Seodaemun-gu Chuseok Direct Market Opening

[Seoul District News] Seodaemun-gu Hosts Chuseok Direct Market at District Office Plaza from August 31 to September 1 & 300+ Items from 23 Cities and Counties Sold at Low Prices ... Geumcheon-gu Offers Free Car Inspection for Chuseok on 28th ... Guro-gu Promotes ‘Comprehensive Maintenance Project Information’ Group Training

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Lee Seong-heon) is preparing a market to sell agricultural, livestock, and marine products as well as holiday essentials at prices cheaper than market rates ahead of Chuseok.

The district will hold the "Chuseok Direct Transaction Market" at the district office plaza from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on August 31 and September 1.

About 50 agricultural corporations and cooperatives from 23 cities and counties nationwide, including Seodaemun-gu’s sister cities Jangheung-gun, Yeongdong-gun, Asan-si, and Wanju-gun, will participate.

The market will offer a variety of about 300 items including Hongseong Hanwoo beef, Yeonggwang dried yellow corvina, Geumsan ginseng, Wando seaweed, rice, grains, fruits, greens, salted seafood, seasonings, honey, and songpyeon (rice cakes).

This event allows producers and producer groups to sell directly without intermediaries, enabling customers to purchase fresh products from production areas at affordable prices.

Additionally, participating companies will voluntarily donate up to 5% of their proceeds to the Community Chest of Korea to support neighbors in need, adding meaningfulness to the event.

The district will also hold an event giving eco-friendly bamboo toothbrushes to the first 200 visitors each day.

Lee Seong-heon, Mayor of Seodaemun-gu, said, "We expect this market to help reduce the burden of holiday shopping for residents and promote mutual prosperity between urban and rural areas."

Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yoo Seong-hoon) will provide a "Chuseok Free Vehicle Inspection" service to help residents travel safely during the traditional holiday.

On August 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., free inspections will be conducted at the main entrance parking lot of Geumcheon-gu Office for passenger cars and vans owned by residents or workers in Geumcheon-gu.

Sixty automotive technicians from the Geumcheon Branch of the Seoul Automobile Specialized Repair Business Association will participate. Equipped with various inspection tools, they will check vehicles for safe driving and provide guidance on vehicle management for long-distance travel.

Inspection items include checking and refilling various oils such as engine, transmission, and brake fluids; checking and refilling windshield washer fluid and coolant; inspecting and replacing bulbs; and checking tire condition and pressure, belts, and batteries. Vehicles requiring detailed inspection will be advised to visit repair shops.

Yoo Seong-hoon, Mayor of Geumcheon-gu, said, "We prepared this free inspection service to ensure safe travel for residents and workers during Chuseok. We hope many will participate to have a safe and pleasant trip home."

A comprehensive information management system called "Jeongbi Project Information Mongttang," which allows users to check redevelopment and reconstruction information in Seoul at a glance, will hold user training sessions.

Guro-gu (Mayor Moon Heon-il) announced on the 17th that it will conduct group training for redevelopment project stakeholders (promotion committees and associations) in the district on the Jeongbi Project Information Mongttang system.

"Jeongbi Project Information Mongttang" is an integrated comprehensive information management system for redevelopment projects that combines previously separately operated systems such as the Cleanup System and e-Association System.

Although launched in September last year, users experienced inconvenience due to unfamiliarity with the system. Moreover, the scope of projects subject to information disclosure has expanded to include vacant house and small-scale housing redevelopment projects under the Special Act on Vacant Houses and Small-scale Housing Redevelopment, regional housing associations under the Housing Act, and remodeling projects, leading to many requests for user training. Therefore, group training is being organized.

The training will be held twice on August 18 and 19, inviting system operation staff as instructors.

The training targets 24 project employees who are users of the Jeongbi Project Information Mongttang system, including 8 mandatory registered projects under the Urban and Residential Environment Improvement Act, 5 voluntarily registered projects under the Special Act on Vacant Houses and Small-scale Housing Redevelopment and the Housing Act, and 11 voluntarily registered promotion projects.

To prevent COVID-19, the training venue will be sanitized and ventilated. Participants will learn overall usage, including information disclosure, association work support, and the comprehensive portal.

Guro-gu has focused on creating a transparent redevelopment and reconstruction environment centered on residents.

In July, the district established the "Guro Development Project Spatial Information System," which allows users to easily and conveniently check various local development projects by project type and administrative district at a glance. This achievement was recognized with the Grand Prize at the "2022 Land and Space Seoul Conference."

This training is also designed to contribute to enhancing transparency in redevelopment projects and guaranteeing residents' right to know.

A Guro-gu official said, "We prepared training that helps users learn overall usage and system utilization methods at each project stage to provide practical assistance. We will continue to offer customized training necessary for solid system operation and work to increase transparency and publicness in redevelopment projects."