Mayor Oh Se-hoon Buys Fermented Skate Salad at Banghak-dong Dokkaebi Market While Oh Eon-seok Observes Dobong-gu Office
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Oh Eon-seok, head of Dobong-gu Office, visited six local traditional markets and two sock manufacturing companies ahead of the Lunar New Year, the biggest national holiday, to encourage small business owners and inspect livelihood sites.
To understand the difficulties faced by merchants and residents due to the economic downturn and to grasp price and supply trends, on the 19th, Oh visited three traditional markets in the area: Baegun Market, Sinchang Market, and Changdong Alley Market; and on the 20th, he visited three more: Banghak-dong Dokkaebi Market, Sindobong Market, and Ssangmun Market. Over the two days, Oh listened to the challenges merchants face due to rising raw material costs and exchanged opinions with merchant associations on revitalization plans for commercial districts.
In September this year, for the first time in a traditional market, a ‘Mom and Dad VIP Zone’ will be established at Banghak-dong Dokkaebi Market, allowing parents to use the traditional market without worrying about their children. This will enable parents and children to rest while shopping together, increasing family visits and revitalizing the traditional market.
On the 20th, Oh checked the facilities and operational status of the Seoul Sock Manufacturing Support Center (Dobong Solution Anchor), including the education room, sample production room, and finished product exhibition hall, and visited Yonggeon Socks, a sock knitting factory, to encourage on-site workers and discuss ways to revitalize and improve the sock industry.
Oh Eon-seok, head of Dobong-gu Office, said, “I empathize more than anyone with the difficulties faced by market merchants and small business owners due to the economic downturn. We will continue to consider ways to revitalize the local economy through active communication and field visits. Also, to promote the Dobong-gu sock industry, we will work closely with Seoul City to prepare active support measures such as promotion and sales channel support, and expansion of workplace environment improvement projects.”
The Dobong-gu sock manufacturing industry has grown as an urban manufacturing sector since the 1970s and currently produces 40% of the nation’s socks. It forms a cluster of sock production including knitting, sewing, processing, and finishing centered around Changdong, Banghak-dong, and Ssangmun-dong. The Seoul Sock Manufacturing Support Center (Dobong Solution Anchor), opened in April last year, supports Dobong-gu sock manufacturing companies with technology and education to create jobs and increase profits.
District Mayor Park Kang-su Visits Mangwon Market, Mangwon-dong World Cup Market, and Ahyeon Market for Shopping
Park Kang-su, mayor of Mapo-gu, visited Mangwon Market, Mangwon-dong World Cup Market, and Ahyeon Market on the morning of the 20th ahead of the Lunar New Year to encourage merchants struggling due to weakened consumer sentiment and to actively support the revitalization of traditional market use.
Mayor Park inspected various parts of the markets, listened to merchants’ difficulties, and purchased ritual items such as fruits and meats to contribute, even in a small way, to the revitalization of traditional markets and promotion of consumption.
All items purchased by Mayor Park at the traditional markets on this day will be donated to the ‘Mapo Happiness Sharing Food Market’ for low-income residents.
Park Kang-su, mayor of Mapo-gu, said, “Traditional market merchants are facing great difficulties due to rising prices and weakened consumer sentiment. I hope this holiday season will be a warm one where people purchase quality products at affordable prices from traditional markets and also help the merchants.”
Kim Tae-woo, Mayor of Gangseo-gu, Seoul, Visits Traditional Markets for Lunar New Year
Kim Tae-woo, mayor of Gangseo-gu, Seoul, is continuing his livelihood efforts by visiting traditional markets one after another ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.
On the afternoon of the 19th, Mayor Kim visited Nambu Alley Market and Kkachisan Market located in Hwagok-dong to check if residents had any inconveniences using the markets and to encourage merchants.
This is the third time Mayor Kim has visited traditional markets in the area. Previously, on the 17th and 18th, he visited Bangsin, Songhwa Mural, Hwagok Central, and Hwagok Bon-dong Markets to meet merchants and listen to their difficulties.
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