Cho Bong-hwan, President of the Small Enterprise and Market Service (right), is purchasing rice cakes while giving Onnuri gift certificates to merchants at Daejeon Jungang Market on the 20th.
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daeseop] The Small Enterprise and Market Service (SEMAS) announced on the 20th that it visited Daejeon Jungang Market ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.
On that day, SEMAS Director Cho Bonghwan had lunch with the merchant association officials and listened to the business situation. He also checked the market's holiday prices and purchased shiitake mushrooms, pork, rice cakes, and other items from the stores. The purchased goods will be donated to the Daejeon Yongun Welfare Center and used to help underprivileged local residents celebrate the holiday.
According to SEMAS, a price comparison survey of 27 Lunar New Year ritual items showed that the cost of a traditional holiday table for four people at traditional markets averaged 225,680 KRW. Large discount stores averaged 299,669 KRW, making traditional markets approximately 73,989 KRW (24.7%) cheaper than large discount stores.
Director Cho Bonghwan said, "The price comparison survey between traditional markets and large discount stores showed that traditional markets are about 25% cheaper. The actual quality is good and the prices are much lower, so we are actively promoting this from the customer's perspective." He added, "I hope traditional market merchants continue to work hard to restore customer trust, and the service will also strive to support a lively traditional market with many visitors in the new year."
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