 'Mercedes' locally) or small agricultural ATVs while wearing makeshift helmets, exposing them to high accident risk. The community has seen casualties and struggles to attract profitable bus services or regular deliveries; mobile markets have helped but access remains a pressing issue tied to aging and rural decline.
