Five Traditional Markets in Gyeonggi Province, Including Hwaseo Market, Enter Online Shopping Era with Provincial Support

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun Reporter] Five traditional markets in Gyeonggi Province, including Hwaseo Market, Guri Traditional Market, and Bucheon Sangdong Market, have been selected for the '2021 Small Business Owner Online E-Commerce Activation Support Project,' marking the opening of a non-face-to-face, online e-commerce era.

According to the province on the 20th, this project is a new pilot initiative designed to respond to the non-face-to-face economic environment rapidly brought about by COVID-19 and digital transformation, by establishing an online-offline delivery system in traditional markets to increase sales and strengthen competitiveness.

The province solicited participation from traditional markets last month, then held a selection deliberation committee to closely examine business plans and budget execution plans, delivery center size and location, and commercial district status through document review, presentations, and on-site evaluations.

As a result of the review, five traditional markets in the province were selected as target sites—Guri Traditional Market, Bucheon Sangdong Market, Osan Osaek Market, Ilsan Market, and Hwaseo Market—determined to be capable of effective project implementation with high enthusiasm from merchant associations.

These five traditional markets will receive support to establish online-offline delivery systems enabling consumers to order inexpensive and fresh products from traditional markets through Baedalgeukgeup for same-day delivery. To this end, a total of 364 million won will be invested, ranging from a minimum of 23 million won to a maximum of 60 million won per market, supporting platform construction, delivery center construction and remodeling, marketing costs, and product production costs.

In particular, in collaboration with Gyeonggi Province Company, the province plans to open a 'Traditional Market Shopping Corner' function within the public delivery app 'Baedalgeukgeup' to enable consumers to easily shop via smartphone, with support for traditional market merchants beginning in September.

Additionally, for non-selected markets, the province will actively reflect project promotion intent and support necessary online delivery items within the remaining budget to expand or newly initiate currently operating online delivery businesses.

The province expects to further increase consumer accessibility through linkages between Baedalgeukgeup and Gyeonggi regional currency, and to contribute to increased real income for merchants through lower commission rates.

Cho Jang-seok, head of the Small Business Division, said, "In the current situation where online e-commerce is further expanding, traditional markets' entry into online commerce is not an option but a necessity," and added, "Along with the convenience effect of traditional market shopping for consumers, we expect that the use of both regional currency and Onnuri gift certificates will benefit households and local commercial districts."