[Reporter’s Notebook] Convenience Stores Suffering from Half-Baked Policies

Ad Locations Vary Due to Differences in Size and Structure
Policies Should Reflect Industry Characteristics

"Each convenience store has different window locations and structures. A unified effect is impossible."

This is a story shared by a convenience store owner operating in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, one month after the removal of the ‘opaque sheet’ attached to the exterior wall of convenience stores and the posting of no-smoking advertisement posters. The Regulatory Review Division under the Office for Government Policy Coordination implemented the removal of opaque sheets and the attachment of no-smoking advertisement posters simultaneously in May, but the effect on the ground is reported to be lukewarm.

According to the government’s intention, the no-smoking advertisement posters should be attached in the most visible locations that cover the cigarette display stands inside convenience stores. However, since each convenience store differs in size and internal structure, the locations where the no-smoking advertisement posters are attached inevitably vary. In fact, when examining convenience stores in urban and suburban areas, the locations of the no-smoking advertisement posters differed depending on the size of the exterior wall, the number of entrances, and the position of franchise logos. Even with the same no-smoking advertisement poster attached, in certain stores the internal cigarette display stands were clearly visible.

As one store owner pointed out, convenience stores nationwide have different internal and external forms, making it practically difficult to cover cigarette display stands in a uniform manner. The ‘installing refrigerator doors’ project, which started for energy efficiency, was also implemented without considering the differences between large supermarkets and convenience stores. Unlike large supermarkets, convenience stores are smaller in scale, and installing refrigerator doors can cause inconvenience. These policies are representative examples of unilateral and standardized approaches that do not consider the characteristics and realities of the industry, thus failing to produce proper effects on the ground.

When the government implements policies in the industrial and distribution sectors, it is important to fully understand the actual field situation and seek appropriate measures through consultation with businesses. When proposing alternatives, it is necessary to consider the characteristics of the industry and practical issues and respond flexibly. Through this, more effective and realistic policy implementation is possible. Cooperation and effort are needed to continuously develop convenience stores and create an environment where they can grow.

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