Busan to switch mandatory closure days for big marts

A notice on the Sunday closure schedule is put up at a hypermarket chain in downtown Seoul on Christmas Eve. [YONHAP]

The southern port city of Busan is pushing to shift the mandatory closure days for large marts from weekends to weekdays following the adoption of the same initiative in Daegu, Cheongju and some parts in Seoul.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy convened a meeting with Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon convened a meeting on Thursday to discuss ways to achieve such an objective.

Under particular consideration is shifting the closure days from the second and fourth Sundays of each month to Mondays, a Busan city official said.

Officials agreed to move the mandatory closure day in May for five of the 16 districts in Busan, with the remaining 11 districts set to follow suit in July. The decision will be finalized after issuing an administrative notice for enforcement and deliberation at each district council.

"The shift to mandatory weekday closures for large marts will greatly enhance the living standards of dual-income households and young single households," said Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun. "It will help to counter the rapid aging caused by the departure of younger generations from Busan and inject vitality into the sluggish economy of Busan by encouraging spending."

"With the retail landscape rapidly shifting toward online platforms, Busan has witnessed an escalating crisis in local commerce, with six large marts closing in the last five years," said the mayor, highlighting the city's commitment to supporting collaborative efforts between large and small- and mid-sized retailers.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]