Find Ways to Revitalize Traditional Markets ... Gyeongbuk Provincial Council Research Group Meeting

The ‘Gyeongbuk Province Traditional Market Revitalization Research Group,’ a research group of Gyeongbuk Provincial Council members led by Representative Bae Jin-seok, came together to find ways to revive the declining traditional markets.

On the 6th, the research group held a field meeting titled “A Study on Changes in Consumption Patterns After COVID-19 and Response Strategies for Traditional Markets” at the large conference room of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Government Eastern Office in Pohang, Gyeongbuk.

Members of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Assembly and researchers attending the "Traditional Market Revitalization Plan" meeting are taking a commemorative photo. (From the second person on the left: Assemblyman Choi Byung-geun, Assemblyman Kim Hee-soo, Assemblyman Bae Jin-seok, Assemblyman Lee Chun-woo)

This research has been conducted since December last year by six members, including Representative Bae Jin-seok, Kim Hee-su, Park Chae-a, Lee Chun-woo, Choi Byung-geun, and Hwang Doo-young, who formed the ‘Gyeongbuk Province Traditional Market Revitalization Research Group.’ After the mid-term report meeting on the 22nd of last month, despite the non-session period, they demonstrated passionate legislative activities by actively visiting local traditional markets to directly experience the market atmosphere and carefully examine revitalization measures for traditional markets in the Gyeongbuk region.

During the meeting, Representative Lee Chun-woo emphasized the need to analyze the structure and operation of thriving traditional markets nationwide and propose alternatives that can be applied to traditional markets within the province. Representative Choi Byung-geun mentioned the necessity of incentive policies for business succession or the influx of young entrepreneurs in response to the aging of traditional market merchants and highlighted the need for measures to address vacant stores within traditional markets.

Representative Kim Hee-su expressed concern over the polarization within markets, where consumer interest is concentrated only on specific products despite continuous budget support for traditional and conventional markets. He stressed the need to develop and disseminate various cultural contents of traditional markets beyond product purchases and emphasized the importance of ongoing education for merchants.

Bae Jin-seok, the head of the research group, pointed out that although continuous budget investments have significantly improved the hardware aspects such as equipment and facilities of traditional markets, additional policies are needed to strengthen the software and dormant aspects of traditional markets. He urged the research team to present selective solutions applicable to traditional markets through this research project.

Professor Kim Jun-hong of Pohang University, who is responsible for the research, expressed gratitude for the interest and suggestions from the research group members and stated, “At the final report meeting scheduled for the end of April, we will reflect the FGI (Focus Group Interview) analysis and various opinions presented by the research group to propose the attractiveness and revitalization factors of traditional markets.”

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