Gyeonggi-do Significantly Strengthens Entry Criteria for Large Stores Over 3,000㎡

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province will significantly strengthen the entry criteria for large stores with an area of 3,000㎡ or more.

To revitalize neighborhood commercial districts, Gyeonggi Province has decided to collaborate with 11 local governments, including Suwon City, to restrict the location of large-scale stores from the urban planning stage and plans to complete the revision of the urban planning ordinance by November.

The current Distribution Industry Development Act stipulates that large-scale stores must register their establishment after obtaining building permits.

Because of this, there is no opportunity to review the protection of small business owners before deciding the location of large-scale stores such as complex shopping malls, large marts, and shopping centers with store areas of 3,000㎡ or more, leading to conflicts over neighborhood commercial district infringement after the stores open.

To resolve these issues, Gyeonggi Province has decided to protect neighborhood commercial districts by implementing practical protective measures that restrict the location of large-scale stores that do not conform to the designated purposes of quasi-residential, neighborhood commercial, and quasi-industrial zones from the urban planning stage.

The commercial influence of large-scale stores often extends beyond the respective city or county to adjacent cities or counties, making it meaningful to promote this initiative jointly among local governments rather than on an individual city or county basis.

Last December, Governor Lee Jae-myung of Gyeonggi Province and 11 local government heads signed a "Business Agreement to Improve the Location of Large-Scale Stores to Revitalize Neighborhood Commercial Districts."

Since then, after consulting with the Gyeonggi Research Institute and analyzing cases from cities and counties, a "Standard Ordinance Amendment" was prepared, and work has been underway to create ordinance drafts tailored to the conditions of each region.

Among the 31 cities and counties in the province, 29 have 295 large-scale stores. Of these, 206 stores, accounting for 70% of the total, are concentrated in 11 areas. By region, Goyang has the most with 41 stores, followed by Ansan with 34, and Suwon and Yongin each with 25.