[Report] One Business After Another Closes... "Am I Next?" Merchants Walking on Thin Ice

"Let's Rather Raise to Level 3" ... Aftermath of 'Temporary Closure' Lifted

The Shinmasan Market, which should be bustling with people, is filled only with a quiet silence. (Photo by Park Saeyan)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Saeyan] “There must be buyers for sellers to exist.” Normally, it would be difficult to find an empty spot due to the crowd, but the Shinmasan Market in Changwon, Gyeongnam is unusually quiet.

A, who has served as the head of the merchants' association here for five years, expressed frustration, saying, “This is the worst sales ever, and we are forced to do business reluctantly,” adding, “Only three customers came on the weekend when there used to be many.”

At Shinmasan Market, the lights go out one by one around 4 to 5 p.m. This is a stark contrast to the past when the lights stayed on past 8 p.m. With 80% of the foot traffic gone, merchants have no choice but to close early.

Recently, rental signs have noticeably increased in several stores. With the social distancing level raised to Level 2, it is a harsh reality for ordinary people to bear the burden of rent and store taxes.

Many stores that have been around for decades have closed one after another. Merchant B lamented, “Isn't this the inevitable result?” and added, “Even if we keep the store open, we can't make 30,000 won, but electricity and maintenance fees keep coming.”

Masan Happo District Office has issued a temporary closure order for Sinmasan Bangae Market from November 29 to December 6. (Photo by Kang Seong-yeong)

The situation at Bun-gae Market in Shinmasan, which had to close temporarily from the 29th of last month to the 6th of this month, is even more serious.

Every Sunday at 10 a.m., when the market used to be noisy, a desolate wind blows through Bun-gae Market. Vice President C of Bun-gae Market tearfully said, “Although it was an unavoidable decision due to the resurgence of COVID-19, it is unfair that only Bun-gae Market was ordered to close temporarily.”

In response, an official from Masanhappo District Office said, “Considering the mass spread originating from Jinhae Gyeonghwa Market and the overlap with the college entrance exam period, the temporary closure was implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

On the other hand, officials from Masanhwoe, Uichang, and Seongsan District Offices, where temporary closure orders were not issued, unanimously stated, “For the five-day markets, there are only distancing guidelines, not closure orders,” and “The district offices are enforcing temperature checks, visitor logs, and disinfection before and after opening.”

The merchants' association explained that the market was closed because nearby store merchants were worried that confirmed cases might emerge from Bun-gae Market.

Although the market resumed after the closure was lifted, there is no sign of vitality. The number of merchants, which was about 100, has drastically decreased to 70. Correspondingly, citizens' visits have also stopped.

This is the view of Masan Fish Market visited that morning. (Photo by Park Saeyan)

Masan Fish Market, which carries on the legacy of Masan markets, is no exception. Despite it being a morning that should be bustling, the lively voices of merchants are not heard as before.

D, who has been doing business here for 20 years, said with a sad face, “There is foot traffic, but sales cannot be compared to last year.”

E, the president of the Fish Market Merchants' Association, expressed dissatisfaction, saying, “COVID-19 policies are only about disaster relief funds,” and “The government only has disaster relief funds for small business owners, but there are no separate support policies for the prolonged situation.”

He added, “Even that is just a temporary measure,” and “As people open their wallets less often, merchants continue to suffer from a vicious cycle of not being able to sell.”

Given the situation, voices are emerging calling for raising social distancing to Level 3 and implementing a shutdown instead.

President E said, “It is agonizing to keep the store open ambiguously because electricity and maintenance fees are paid, but sales do not increase,” and “Meanwhile, labor costs for employees must be paid, so the standards are ambiguous,” expressing difficulties with social distancing Level 2.

The fear of confirmed cases cannot be ignored either. There is concern that if even one merchant tests positive, not only will the store close, but the entire market could be shut down.

Meanwhile, Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo stated in a public appeal on the 14th regarding COVID-19, “Even with social distancing Level 2, local small business owners and self-employed people are having a very hard time,” and “We will try our best to contain it at the current Level 2.”

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