The article highlights the significant challenges faced by farmers and the agricultural sector in South Korea due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The pandemic led to the suspension of food services, cancellation of festivals, and a decline in the production of major crops, which allowed imported products to dominate the market. Despite these challenges, there were positive developments, such as the introduction of new varieties of garlic and other agricultural products. The shift from offline to online retail, particularly in food products, also increased by 50.7% year-on-year. However, this shift has raised concerns about unfair trade. The article also mentions the modernization of local wholesale markets and ongoing issues such as dishonest practices in auctions and the trading of imported agricultural products.