Science ministry launches grocery price app in five regions

The science ministry on Monday launched a pilot release of the 'Alttulhage Jangboljido' mobile application in five local governments to help shoppers compare fresh agricultural and livestock product prices. The initiative marks the first step in the government's Artificial Intelligence Livelihood 10 Major Projects.

Officials held a commemorative ceremony in Osong, Cheongju, to celebrate the launch and the formation of a consultative body dedicated to coordinating price information. The pilot covers Suwon in Gyeonggi Province, Wonju in Gangwon Province, Cheongju in North Chungcheong Province, Jeonju in North Jeolla Province, and Changwon in South Gyeongnam Province.

The application utilizes artificial intelligence chat functions to offer recipe suggestions and recommend optimal purchase locations based on user location. It also provides discount event information alongside pricing from nearby stores. Following the ceremony, ministry representatives visited a local mart to promote downloads and verify the accuracy of the digital price listings against actual shelf tags.

Lee Do-gyu, the ministry's director for information and communications policy, described the launch as "a meaningful case where artificial intelligence creates tangible value in daily life." He stated that the ministry would work closely with the agriculture ministry and private sector partners to expand services that citizens can actually feel.