The Korea Communications Commission and Korea Post said on Feb. 3 that 21 participating companies recorded combined sales of 840 million won after operating the "Leap Market" programme for two months from Dec. 9 last year to the end of January.

Leap Market is a programme that links and supports the full process, from planning and marketing to TV home shopping sales and post office parcel delivery, for regional goods recommended by local governments including North Gyeongsang and South Jeolla provinces to help expand sales channels for regional small and micro businesses.

This time, 7 TV home shopping companies including GS Retail, CJ ENM, Hyundai Home Shopping, Woori Home Shopping, NS Shopping, Home & Shopping and Public Home Shopping aired and sold regional specialty agricultural, fisheries and livestock products and processed foods from North Gyeongsang and South Jeolla provinces, including apples, abalone and yakgwa, in sequence.

Some products, including abalone and salted mackerel, sold out during broadcasts. Some participating companies posted sales of up to 130 million won, and the programme also linked them to listings on online shopping malls.

Kang Do-sung (강도성), director general of the Broadcasting Media Promotion Bureau at the Korea Communications Commission, said, "This year, we plan to upgrade the project in a direction that strengthens product planning and marketing, and follow-up sales channel linkages."