Minister Yoon In-chon Visits Gyeongdong Market Ahead of Seollal Holiday to 'Listen to Public Concerns'

Yoo In-chon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, visited Gyeongdong Market in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul on the 24th, ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, to encourage market merchants and discuss ways to revitalize traditional markets.

Minister Yoo visited Gyeongdong Market to breathe new life into traditional markets struggling due to the economic downturn and to hear firsthand the voices from the field of public livelihood. He toured various parts of the market, purchasing ritual items, rice cakes, and traditional Korean sweets with Onnuri gift certificates, and exchanged New Year’s greetings with visitors who came to the market for the holiday, urging them to continue actively using traditional markets.

Yoo In-chon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is greeting market merchants during a visit to Gyeongdong Market in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, on the 24th ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.
Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

With a 60-year tradition, Gyeongdong Market has become a popular destination not only for the elderly but also for the younger 2030 generation and foreign tourists. At the end of 2022, a closed theater was renovated into a cafe, and part of the cafe’s profits is used for local environmental improvements.

Minister Yoo highly praised Gyeongdong Market’s efforts to revitalize traditional markets, stating, "In the tourism industry where Koreans’ daily lives become tourism resources and experiential content, traditional markets are among the most preferred tourist destinations for foreign visitors. Traditional markets are perfect for enjoying and experiencing K-content, which is gaining worldwide popularity through Korean dramas and movies. We will continue to work together to create an environment where domestic and international tourists can trust and enjoy their visits."

He added, "The government designated the day before the Lunar New Year holiday, the 27th, as a temporary holiday to stimulate domestic consumption. Since various domestic tourism events, including visits to the 'Top 100 Korean Tourist Attractions,' are prepared during the holiday period, I kindly ask everyone to visit representative tourist sites in their hometowns and our traditional markets on their way home for the Lunar New Year holiday."