The appearance of a shopping complex in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul on the 7th./Photo = Reporter Mikyung Lee
“You say that a multi-purpose shopping mall that you visit with your family on weekends will take two weekends off each month? It’s more like a regulation of a consumer’s cultural life than a regulation of a distribution company.”
When a reporter asked about the amendment to the Distribution Industry Development Act, which contained the mandatory closure of the complex shopping mall, housewife Kim Mo, 37, shook his head and replied:
In addition, the Democratic Party announced the handling of the amendment to the Distribution Industry Development Act (distribution law), which enforces mandatory closure of complex shopping malls such as Starfield and Lotte Mall twice a month. Not only the related distribution industry, but also consumers are voicing opposition, saying, “It will not be effective.” It is pointed out that it is not in line with the purpose of the law to protect small business owners as the number of shopping malls and traditional market users generally do not overlap.
Consumers “Wouldn’t go to the traditional market just because the shopping mall is closed”
The appearance of a shopping complex in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul on the 7th./Photo = Reporter Mikyung Lee
The Democratic Party is planning to deal with the distribution law that applies the’twice a month business limit’ regulation in the case of a multi-storey shopping mall like a hypermarket at an extraordinary assembly in February. The bill was based on the legislation proposed by the Democratic Party Policy Committee Chairman Hong Ik-pyo in July of last year.
On the 7th, consumers who met at the’IFC Mall’, a complex shopping mall located in Yeouido, Seoul, pointed out that “there is no effect because the demands of the shopping mall and the traditional market do not overlap.”
Son Mo (33), a 30-year-old office worker, evaluated the distribution method, saying, “If a shopping mall is closed, consumers will not visit the traditional market.”
The housewife’s aunt, 33, also raised his voice as a bill that lacked a sense of reality. Mr. Lee said, “Who will come to the complex shopping mall to buy groceries and daily necessities sold in traditional markets such as tofu, herbs, and sweets?” I will use it.”
In fact, it has been proved in numbers that the closure of hypermarkets, which were previously regulated, does not contribute significantly to vitalization of the traditional market. As a result of asking 465 hypermarket consumers in December of last year where they shop when they are closed, only 5.81% of consumers visit traditional markets. 19.7% of respondents said that they do not shop at all. In light of this, even if the shopping mall is closed, it is unlikely that consumers will go to the traditional market.
Consumers have raised doubts about the effectiveness of the amendment to the distribution law, even though cultural and leisure facilities are one of the pillars of the complex shopping mall.
Mr. Kim (37), who raises one-year-old and three-year-old children, said, “The complex shopping mall is a place to spend time with your family on weekends.” Said. He added, “I sometimes walk around the mall with a stroller and sit down on a cafe or aisle chair to chat. It comes in meaning,” he said.
Hong Mo, a 33-year-old office worker, said, “In most cases, people visit complex shopping malls for use in movie theaters or bookstores or for meals.” “Isn’t it possible to replace it?” He pointed out, “What is needed now is not to regulate complex shopping malls, but to utilize the characteristics of traditional markets.”
Starfield Library in Starfield COEX Mall, Gangnam-gu, Seoul./Photo = Provided by Shinsegae Property
Most of the large shopping malls in the suburbs where visitors flock on weekends are complaining that a blow is inevitable if the bill passes. Experts are concerned that if non-face-to-face demand is soaring due to the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19), if the restrictions on weekend closures are overlapped, it could endanger deaths.
Lee Han-sang, a professor of business administration at Korea University, pointed out that “not only are consumers uncomfortable, but also the self-employed people who have entered the shopping mall will suffer a lot of damage.” Professor Lee explained, “For consumers, the complex shopping mall is both a sales space and a’experience space’.”
Reporter Lee Mi-kyung, Hankyung.com [email protected]