Did You Know Most 'Yajang' Beer and Nogari in Downtown Seoul Are Illegal?

'Bold Business Even After Fines' Brazen Operations
Weekly Crackdowns... Limited by Staff Shortages

Every evening, young people gather in various parts of downtown Seoul to enjoy night markets, but most of these operations are pointed out to be illegal businesses that have not been reported.

According to Seoul city officials on the 2nd, under Articles 36 and 37 of the Food Sanitation Act, business activities at outdoor tables that have not been reported as business spaces are prohibited.

Yajang located in front of Exit 3 of Jongno 3-ga.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

If caught operating illegally, business establishments can be fined between 100,000 and 1,500,000 KRW depending on the area, and may also face administrative actions such as a first corrective order and second to third business suspensions (7, 15, 30 days).

Additionally, under Article 43 of the Food Sanitation Act, local government heads can restrict the business hours and activities of food service operators through ordinances if necessary.

In Jung-gu, Seoul, outdoor business has been banned since November last year following the district mayor's policy. Jung-gu Office conducts inspections twice daily in the crowded Euljiro Nogari Alley and frequently inspects other alleys whenever complaints arise.

Jongno-gu also carries out joint inspections at least once a day and twice a week, but night market operations continue openly in areas like Jung-gu and Jongno-gu as if mocking these efforts.

The number of customers visiting night markets is increasing, but enforcement personnel are insufficient. Both Jongno-gu and Jung-gu have only single-digit numbers of staff dedicated to night market inspections.

When district office employees conduct inspections, some businesses hide tables in a "turning a blind eye" manner, then reopen the night markets after the inspections end, which is also problematic. According to Jongno-gu Office, when joint inspections are conducted on specific days, businesses avoid opening night markets on those days, and it is common that no night market setups are found during inspections.

Night markets typically refer to restaurants operating with outdoor tables. Recently, night markets have flourished not only in Euljiro, the origin of night markets, but also near Jongno 3-ga Station and Sindang-dong in Jung-gu. Among young people, it has become a trend to drink beer with nogari at night markets or grill samgyeopsal and gopchang while enjoying drinks, but the densely lined plastic tables along sidewalks have sparked criticism for causing inconvenience to pedestrians.