Large Retailers Asked to Stay Closed Two Sundays Per Month

Supermarket chains in Seoul are being asked to do their part for small businesses.
The Seoul metropolitan government is asking the city's 330 major retailers to stay closed every second and fourth Sunday and to limit their hours of operation to 12 a.m. to 8 a.m.
Currently, almost 9 out of 10 large retailers are open every day of the year.
In a policy recommendation to the city's 25 local district offices on Thursday, the city said that it is asking all large supermarket chains in Seoul to follow the suggested schedule.
If the proposal is accepted by the district administrators, major retailers will be fined up to 30-million won, or roughly 26-thousand U.S. dollars if they fail to comply.
The city also asked Seoul residents to be understanding of any resulting inconvenience underscoring that the move is being taken on behalf of Seoul's smaller businesses.
Large retailers in 4 districts, including Gangdong, Songpa and Seongbuk which have already accepted the relevant ordinance will start closing their shops twice a month beginning this April.
Critics have pointed out, however, that it will take time for the ordinance to be enforced given the number of districts being approached and the number of retailers involved.
Hwang Ji-hye, Arirang News.

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