Gyeonggi Province Supports 4.3 Billion Won for Modernization of 111 Traditional Markets and Enhanced Fire Safety This Year

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province announced on the 3rd that it has selected traditional markets and shopping districts within the province to receive support for "facility modernization" and "fire safety network construction" projects aimed at creating a safe and convenient shopping environment for traditional markets this year.

To this end, the province conducted a public recruitment targeting traditional markets, shopping districts, and commercial district revitalization zones within the province starting in October of last year, and held a selection review committee last month to finalize target sites by comprehensively considering urgency, merchant consent rate fulfillment, and budget scale.

First, the "traditional market facility modernization" project is being promoted to secure competitiveness of traditional markets by significantly improving commercial functions through facility modernization tailored to changing consumer trends and to enhance customer convenience.

A total of 12 locations, including Wonjong Central Market and Jeongok Traditional Market, have been selected as project sites. These locations will receive a total of 3.02 billion won in project funds to support installation and renovation of convenience facilities such as arcades, delivery centers, customer support centers, and public restrooms.

The "traditional market fire safety network construction" project strengthens initial response capabilities of traditional markets by improving deteriorated fire safety facilities for prevention and response, and establishes comprehensive safety measures including post-incident compensation to help traditional markets smoothly return to normalcy after fires.

A total of 99 locations, including Motgol Complex Market and Ilsan Traditional Market, across 4 categories—safety facility improvement, fire safety personnel, fire package insurance, and safety expansion—have been selected as project targets, with a total of 1.26 billion won in project funds to be invested.

Specifically, 350 million won will be invested in safety facility improvements for 7 markets including Namun Fashion 1st Street Market; 250 million won for fire safety personnel support for 16 markets (29 personnel) including Yeokgok Sangsan Market; and 560 million won for fire package insurance enrollment support for 41 markets (approximately 3,400 stores) including Tongbok Market.

One billion won in project funds will be invested in the safety expansion category. Support will be provided in two areas: installation of "automated external defibrillators" for 19 locations (19 units) including Gwangmyeong Saemaul Market and installation of "visible fire extinguishers" for 16 locations (64 units) including Osan Wondong Shopping District.

As a result, project targets include a total of 111 traditional markets and shopping districts, which will receive 4.28 billion won in project funds from the provincial budget.

The province plans to conduct additional recruitment in March for facility modernization and safety facility improvement categories where remaining budget (3.6 billion won) has been generated. Detailed information will be announced on the Gyeonggi Province website at a later date.

Jo Jang-seok, Director of the Small Business Division, said, "We plan to actively promote projects to strengthen the competitiveness and stability of traditional markets so that market economy can be revitalized," and added, "We request the active interest and participation of traditional markets throughout the province in future additional recruitment as well."