The government is introducing a grocery shopping service that uses AI to recommend where to buy agricultural and livestock products.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Science and ICT said on Sept. 21 they launched a pilot version of the “Alttulhagae Jangboljido” app and held a ceremony. The app provides price information for fresh agricultural and livestock products at nearby stores based on a consumer’s location.

Alttulhagae Jangboljido was developed as part of the science ministry’s “AI 민생 10대 프로젝트”. Users can compare prices and discount event information for fresh agricultural and livestock products by nearby sellers. The app also offers cooking recipes and store recommendations using AI chat.

The pilot service will run in five areas: Suwon in Gyeonggi Province, Wonju in Gangwon Province, Cheongju in North Chungcheong Province, Jeonju in North Jeolla Province and Changwon in South Gyeongsang Province. The two ministries said they held a launch ceremony for the pilot app at OSCO in Cheongju and started an agricultural and livestock product price information consultative body. Participants include the agriculture ministry, the app developer, participating distributors, the Korea Mart Association and the Korea Consumer Organizations Council.

The government plans to pursue nationwide commercialisation in the second half of next year after improving user convenience functions during the pilot operation period.

Agriculture Minister Mi-ryeong Song (송미령) said the app is expected to reduce inconvenience for consumers who had to visit stores in person to learn prices at nearby sellers. She said the government would improve functions to increase user convenience for nationwide commercialisation in the second half of next year.

Do-gyu Lee (이도규), director general for information and communications policy at the science ministry, said the launch was the first step in the “AI 민생 10대 프로젝트”. He said the ministry would identify and expand AI services that people can actually feel in their daily lives.