Today, at the Small Enterprise and Market Service training center in Daejeon, we ran an AI session for young merchants from traditional markets in the Chungcheong and Jeonbuk regions. We revisited the basics of marketing and focused on building real content with tools like Veo 3 and Nano Banana. The goal went beyond learning the technology: participants left with “methods they can put into action right now.”
The questions that kept coming during every break showed how deep the concerns on the ground run. I wanted to miss none of them, so we worked through each one together and shared answers to the end. It took me back to the late 1990s, when I traded in person across Tibet, Nepal, India, China, and Japan. Perhaps that is why the young merchants I met today felt especially close to me. I know a single small hint can change someone’s sales and direction, so I wanted to pass on as much as I could.
Looking back, I was there to teach, but I also learned a great deal. The drive and energy of people who run their businesses hands-on, right on the front line, is always a powerful inspiration. Technology should ultimately serve people, and training should ultimately create change. I hope today’s learning turns into real results in each participant’s own market and store.
30 Jan 2026
[ Instructor: John Kim ]