Excellent Traditional Markets Nationwide Gathered in One Place

2023 National Excellent Market Expo, 'K-Market Fair' Opens

The opening ceremony of the 2023 National Excellent Market Expo, 'K-Market Fair,' was held on the 6th in Incheon. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced that the K-Market Fair, featuring excellent traditional markets nationwide, will be held under the theme "Back to the Market, The Market in My Life" until the 8th.

This expo involves about 150 traditional markets nationwide. A total of around 120 exhibition and sales booths, including traditional market zones and food stalls, were set up. At the opening ceremony, government awards such as the Seoktap Industrial Medal and Industrial Merit Medal were presented to those who contributed to revitalizing traditional markets and shopping districts. This year, the Seoktap Industrial Medal was awarded to Jeong Dongsik, president of the National Federation of Merchants, and the Industrial Merit Medal was awarded to Chu Gwiseong, head of the Seoul branch of the National Federation of Merchants.

Jeong Dongsik, president of the National Federation of Merchants, received the Seoktap Industrial Medal in recognition of his efforts to promote the modernization of traditional market management, laying the foundation for market development, and contributing to enhancing the self-sustainability of traditional markets through training specialized personnel. Chu Gwiseong, head of the Seoul branch of the National Federation of Merchants, was awarded the Industrial Merit Medal for leading voluntary quarantine activities in traditional markets, contributing to the early overcoming of COVID-19, and attracting many customers, thereby revitalizing traditional markets.

Minister Lee Young said, "Markets are no longer just places to sell goods but will become cultural spaces in our lives. We will strive to discover such successful models and spread them nationwide," adding, "We plan to continue the Golden Year Companion Festival at traditional markets nationwide until the 8th to support small business owners in traditional markets who are struggling with high interest rates and high prices."

Minister Lee also added, "We will establish a program to refinance high-interest loans with low-interest policy funds and expand the employment insurance budget so that workers can receive benefits such as unemployment benefits equivalent to those of employees."

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