Han Deok-su "Will Listen Carefully to Merchants' Voices to Help Traditional Markets Thrive"
[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] Prime Minister Han Duck-soo visited Gyeongdong Market in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, on the 18th ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday to listen to the merchants' difficulties and encourage them. He also sought solutions to the merchants' requests, such as a food truck night market and online delivery.
That morning, Prime Minister Han held a tea meeting with cooperative companies of Gyeongdong Market merchants at the 'Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960 Branch' and inquired about their challenges.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo visited Gyeongdong Market in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, on the 18th to purchase goods and encourage market merchants in preparation for the Lunar New Year holiday. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
The merchants said, "Due to COVID-19, more than half of the tenants struggled to pay rent on time or had to close their stores," adding, "To find a way out, we have been preparing a 'food truck night market' on the rooftop parking lot for three years, but complicated regulations have repeatedly frustrated us."
Lee Pil-hyung, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, who was present, said, "We were already considering ways to resolve the merchants' difficulties," and promised, "After reviewing the Parking Lot Act and Seoul city ordinances, it seems possible to ease regulations within the legal framework to revitalize the local economy." Dongdaemun-gu plans to proceed with the night market business permit in consultation with Gyeongdong Market once the legal review is completed.
The merchants also requested active support for young merchants' online delivery business. Cho Joo-hyun, Vice Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, said, "We will actively support through the Ministry's online platform entry and delivery fee support programs."
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is taking a commemorative photo with Starbucks Korea President Son Jeong-hyun and employees at the Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960 branch in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, on the 18th during a visit to local livelihood sites ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
Prime Minister Han responded, "The government will continue to listen to the voices of the people so that traditional markets like Gyeongdong Market, which challenge with an open mind, can succeed."
Meanwhile, those present at Prime Minister Han's visit to Gyeongdong Market included Kim Young-baek, Chairman of the Merchants' Association, Seo Hyung-won, Chairman of KD Market, Jeon Hoon, Chairman of the Gyeongdong Market Young Merchants' Association, Son Jeong-hyun, CEO of Starbucks Korea, and Oh Seung-jin, Executive Director of LG Electronics. Local government and government officials present were Lee Pil-hyung, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, and Cho Joo-hyun, Vice Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.
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