Minister Oh Young-joo: "Actively Resolving Issues in the Distribution Process of Onnuri Gift Certificates"

Visit to Cheongju Yukgeori General Market
Listening to On-site Voices

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced that Minister Oh Young-joo visited Yukgeori General Market located in Sangdang-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk on the 31st to listen to the difficulties faced by market merchants.

Cheongju Yukgeori General Market, formed after 1950, is a representative traditional market of Cheongju and is considered the largest market in the Chungcheong region. Yoo Hyun-mo, head of the Yukgeori General Market Merchants Association, said, “The proportion of second- and third-generation young merchants starting businesses in the market is relatively high, and there are many famous stores, which seem to bring vitality to the entire market.”

Minister Oh Young-joo of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups visited Yukgeori General Market in Cheongju, Chungbuk on the 31st, shopping and encouraging the merchants.

Minister Oh said, “When visiting traditional markets, I often encounter an increase in second- and third-generation young merchants starting businesses,” adding, “Yukgeori General Market is one such place where existing merchants and young merchants are harmoniously coexisting.” He continued, “The government is focusing on the digitalization of traditional markets and shopping districts, including generational change and customer base transition. In particular, various efforts are being made to digitally convert Onnuri gift certificates to attract younger consumers.”

Lee Chung-hwan, president of the National Merchants Association, who visited the site with Minister Oh, said, “I definitely feel that the awareness of Onnuri gift certificates has increased,” and added, “As awareness has grown, merchants themselves are stepping up to solve various chronic problems related to the use of paper Onnuri gift certificates.”

In response, Minister Oh said, “Since Onnuri gift certificates were introduced to revitalize consumption in traditional markets and shopping districts, we will maximize their purpose by continuously expanding digital gift certificates for consumers’ convenience and actively resolving various issues arising in the distribution process.”

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