[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Koo Dae-sun] Daegu City plans to change the mandatory closure day of large discount stores from Sunday to Monday starting in February, as part of efforts by the city's 8 districts and counties to promote coexistence and mutual development between large and small-to-medium distribution businesses and enhance citizen convenience.
On December 19 last year, Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, the heads of the 8 district offices and counties, the head of the National Merchants Association Daegu Branch, the president of the Korea Chain Store Association, and representatives from the distribution industry signed an agreement to switch the mandatory closure day of large discount stores to weekdays to promote coexistence and mutual development between large and small-to-medium distribution businesses.
On that day, Daegu City, the 8 districts and counties, and the large and small-to-medium distribution industries agreed that small and medium distribution companies would actively cooperate with the change of the mandatory closure day of large distribution companies to weekdays, strive to enhance the rights and interests of local consumers, and secure their own competitiveness in response to changing consumption patterns.
Large distribution companies will review and actively support or implement the proposals made by small and medium distribution companies, strengthen social contribution activities to revitalize the local economy, and Daegu City and the 8 districts and counties promised to actively cooperate in administrative and policy support necessary for the smooth agreement between large and small-to-medium distribution companies regarding the change of the mandatory closure day of large discount stores to weekdays.
Accordingly, the 8 districts and counties of Daegu City, which are leading the change of the mandatory closure day of large discount stores to weekdays, will go through administrative procedures such as administrative notice and public opinion collection for 20 days from the 13th to February 2nd, and plan to switch the mandatory closure day of large discount stores to weekdays starting February 10th. Once the administrative procedures are completed, large discount stores in Daegu will be closed on the second and fourth Mondays of each month starting February 13th.
Even after the change of the mandatory closure day of large discount stores to weekdays, Daegu City plans to actively provide policy support, such as holding quarterly distribution industry coexistence development councils, to establish and implement coexistence cooperation plans between large and small-to-medium distribution companies for the development of the local distribution industry.
In addition, efforts will be made to revitalize local traditional markets, strengthen the competitiveness of small business owners, and expand the contribution of large discount stores to the local community.
Mayor Hong Joon-pyo of Daegu said, “It is significant that Daegu City is the first special/metropolitan city to change the mandatory closure day of large discount stores to weekdays,” adding, “We expect this to be an opportunity to seek a new direction for the development of the local distribution industry in response to changes in the distribution environment such as the rapid growth of online shopping, and to provide convenience for Daegu citizens to shop on public holidays.”
The large discount stores in Daegu that will begin closing on Mondays starting in February include 60 locations, such as large-scale stores and quasi-large-scale stores.
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