Seung-ro Lee, Seongbuk-gu Mayor, Goes Grocery Shopping at Traditional Market with His Wife

[Seoul District Mayors Shopping at Traditional Markets for Chuseok] Lee Seung-ro and spouse shop at Jeongneung Market to promote traditional market use... Kim Seon-gap, Gwangjin District Mayor, visits traditional market for Chuseok

Seung-ro Lee, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu, and his wife, Myeong-sook Lim, are purchasing ingredients needed for the holiday preparations at Jeongneung Market on the 15th.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Ahead of the second Chuseok since the COVID-19 pandemic, on the 15th, Lee Seung-ro, the mayor of Seongbuk-gu, personally shopped at a traditional market to revitalize the market.

On this day, accompanied by his wife Lim Myeong-sook, Mayor Lee visited Jeongneung Market and encouraged the use of traditional markets by purchasing ingredients necessary for holiday preparations.

The mayor visited various spots in the market to listen to the difficulties faced by merchants struggling due to COVID-19 for the second year and offered words of comfort and encouragement. He promised, “We will devise various support measures at the district level to revitalize traditional markets and provide practical help to local small business owners.”

The mayor and his wife also participated in eco-friendly shopping by using reusable containers when packaging ingredients. Lim Myeong-sook said, "I heard that the use of disposable products has increased, causing serious environmental problems. I try to use reusable containers as much as possible, thinking that small actions can protect the environment."

Mayor Lee plans to continue visiting traditional markets within Seongbuk-gu until the day before the Chuseok holiday, the 17th. He said, “Seeing various events taking place in the market brings a strong festive atmosphere and vitality, which makes me happy. During these difficult times, we have issued 15 billion KRW worth of Seongbuk Love Gift Certificates earlier this month, thinking about how to provide practical help. We plan to issue more by the end of the year, so we ask for your interest and use.”

Seongbuk-gu has issued a total of 39 billion KRW worth of Seongbuk Love Gift Certificates this year to boost the local economy, with a fourth issuance planned by the end of the year. In addition, before the Chuseok holiday, the district is swiftly executing the distribution of 85.7 billion KRW in COVID-19 coexistence national support funds, aiming to complete payments.

At Jeongneung Market on this day, a rice cake pounding event was held, providing residents visiting the market with an opportunity to experience traditional culture and enjoy various attractions.

Special events are also underway for Chuseok, including discounts on agricultural and livestock products and ritual items, as well as gift certificate giveaways to customers who purchase above a certain amount.

Baek Jae-seon, president of the Jeongneung Market Merchants Association, said, “The market atmosphere had been quite depressed, but with the district taking the lead in shopping at traditional markets ahead of Chuseok, it gives us strength as merchants. We regularly disinfect and thoroughly implement quarantine measures so that customers can visit with peace of mind, and we hope many will come.”

Kim Seon-gap, mayor of Gwangjin-gu, began visiting traditional markets for shopping starting on the 14th ahead of the Chuseok holiday. On the 14th, Mayor Kim visited Jayang Traditional Market, and on the 15th, he toured Yeongdonggyo, Norunsan, and Neungdong-ro markets, exchanging Chuseok greetings with residents and merchants and purchasing rice cakes, vegetables, ritual items, and other necessities for the holiday table.

He also took time to encourage merchants who have been going through difficult times due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and listened to their difficulties.

Mayor Kim plans to visit Junggok Jeil, Hwayang Jeil, Myeongok, and Sinseong alley markets on the 17th and 18th. The district is conducting a raffle event for customers who shop at seven traditional markets within the district until the 22nd, and for customers using online shopping, events such as delivery fee discounts and mobile gift certificate giveaways will continue until the 26th.

Additionally, to prevent the spread of local infections, masks have been provided, and self-diagnosis kits were distributed to merchants who find it difficult to visit screening clinics during the holiday season.

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