'Controversy Over Alleyway Commercial Area Infringement' Incheon Guwol-dong E-Mart Traders Building Permit

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The construction of the Emart Traders in Guwol-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, which sparked controversy over infringement on local commercial districts, has been approved.

Namdong-gu announced on the 7th that it has approved the warehouse-style large mart construction plan submitted by Emart.

Accordingly, Emart will officially proceed with the project to build a warehouse-style large mart with a total floor area of 49,000㎡, consisting of one basement floor and four above-ground floors, on a 32,000㎡ site in Guwol-dong, Namdong-gu.

Emart had previously applied for construction permission last month after the large mart construction plan passed the review of the Namdong-gu Architectural Committee. Emart plans to fulfill the conditions set by the Architectural Committee, such as registering the large-scale store, before starting construction.

This project site is included in the "Traditional Commercial Preservation Zone," which has caused controversy in the local community regarding whether to grant construction permission. In 2011, according to the Distribution Industry Development Act, the district designated an area within a 1km radius of six traditional markets in the region as the Traditional Commercial Preservation Zone.

Perspective view of E-Mart Traders in Guwol-dong, Incheon

Local civic groups and merchants have opposed the construction, stating, "The Guwol Wholesale Traditional Market is located only about 400 meters in a straight line from the site where Traders will be built," and "To protect the commercial district of the local traditional market, the construction of Traders should not be permitted."

Conscious of this public opinion, the Namdong-gu Architectural Committee had previously halted the construction approval for Traders twice, but ultimately conditionally approved it at the third review in December last year.

According to related ordinances, to open a large-scale store in the Traditional Commercial Preservation Zone, a commercial district impact assessment report and a regional cooperation plan must be submitted, and consultations with the local government’s Distribution Industry Win-Win Development Council must be conducted.

Since Emart has not yet completed the related permits and approvals, the specific construction start date has not been determined.

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