Yeosu-si, Organization of Street Vendor Boundary Lines Around Gyodong Market

One Person One Section Designation, Bidirectional Street Stalls Arranged in One Direction, etc.

Yeosu City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Jeong Gi-myeong) announced on the 27th that it has improved the street vendor area around Gyodong Market to create a more pleasant walking environment.

According to the city, it has renovated about a 68-meter section of the street vendor area along the roadside near Gyodong Market, where the walkway had become narrow due to illegal street vendors and roadside storage.

[Photo by Yeosu City]

Through the reorganization of the temporarily permitted zone that has been in operation since 2015, one section was designated per person, and two-way street vendors were arranged in one direction, relocating a total of 34 street vendors within the marked boundaries.

Yeosu City has allowed street vendors around Gyodong Market, which has been established for decades, as part of revitalizing traditional markets and supporting the livelihoods of ordinary citizens.

However, complaints have continuously arisen due to product displays exceeding the permitted sections and the placement of goods on the road for sales activities. Although regular crackdowns were conducted, the violations kept recurring.

Accordingly, since March, the city has actively promoted and guided the street vendor reorganization through prior publicity such as hanging banners, distributing notices, and street marches.

In particular, despite strong initial opposition from the street vendors, the city successfully carried out the reorganization smoothly without physical conflict through continuous dialogue and persuasion with merchants, attracting attention as many citizens watched.

A city official stated, “To create a pleasant street befitting Yeosu, a scenic port city on the southern coast, active interest and participation from not only merchants but all citizens are essential,” adding, “Based on this achievement, we plan to continuously organize the street vendor boundaries from Yeosu Bridge through Seogyo-dong Rotary to Yeosu Bridgegan.”