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Traditional Markets Vanish as Number of Discount Stores Increase

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Since 2003, around 180 traditional markets have been forced to close their doors for good throughout the country . while in the same period, the number of large discount stores has increased over four times.
Chuseok, or Thanksgiving in Korea, is only a day away.
In year's past, the streets of traditional markets would be bustling with shoppers picking out last minute gifts for relatives.
But today, it looks more like a ghost town.

[Interview : Lee Young-hee, Shop Owner] "Just five years ago, it was okay. But ever since the discount stores were built in the neighborhood, we haven't been seeing many customers".

Lee's store is located in Seoul's Yeoungdeung-po district.
Within a 30 minute walk from the market, there are SEVEN discount stores with the closest one being a 10 minute walk away.
In an effort to revitalize traditional markets, the government in April banned major retailers from doing business two Sundays per month.
But many stores have been able to wiggle out of the new law through loopholes, and many have continued their normal operating hours.

[Interview : Park Sang-hup, Chief of Local Economic Division Yeongdeungpo District] "One of the discount stores in our district is not subject to the ordinace since it is registered as a 'large shopping center', not as a 'discount store'. Another store was also able to get out from the ordinance because half of its sales were agricultural and livestock products".

Most would agree that the government efforts have been mostly ineffective.
So what to do

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[Interview : Yoo Li-an, Lian.yoo@arirang.co.kr] "I'm at a lunch box cafe at a traditional market in Seoul. Once you enter the store, you exchange cash for these traditional coins that look exactly like the ones that were used back in the early days of the Koryo Dynasty. With these coins which were worth just a little over four dollars, I was able to get six side dishes, a bowl of rice, and soup".

The store opened earlier this year and already has 200 customers on average every day.
Through the store's unique way of using old-fashioned coins to purchase food, and its variety of choices, the store has been able to draw a younger generation of customers.
Attracting customers in new ways, while keeping true to Korea's tradition, is the problem that traditional shop owners need to solve if they want to survive with the changing times.
Yoo Li-an, Arirang News.

Reporter : Lian.yoo@arirang.co.kr

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