Signs of Political Dispute Over 'Weekday and Holiday Closures of Large Marts'... Democratic Party Daegu City Branch Issues Statement Demanding Withdrawal

Democratic Party of Korea Daegu City Party.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Koo Dae-sun] The Democratic Party of Korea Daegu City Party announced on the 20th that it opposes Daegu City's decision to change the mandatory closure day of large discount stores from Sunday to weekdays.

In a statement released that day, the Democratic Party of Korea Daegu City Party claimed, "On the 19th, despite opposition from traditional markets, small and medium merchants, and large discount store workers, Daegu City ultimately held the 'Agreement Ceremony for Changing the Mandatory Closure Day of Large Discount Stores to Weekdays.' This was a move by the Daegu mayor from the People Power Party and the heads of eight districts and counties, acting as enforcers of power, following a proposal from the Office for Government Policy Coordination, after President Yoon Suk-yeol's pledge to abolish the mandatory closure of large discount stores faced the risk of being derailed due to public opposition."

The mandatory closure of large discount stores was introduced in 2012 as a measure for coexistence between large discount stores and small local businesses under the amended Distribution Industry Development Act. Currently, all large discount stores and SSMs (Super Supermarkets, semi-large stores) nationwide must observe two mandatory closure days each month.

The authority to designate mandatory closure days lies with the heads of basic local governments where large discount stores are located. In Daegu, there are a total of 60 stores subject to mandatory closure, including 17 large-scale stores such as Homeplus and E-mart, and 43 SSMs, which currently observe mandatory closures on the second and fourth Sundays of each month.

Article 12, Paragraph 2 of the Distribution Industry Development Act states, "Mayors and county heads may restrict business hours and designate mandatory closure days to establish sound labor order, protect workers' health rights, and promote the coexistence and development of small and medium distribution businesses when deemed necessary."

The Democratic Party of Korea Daegu City Party added, "Considering the legislative intent and social consensus process of the mandatory closure of large discount stores, sufficient discussions with stakeholders are necessary. However, despite opposition from small and medium merchants including the Seomun Market Merchants Association and large discount store workers, the city proceeded with unilateral notification without concrete consultation. On the day of the agreement ceremony, about 20 female workers opposing the unilateral decision were forcibly removed using police force."

The statement further said, "This decision makes life more difficult for the majority of small and medium merchants in Daegu to guarantee the operating profits of large corporate discount stores. It is a thunderclap for small merchants who have not yet recovered from being pushed to the brink by COVID-19. Therefore, most merchants, including those in traditional markets, have opposed it. No matter how much they talk about 'citizen inconvenience,' the 'weekday conversion of mandatory closure for large discount stores' is a 'Blue House-initiated commissioned legislation' that tramples on the lives of Daegu's small and medium merchants and large discount store workers," raising their voices.

The Democratic Party of Korea urged, "How long will the People Power Party Daegu mayor and local government heads act only as enforcers for the Blue House instead of serving the lives of Daegu citizens? We strongly condemn the 'Agreement for Changing the Mandatory Closure Day of Large Discount Stores to Weekdays' and demand its immediate withdrawal."

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