"Doing Well, Seogangseok Songpa-gu Mayor"... Having Lunch with Merchants to Observe Livelihood Sites

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa District, to Visit Traditional Markets for a Month Starting February 13
Continuing On-Site Communication by Sharing Lunch with Market Merchants and Focusing on Listening to Difficulties and Preparing Support Measures

Seogang-seok, Mayor of Songpa District (left), is having a meal with Saemaeul Market merchants on the 13th, listening to their difficulties.

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa District, plans to visit all six traditional markets in the area one by one from February 13 to March 13 to encourage merchants and directly observe the livelihood sites.

This visit was conducted to listen to the difficulties of merchants by having lunch together at traditional markets struggling due to the recent cold wave and economic recession, and to prepare support measures.

The district has been providing various support measures to revitalize the stagnant traditional market economy, such as hosting night markets, holiday events, establishing customer centers, and improving aging market facilities.

Additionally, various events such as the Onnuri gift certificate refund campaign are being planned to encourage local residents to visit traditional markets more frequently.

The first visit took place on February 13 at Saemaeul Market. On that day, Mayor Seo had lunch with seven executives of the Saemaeul Market Merchants Association and had an open communication session.

The merchants attending the meeting said, "There have been visits to encourage the market during holidays, but this is the first time to have a meal with the district mayor, so we are grateful," and frankly shared the difficulties of traditional markets that have been declining in recent years due to the influence of large supermarkets and online shopping malls.

Mayor Seo said, "Saemaeul Market has well-improved facilities and seems worthy of being a representative market of Seoul," and sought ways to revitalize management that can induce local residents' participation and restore consumer sentiment to provide practical help to sales. He added, "Since the International Exchange Complex District is nearby, once the project is completed, the local economy is expected to revive further. Also, many foreign tourists visiting Jamsil will be attracted to stop by the nearby Saemaeul Market to experience it," expressing his expectations.

In particular, Mayor Seo plans to use this visit as an opportunity to more closely understand the difficulties of traditional markets and continue field-centered administration for the livelihood of the people. The district promises to prepare various policies for the revitalization of traditional markets and to spare no support.

The market visits will continue in the order of Pungnap Market, Seokchon Market, Bangi Market, and Macheon Central·Macheon Market until March 13.

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa District, said, "Merchants are in a very difficult situation amid the ongoing winter cold wave and economic downturn," and added, "To overcome this period together, Songpa District will actively support so that traditional markets can regain vitality by reflecting voices from the field."

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