Seongdong-gu Supports Delivery Services for Traditional Markets and Shopping Districts Hit by COVID-19 Sales Decline

Since Last Month, Delivery Service Support for Public Workforces at Hanyang University Front Shopping District... Starting April, ‘2020 Traditional Market and Shopping District Delivery Service’ Project Fully Launched at 3 Locations

Traditional Market and Shopping District Delivery Service

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) is promoting a ‘Traditional Market Delivery Service’ to support local traditional market merchants who have been severely impacted by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

With the spread of COVID-19, non-face-to-face consumption, so-called ‘untact’ consumption, has surged, and the traditional markets have been hit the hardest. As visitors to the markets have sharply declined, merchants’ sales have significantly decreased, making it more urgent than ever to find ways to open new sales channels.

Accordingly, on the 16th of last month, Seongdong-gu urgently deployed public work personnel to the Hanyang University Front Shopping District. This was to support delivery services aimed at revitalizing traditional markets. Delivery services were provided targeting university students and office workers living near the shopping district, aiming to increase sales through late-night food delivery and other means.

Subsequently, public work personnel were also deployed to Ttukseom Station Shopping District and Muhakbong Shopping District to provide delivery services. The delivery service support through public work deployment is a temporary measure in response to the COVID-19 situation and is scheduled to continue until the end of June.

From April 1st, the full-scale ‘2020 Traditional Market and Shopping District Delivery Service’ has been implemented.

As part of a Seoul city public contest project, this year the service is being carried out in ▲Ttukdo Market ▲Wangsimni Doseondong Shopping District ▲Hanyang University Front Shopping District. Approximately 120 million KRW in budget will be invested by the end of the year to support a total of 5 delivery personnel and 3 call center staff.

A district official stated, “The traditional market delivery service project is receiving high praise because both residents and merchants can save on the fees they would normally have to pay when using private delivery companies.” He added, “Most items sold in the market, from fruits and dried seafood to packaged foods like jokbal (pig’s trotters), can be conveniently ordered and purchased with just a phone call.”

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “Due to the impact of the COVID-19 spread, the number of visitors to traditional markets has decreased, and merchants are facing difficulties as sales have noticeably declined. As consumption culture is rapidly shifting to non-face-to-face methods, we will do our best to promptly expand the traditional market delivery service to stimulate the weakened consumption and revitalize the market commercial districts.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.