Seocho District in southern Seoul will change the mandatory closing day for big-box stores to Wednesdays or Mondays from Sundays starting from the end of January next year. The move comes as part of an effort to alleviate resident inconvenience.

Seocho District Office announced on Monday that it will sign a mutual agreement with the Seocho-Gangnam supermarket cooperative and the Korean Chainstores Association this week to apply the change.

Currently, three discount stores and 32 mid-sized supermarkets in the district close on the second and fourth Sundays.

This mandatory closure of big box stores and large supermarkets was initially introduced to boost small local commerce. While other regions, such as Daegu and Cheongju, had previously switched their mandatory closing days to weekdays in February and May, respectively, Seocho District’s recent decision marks the first among Seoul districts. This move may prompt other districts to follow suit in changing their mandatory closures.

Following the signing of the mutual agreement, Seocho District office will issue a month-long administrative notice, aiming to implement the change from the end of January next year. The mutual agreement also includes provisions for supplying the local small and medium-sized retail sector with affordable and high-quality products from large supermarkets, and actively supporting the transition of small supermarkets to super supermarkets (SSMs) upon their request.

“Through collaboration with large supermarkets, small and medium-sized retailers, and small business owners, we will not only seek to enhance resident convenience but also to improve the competitiveness and profitability of small and medium-sized retailers,” said an official from the district office.

The expected change in the mandatory closing day for large supermarkets to weekdays occurs after approximately 11 years. The city designated the second and fourth Sundays of every month as the mandatory closing day for large supermarkets in February 2013.

By Choi Jae-won and Chang Iou-chung

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