Jungnang-gu 'Seolmaji Traditional Market Event' Held

Ryugyeonggi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu (center), is visiting Dongwon Traditional General Market to purchase food.

Jungnang-gu to Hold Lunar New Year Events at Local Traditional Markets and Alley Shopping Districts from the 12th to the 24th

On purchases over a certain amount, customers receive Onnuri gift certificates and raffle tickets

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Gyeong-gi) has prepared holiday events for market visitors in anticipation of the Lunar New Year holiday just ten days away.

The district announced that from the 12th to the 24th, a ‘Traditional Market Lunar New Year Event’ will be held at nine locations including local traditional markets and alley-type shopping districts.

The ‘Traditional Market Lunar New Year Event’ aims to revitalize traditional markets struggling due to the economic downturn and to ease the burden on residents preparing holiday offerings.

The event venues include seven traditional markets (Dongbu, Dongwon, Dongwon Traditional Market Shopping District, Myeonmok, Sagajeong, Woorim, Jangmi Jeil) and two alley-type shopping districts (Taeneung, Sangbong Food Alley). During the event period, each market and shopping district will offer discounts on holiday offerings, distribute Onnuri gift certificates, and hold prize raffles.

Specifically, Sagajeong Market will give prizes for purchases over 15,000 KRW, while Woorim Alley Market and Taereung Alley Shopping District will provide Onnuri gift certificates for purchases over 30,000 KRW.

At Myeonmok Alley Market, Dongwon Traditional General Market, Dongwon Traditional Market Shopping District, and Sangbong Food Alley Shopping District, customers who spend over 50,000 KRW will receive Onnuri gift certificates. At Jungnang Dongbu Market, Onnuri gift certificates will be given for purchases over either 30,000 KRW or 50,000 KRW.

Finally, Jangmi Jeil Market will provide Onnuri gift certificates to customers who spend over 30,000 KRW and raffle tickets to those who spend over 10,000 KRW. The prize raffle will be conducted by spinning a roulette wheel.

In addition to discounts and giveaways, the district has conducted safety inspections of electrical and gas facilities, including ground-fault circuit interrupters, at seven traditional markets since the 3rd to ensure safe market use by residents.

Moreover, from the 14th to the 24th, the district will expand the permitted parking zones around traditional markets for ten days.

Jungnang-gu Mayor Ryu Gyeong-gi said, “We have prepared this Lunar New Year traditional market event again this year so that local merchants regain vitality and residents can prepare for the holiday with ease. We ask for your active interest,” adding, “We will continue to make steady efforts to revitalize not only traditional markets but also the local economy.”

Eunpyeong-gu to Hold Lunar New Year Events at Four Local Traditional Markets from the 12th to the 24th

Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) announced that it will hold the ‘2023 Lunar New Year Traditional Market Event’ at local traditional markets from the 12th to the 24th in celebration of the Lunar New Year.

This event aims to support traditional markets and shopping districts struggling due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, high interest rates, and inflation, while promoting traditional markets to residents and providing promotional items.

The event will take place at four locations: Yeonseo Market, Daejo Market, Daerim Alley Market, and Eungam Five-way Intersection Shopping District. Prize events distributing Onnuri gift certificates and promotional items will also be held.

On the 12th, Yeonseo Market will hold prize and Onnuri gift certificate giveaways based on purchase amounts, and Daerim Alley Market will provide Onnuri gift certificates according to purchase amounts. Daejo Market will hold a prize giveaway event for customers on the 16th and 17th. Eungam Five-way Intersection Shopping District will conduct promotional video filming events from the 12th to the 20th.

At Daejo Market, Yeonseo Market, and Sin Eungam Market, free delivery services will be offered for purchases over a certain amount.

For more details about the traditional market events, inquiries can be made to each market’s merchant association or the Job and Economy Division.

Eunpyeong-gu Mayor Kim Mi-kyung said, “I hope this Lunar New Year event will encourage many people to visit traditional markets and local shops,” adding, “We will continue to do our best to revitalize the local commercial districts.”

Jongno-gu (Mayor Jeong Mun-heon)’s ‘Tongin Market’ and ‘Sejong Village Food Culture Street’ have each been selected as final winners in the Ministry of SMEs and Startups’ ‘Traditional Market and Shopping District Revitalization Contest.’

This achievement is valuable as it reflects the fruits of dedicated efforts to revive the precious cultural heritage of Jongno’s local traditional markets.

First, Tongin Market was selected for the ▲‘Specialized Market Development Project (Cultural Tourism Type)’ that leverages the market’s unique characteristics and ▲‘Market Management Package Support (Human Resources Support Package)’ which provides labor cost support for necessary personnel such as market managers and delivery managers.

In particular, for the Specialized Market Development Project, up to 1 billion KRW from national, city, and district funds will be invested over the next two years to implement various projects linked to local culture and tourism resources.

Representative examples include ‘Design Street Creation’ involving logo development to enhance market identity, installation of media facades, and arcade lighting. Also notable are ‘Strengthening Localized Content’ such as Tongin Market tourism programs linked with Seochon tours and traditional cooking experience programs for foreigners and children.

Other initiatives generating anticipation include ‘Merchant Capacity Building’ through operating merchant clubs, menu development consulting, cleanliness education, and benchmarking workshops at excellent markets, as well as ‘Lunchbox Cafe Interior Improvement’ to enhance consumer satisfaction alongside the activation of lunchbox cafes and Makgeolli cafes.

Previously, Tongin Market secured a budget of 270 million KRW in 2022 by being selected for the initial foundation project of the Specialized Market Development Project. Over the past year, it successfully carried out five core tasks: ‘payment convenience,’ ‘customer trust,’ ‘hygiene cleanliness,’ ‘merchant organization capacity building,’ and ‘safety management,’ laying the groundwork to advance as a cultural tourism-type market.

Meanwhile, Sejong Village Food Culture Street was selected for ▲‘Market Management Package Support (Business Support Package)’ where the merchant association autonomously plans and implements necessary projects such as marketing and education within the market, and ▲the ‘Fire Alarm Facility Installation Project’ contest to establish a system that notifies the fire station in case of store fires, with 150 million KRW in project funding expected.

Sejong Village Food Culture Street previously conducted specialized environment installations (cheongsachorong lanterns, gobos lighting, media boards, etc.), joint brand production, and foreign visitor attraction event promotions through the Alley Market Development Project in 2016-2017. It was also selected as a cultural tourism-type market in the 2021 Specialized Market Development Project, implementing design and ICT specialization support projects, infrastructure construction, and market self-sustainability enhancement projects over two years to strengthen market competitiveness.

Jongno-gu has introduced various projects to revitalize markets and enhance competitiveness, winning the Presidential Award at the 2021 National Excellent Market Expo.

This is especially meaningful as it supports safe use of traditional markets that have guarded the heart of Seoul for many years, including the 120-year-old Gwangjang Market, Tongin Market, Sinjin Market, and Dongdaemun General Market, while utilizing local identity and Jongno’s long-standing history and cultural resources.

Mayor Jeong Mun-heon stated, “This contest selection was possible thanks to the merchants’ tireless efforts to overcome the economic downturn and develop the markets, as well as the district’s efforts,” adding, “We will continue to provide wholehearted support so that citizens can enjoy Jongno’s traditional markets for a long time.”