Should Seoul Myeongdong (明洞) Live Up to Its Name?

Jung-gu Cracks Down on Illegal Activities in Myeongdong for a Month to Prevent Tourist Inconvenience ▲ Revises Street Vendor Regulations This Year, Strengthening Rules Including New 'Price Display' Requirement ▲ Deploys 9 Safety Guards in Myeongdong for Continuous Inspections to Upgrade Tourist Environment ▲ Promotes Festivals and Outdoor Advertising Free Display Zones to Revitalize Myeongdong Streets

Myeongdong Festival held last April

Will Seoul Myeongdong live up to its name?

Jung-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Kim Gil-seong) has been intensively cracking down on various illegal activities causing inconvenience to tourists by patrolling the streets of Myeongdong for a month starting from the end of July. Although some stores initially expressed dissatisfaction with the daily crackdowns conducted without breaks on nights and weekends, after a month, the Myeongdong streets are now evaluated to have regained order.

The crackdowns will continue until the end of the year. Model street vendors will receive benefits such as badge attachment and inspection exemptions, while street vendors who continue to operate irresponsibly, such as third-party businesses, will be monitored closely.

The district plans to deploy nine safety security officers in Myeongdong within this year. Myeongdong safety security officers will monitor tourist safety and crack down on various illegal activities. The tourism environment in Myeongdong is expected to be further upgraded.

A "price display regulation" will also be newly established in the street vendor operation rules. Jung-gu announced at the end of last month that the Myeongdong area would be designated as a mandatory price display zone. From October, all retail stores or retail stores within large-scale stores must display prices, or they will face fines of up to 10 million KRW. However, since street vendors are not subject to the mandatory price display system, the district plans to newly establish a "price display regulation" in the "street vendor operation rules" to provide grounds for sanctioning "non-display" and "false display" of prices.

Although street vendors are not subject to the mandatory price display system, Jung-gu designated this area as a mandatory price display zone to improve the overall image of the Myeongdong tourism special zone and to create a commercial atmosphere where not only general stores but also street vendors comply. Strong recommendations for each street vendor to display price tags also aim to correct the practice of charging tourists higher prices.

Currently, 359 street vendors operate on alternate days in Myeongdong. Street vendors were legalized through the 2016 Real-Name Street Vendor System. This system absorbs street vendors into the formal system by allowing temporary road occupancy, enabling stable operation. Its main purpose is to prevent disorderly proliferation of street vendors, eradicate street vendor leasing and sales, and support low-income groups to become self-reliant.

During this intensive crackdown on street vendors, the district caught 39 cases of third-party business and 11 cases of alternate-day violations and issued administrative sanctions. In cases of non-cooperation or absence of operators, administrative guidance was issued, totaling 225 cases. Administrative guidance was also implemented for 84 cases involving piled-up goods or hygiene issues. For illegal street vendors operating without permission, 6 warnings, 3 voluntary cleanups, and 1 case each of forced removal and fine imposition were carried out.

In addition to street vendors, the district visited a total of 70 places, including 10 cosmetics sales stores where tourist complaints frequently occur, to investigate product labeling and educate and distribute promotional materials to ensure proper price display.

Weekend cleaning staff increased from 2 to 6, and 4 additional trash bins were installed within the tourism special zone. A total of 95 cases of illegal dumping were caught, resulting in fines totaling 4 million KRW.

Illegal advertisements such as unauthorized signboards, balloon-shaped signboards, banners, and flyers were also inspected. The use of balloon signboards (air lights), which pose fire hazards, was declared illegal, and voluntary cleanup was encouraged. A full survey of protruding signboards was conducted, inspecting 1,546 signboards in Myeongdong alone. Through this, 3 ownerless signboards were removed, and fines totaling 6 million KRW were imposed. For illegal advertisements, a total of 8 administrative sanctions, including forced removal and fines, were issued.

Hygiene management for food was also thoroughly conducted. 312 copies each of self-inspection checklists and hygiene management manuals were distributed to street vendors selling food, and food hygiene consulting was conducted for 820 food service establishments. For establishments with serious violations or many issues, hygiene inspections and administrative sanctions were carried out, resulting in 15 fines, 9 correction orders or business suspensions, 1 involuntary cancellation, and 1 prosecution for unregistered businesses.

Going forward, street vendors handling food will be encouraged to wear cooking-specific clothing and masks to manage food safety more securely. A clause requiring submission of health examination results for food-handling street vendors will also be added to the street vendor operation rules.

Additionally, the district is preparing various events to revitalize tourism in Myeongdong. On the 21st, a commemorative event for the "Visit Korea Year" will be held in cooperation with the Korea Tourism Organization, and on the 25th, a cultural tourism activation business agreement will be signed. From the 26th to October 4th, a promotional booth for the 2023-2024 Visit Korea Year Welcome Week will also be operated.

Myeongdong Tourism Special Zone’s selection in the first round of the "2nd Outdoor Advertising Free Display Zone" evaluation is also expected to add charm to Myeongdong. If finally selected, large electronic billboards, media poles, and media facades can be installed throughout Myeongdong. This will allow Myeongdong to rise as a landmark representing South Korea, like New York’s Times Square or London’s Piccadilly Circus.

Kim Gil-seong, Jung-gu District Mayor, stated, “As a result of this intensive crackdown, Myeongdong is regaining order, and we will continue to manage it so that it can maintain its reputation as a representative tourist destination.” He added, “From October 6th to 8th, we will hold the Myeongdong ‘Street Food & Pub Festival’ to invigorate tourism in Myeongdong and do our best to prepare so that the Myeongdong Outdoor Advertising Free Display Zone passes the final evaluation.”

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