Field Meeting for Restoring Trust at Gwangjang Market
Joint Efforts by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, Seoul Metropolitan Government, Jongno District Office, and Merchants Association
Government ministries and related agencies have agreed to jointly implement measures such as a price display system and hygiene inspections to revitalize Gwangjang Market, which has recently been at the center of controversy over prices and service quality.
On December 5, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced that it held a 'Field Meeting for Restoring Trust and Promoting Mutual Growth at Gwangjang Market' together with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Jongno District Office, and the Gwangjang Market Merchants Association at Gwangjang Market in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
Gwangjang Market is one of Korea’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting countless foreign visitors every year. However, recent controversies regarding pricing and service have led to a decline in trust. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups determined that this situation could directly affect foreign tourists visiting Korea for the first time, and therefore organized a meeting for relevant agencies and the merchants association to discuss improvement measures.
Lee Byungkwon, Second Vice Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, emphasized, "Gwangjang Market is the first gateway introducing Korea and the traditional market that foreign tourists encounter first. Restoring trust is essential not only for the survival of the market as a whole but also for protecting the national image." He added, "It is necessary to implement an accurate price display system, ensure transparency in payment processes, enhance foreign visitor guidance systems (such as multilingual signs and QR guides), and standardize services within the market."
The Seoul Metropolitan Government and Jongno District Office presented on-site order measures such as enforcing street vendor road occupancy permit procedures, managing street vendors based on real-name identification, mandating hygiene and hospitality training, requiring education on street vendor operating rules and permit conditions, and strengthening the capacity of street vendors to voluntarily comply with regulations.
The Merchants Association expressed its commitment to reestablish Gwangjang Market as a global attraction through hospitality training, providing multilingual guidance for foreign visitors, conducting internal self-inspections, and launching campaigns to restore the market’s image. The association also conveyed the practical difficulties faced by merchants, such as reservation cancellations and a decrease in visitors, and requested prompt support from relevant agencies ahead of the peak year-end season.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups, Seoul Metropolitan Government, Jongno District Office, Korea Small Enterprise and Market Service, and the Merchants Association agreed to operate a joint consultative body to pursue comprehensive measures for restoring Gwangjang Market as a global destination. These measures include checking the implementation of the price display system, hygiene and menu labeling, expanding hospitality training for merchants, and improving infrastructure to guide foreign tourists.
Second Vice Minister Lee Byungkwon stated, "As Gwangjang Market is a leading global traditional market representing Korea, the government will continue to work with related agencies to ensure it becomes a safe and pleasant experience for everyone, including foreign visitors. We will spare no necessary support."
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