Conflict Between Traders and Street Vendors at Haman Gaya 5-Day Market Rekindled Again

On the 20th, civic groups in the Haman-gun area held a press conference condemning the Haman-gun governor regarding the merchants of the Haman Gaya 5-day Market.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Saeyan] Since closing the Haman Gaya 5-Day Market in Haman-gun, Gyeongnam Province last January and then reopening it, Haman-gun has sparked controversy by cracking down on street vendors by parking official vehicles in the street vendors' spots to block their business.

On the 20th, the Progressive Party Gyeongnam Provincial Party held a press conference in front of Haman County Office and targeted Haman County Governor Jo Geun-je, stating, "We condemn the Haman County Governor who excludes the Haman Gaya 5-Day Market merchants and only represents the position of the permanent market merchants."

They claimed, "Haman-gun closed the Haman Gaya 5-Day Market last January and reopened it after the promised period, but suddenly the county office parked official vehicles in the street vendors' spots to block their business as a method of cracking down on street vendors."

They further pointed out, "On the surface, it was to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but in reality, the permanent market merchants, whose sales temporarily increased due to the closure of the 5-day market, filed complaints with Haman County Office."

In response, the street vendors raised their voices, saying, "In March, we had a meeting with the Deputy Governor of Haman and received a promise to find a way for both street vendors and permanent market merchants to coexist, but the county once again excluded street vendors, decided on closing street vendor sections and implementing a street vendor registration system with the permanent market merchants, and unilaterally announced it to the media."

They added, "It is very regrettable that the county, which promised just a month ago to mediate and communicate in a way that everyone could coexist, threw away that promise like trash and once again only represented the position of the permanent market merchants to drive out the street vendors. We urge Haman-gun to properly fulfill its role in mediation and communication."

A county official said, "Regarding the designation of sections between street vendors and permanent market merchants, the street vendors did not fully cooperate in the negotiations. The county tried to find a compromise so that everyone could conduct fair business, but it seems the demands and directions of the street vendors were different."

Regarding the claim that official vehicles were parked in street vendors' spots to block their business, the official stated, "Despite requests to refrain from holding the market for quarantine purposes due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19, cooperation was not given, leading to such a situation. Our county will seek coexistence measures for the merchants and cooperate as much as possible."

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