Dongdaemun-gu Receives Prime Minister's Commendation for '2024 Regulatory Reform Merit'
Mandatory Closure Day for Large Marts Changed to Weekdays... Supporting Cooperation Among Large, Medium, and Small Retail Sectors
Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul (Mayor Lee Pil-hyung) received the Prime Minister's Commendation in the group category of the '2024 Regulatory Reform Merit Awards' hosted by the Office for Government Policy Coordination. Along with Dongdaemun-gu, the Small Enterprise and Market Service and Jeju Tourism Organization were selected as regulatory reform merit institutions in the group category.
Dongdaemun-gu was recognized for its contributions to revitalizing the local economy by innovating regulations such as supporting the creation of the Gyeongdong 1960 Night Market and changing the mandatory closure day of large marts from weekends to weekdays, becoming the only local government nationwide to receive this honor.
During the difficult times caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2023, young merchants in Dongdaemun-gu wanted to operate a 'night market' by placing food trucks on the rooftop parking lot of buildings within the market area. However, they faced difficulties in promoting the business due to a Seoul city ordinance that only allowed food trucks to operate in 'public parking lots.'
Responding to these merchants' complaints, Dongdaemun-gu collaborated with the Seoul Metropolitan Council to amend the ordinance to allow food trucks to operate in 'attached parking lots' belonging to market buildings or sites. The 'Gyeongdong 1960 Night Market,' which began full operation in November of that year, became a symbol of the 'young sensibility' of Dongdaemun-gu's traditional markets.
Additionally, in January last year, the district decided to change the mandatory closure day of large marts to weekdays to support win-win cooperation among large, medium, and small distribution sectors.
Considering that the 'weekend operation restrictions on large marts' did not significantly affect traditional market sales and that sales at traditional markets also rose on weekends when marts were open, the mandatory closure day for large marts, previously on Sundays, was changed to a weekday (Wednesday).
The district signed agreements with market merchant associations and large mart distribution companies to agree on changing the mandatory closure day to weekdays, and they continue to cooperate with the goal of mutual growth.
Lee Pil-hyung, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, said, “Dongdaemun-gu, which includes 10 major traditional markets including Gyeongdong Market, considers regulatory reform for revitalizing the local economy not a choice but a necessity. We will continue to ease unnecessary regulations for the convenience of residents' lives.”
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