Busan Proposes Shift to Weekday Mandatory Closure Days for Major Supermarkets

To rejuvenate the local economy and promote harmony between large and small retailers, the city of Busan, in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, hosted a roundtable discussion to announce plans to shift mandatory closure days for major supermarkets to weekdays. The meeting, held in the city hall's video conference room at 2 p.m., saw the participation of key figures including Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon, Minister of Trade, Industry, and Energy An Duk-geun, district mayors, and industry stakeholders.

Under the current regulations governed by the Distribution Industry Development Act, local governments are mandated to designate two closure days per month for large retail outlets, typically on public holidays. However, with consensus among stakeholders, these closure days can be shifted to regular weekdays, a policy change that aims to balance work-life for supermarket employees and stimulate small and medium-sized business (SME) growth by reducing weekend competition from larger counterparts.

This initiative comes in the wake of the government's policy announcement on January 22 to rationalize business regulations for large supermarkets, aiming to alleviate inconveniences faced by local residents and stimulate the regional economy. The proposal to shift closure days to weekdays follows a series of agreements and requests from various local business associations and chambers of commerce, reflecting a collective desire to support the struggling local retail sector amidst a rapidly changing market environment dominated by online sales.

The roundtable outlined the phased implementation of this policy, with five districts (Dong, Saha, Gangseo, Yeonje, and Suyeong) planning to initiate the change by May, followed by an additional 11 by July. Discussions also covered potential strategies for mutual growth and support between large and small retailers, including the operation of special sales areas for SME products within large supermarkets, collaborative marketing efforts, and enhanced welfare measures for supermarket employees.

Minister An Duk-geun highlighted the policy's potential to significantly improve the living conditions of working couples and young single-person households, thereby contributing to slowing down the rapid aging population issue in Busan. He also expressed optimism that this local initiative could spark national interest in adopting similar measures.

Mayor Park Heong-joon emphasized the urgency of collaborative efforts to bolster the competitiveness of local retail markets, acknowledging the recent closures of six major supermarkets in Busan as indicative of the broader challenges faced by the local economy. He reaffirmed the city's commitment to supporting policies that facilitate co-prosperity and economic revitalization.