Seoul Jung-gu, Mandatory Closure of Large Mart Changed from Sunday to Weekday

Closed on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays Starting This Month

Jung-gu, Seoul (Mayor Kim Gil-seong) announced on the 15th that the mandatory closure days for large supermarkets in the area have been changed from the second and fourth Sundays to the second and fourth Wednesdays. The implementation will begin from the fourth week of this month.

The stores affected are four in total: large supermarkets Lotte Mart Zeta Plex Seoul Station Branch, E-Mart Cheonggyecheon Branch, and corporate supermarkets Homeplus Express Sindang Branch, and No Brand Dongdaemun Doota Mall Branch.

The signing ceremony of the Distribution Industry Win-Win Development Agreement on the 18th of last month. Provided by Jung-gu.

GS Supermarket Jung-gu Malli Branch (GS The Fresh Seoul Station Central Xi Branch) and GS Retail Namsan Town Branch (GS The Fresh Namsan Town Branch) will maintain their existing Sunday mandatory closure days considering their store situations.

Jung-gu changed the mandatory closure days of large supermarkets to weekdays to provide consumers with diverse shopping experiences and convenience, and to revitalize the local commercial district. The mandatory closure system for large supermarkets was first implemented in 2012, but unlike the past when large supermarkets and traditional markets were in competition, the rapid growth of the online market has changed the entire distribution landscape, raising doubts about the effectiveness of the mandatory closure system for large supermarkets.

In fact, weekend closures of large supermarkets caused inconvenience to consumers who can only shop on weekends, such as dual-income households. The weekday closure of large supermarkets has already been proven in other regions that implemented it earlier to contribute to the revitalization of traditional local markets and improve consumer convenience.

A satisfaction survey conducted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in April targeting users of large supermarkets in regions (Cheongju City, Seocho-gu, Dongdaemun-gu) that changed mandatory closure days to weekdays showed that 8 out of 10 users (81%) were satisfied with being able to shop on Sundays.

An analysis of the effects six months after Daegu Metropolitan City changed its mandatory closure days to weekdays in February last year showed that sales increased not only in large supermarkets but also in major retail stores and traditional markets. Additionally, the Kyungdong Market area in Dongdaemun-gu became a hot place for the younger generation as consumers visiting large supermarkets on weekends experienced various contents such as abundant sights and food in the surrounding traditional markets.

Now, it is the time for large and small distribution sectors to join forces to enhance the competitiveness of the local commercial district, according to the opinions of market merchants in Jung-gu. At the general meeting of the “Seoul Jung-gu Traditional Market Commercial District Development Center,” composed of market merchants in Jung-gu held in September, 86% of the members supported the promotion of changing the mandatory closure days of large supermarkets to weekdays and expressed the need to prepare measures for coexistence.

The Commercial District Development Center and the Korea Chain Store Association have been closely discussing the change of mandatory closure days to weekdays since August, representing traditional markets and large distribution companies in Jung-gu, respectively. On the 18th of last month, Jung-gu Office, the Commercial District Development Center, and the Store Association signed a win-win cooperation agreement between large and small distribution sectors, where traditional markets agreed to the weekday closure of large supermarkets, and large distribution companies promised support to strengthen the competitiveness of traditional markets.

Jung-gu decided to change the mandatory closure days to weekdays on November 14 after prior notification, administrative announcement periods, and listening to opinions through the Jung-gu Distribution Industry Win-Win Development Council. Going forward, the district plans to continuously listen to voices from the field regarding the weekday change of mandatory closure days and continue various policies for the development of the local commercial district.

Mayor Kim Gil-seong said, “Residents can now shop conveniently at large supermarkets and attractive traditional markets through more diverse shopping options,” and added, “I sincerely hope that this change in mandatory closure days will become an opportunity for large supermarkets and local commercial districts to coexist and revitalize the local economy.”