Gwanak demands big stores close two times per month

The local government of Seoul’s Gwanak District, southern Seoul, said yesterday it will again start ordering large discount store chains and super supermarkets (SSM) within its jurisdiction to close on two days a month and regulate their business hours from Monday. The retailers will be banned from operating between the hours of midnight and 8 a.m. and must close on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. They must first shut on Jan. 13, a Sunday.

The regulation follows a revision to a local law governing such large stores in the district last year that sparked controversy by curbing the number of new outlets they can open in certain areas to protect smaller retailers.

The district office plans to impose fines of up to 30 million won ($28,180) on large retailers that violate the regulation.

Eight SSMs in the district are subject to the regulation.