"Spent Over 2 Billion Won" Baek Jong-won's Influence on Yesan Market, Visitors Surpass 1 Million Easily

Over 1.37 Million Visitors from January to July
Yesan-gun Plans to Expand Convenience Facilities for Visitors

Visitor numbers at Yesan Market in Chungnam, which overcame the risk of regional extinction and became a nationwide attraction through the efforts of Baek Jong-won, CEO of Theborn Korea, have surpassed 1.37 million.

Baek Jong-won, CEO of The Born Korea
Photo by Yonhap News

On the 4th, Yesan County announced that the cumulative number of visitors reached 1.37 million from January 9, when the 'Yesan Market Revitalization Project' began, until the end of July. In particular, it was reported that 690,000 people visited the market in the last two months during the summer vacation season.

The significant growth of Yesan Market is largely thanks to CEO Baek's efforts. In 2019, Baek visited his hometown Yesan and, noticing many vacant stores in the market, took on the challenge of revitalizing the local economy.

He decorated Yesan Market with a time-travel concept to the 1960s and 1970s and developed menus using local specialties. Afterwards, he provided consulting to each store owner, rebirthing the market with a new image.

CEO Baek also attracted attention by revealing on his YouTube channel in the past, "I spent almost 2 to 3 billion won here (at Yesan Market)."

Yesan Market [Photo by Yonhap News]

As Yesan’s local economy and youth entrepreneurship were revitalized and tourists increased thanks to CEO Baek’s efforts, Yesan County announced plans to expand convenience facilities for market visitors.

The county plans to renovate the existing unisex restrooms into male-only restrooms and add female-only restrooms. To resolve the parking difficulties that had been an issue, additional parking spaces are also being secured.

A county official said, "We are pleased that Yesan Market has established itself as a model for overcoming regional extinction," and added, "We thank everyone who has shown interest in and visited Yesan Market."

Meanwhile, from August 1 to 3, the '2023 Yesan Market Beer Festival' will be held at the market square parking lot area. At the festival, various beers including 'Applier,' an apple beer developed by CEO Baek, as well as whole pig barbecue, will be sold.