{"id":2204119,"date":"2024-03-07T17:12:56","date_gmt":"2024-03-07T08:12:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2204119"},"modified":"2024-03-08T01:36:22","modified_gmt":"2024-03-07T16:36:22","slug":"south-koreas-retail-war-pits-consumer-convenience-against-worker-welfare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/03\/south-koreas-retail-war-pits-consumer-convenience-against-worker-welfare\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korea’s retail war pits consumer convenience against worker welfare"},"content":{"rendered":"
The South Korean government\u2019s proposed revision to the <\/span>Distribution Industry Development Act<\/span><\/a> has sparked a heated debate between advocates for consumer convenience and those concerned about the well-being of large-scale supermarket workers.<\/span><\/p>\n The <\/span>proposed changes<\/span><\/a> would allow large supermarkets to operate on Sundays and public holidays while mandating closures on two weekdays each month, aiming to accommodate the needs of dual-income families and individuals living alone who face challenges with restricted shopping hours during the workweek.<\/span><\/p>\n However, critics argue that the government\u2019s focus on consumer convenience fails to adequately address the potential negative impacts on supermarket workers and small businesses, ultimately prioritizing the interests of large retail conglomerates over the welfare of employees and local communities.<\/span><\/p>\n ARGUMENTS FOR REFORM<\/b><\/p>\n \u201cIn order to alleviate the inconvenience to the public caused by large supermarkets\u2019 weekend closures, the mandatory rest days must be swiftly switched to weekdays,\u201d vice trade minister Kang Kyung-sung <\/span>stated<\/span><\/a> during a press conference last month.<\/span><\/p>\n Under the current measure, aimed at fostering small businesses and traditional markets, large supermarkets like E-mart, Homeplus and Lotte Mart must close for two designated days each month, typically the second and fourth Sundays, a practice in place since 2012.<\/span><\/p>\n These supermarkets must also cease all operations, including online deliveries, from midnight until 10 a.m. each day, in addition to their mandated closure days.<\/span><\/p>\n The government\u2019s new plan seeks to mitigate the disruptions faced by the public due to the existing weekend closure policy.<\/span><\/p>\n Vice minister Kang emphasized during the press conference the need to transition mandatory closures to weekdays to alleviate inconveniences caused by weekend closures and called for regulatory improvements to expand early morning deliveries nationwide.<\/span><\/p>\n While no representative from the Korean Mart Labor Union was present at the government forum, Lee Su-won, the head of the Dongdaemun-gu Market Activation Team, reflected upon the concerns raised by supermarket workers and called for \u201clarge companies to proactively adopt policies that prioritize the welfare of their employees.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n