Staff from the province's economic, industrial, health and welfare, and forestry policy divisions join shopping drives at local markets; visits to welfare facilities also part of the effort
A movement to boost traditional market vendors ahead of the chuseok holiday season is spreading from the public sector to public institutions and on to socially conscious private businesses.
In Gangwon Province, the practice of buying goods at traditional markets has taken hold across nearly all levels of the provincial civil service.
At the provincial government alone, the economic, industrial, health and welfare, and forestry and environment divisions all recently joined efforts to support traditional market vendors. Municipal and county officials have also been leading by example in their own drives to revive local markets.
According to the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province on Sunday, the economic division visited Wonju Jungang Market on Friday ahead of the chuseok holiday to hold a traditional market shopping event, then called on local social welfare facilities to deliver gift packages.
The shopping event was aimed particularly at encouraging wider use of traditional markets, and staff took the opportunity to hear directly from local vendors about the challenges they face ahead of the holiday.
After the shopping event, Economic Division Director Kim Mun-gi and colleagues visited Sangaewon, a residential welfare facility for the elderly in Haenggu-dong, Wonju. They spoke with facility staff, delivered gift packages, and shared in the holiday spirit with residents.
The industrial division headed to Gangneung the same day. Industrial Division Director Han Yeong-seon and staff toured shops inside Gangneung Jungang Market, purchasing holiday staples and locally grown produce and specialty goods to promote traditional market use and boost consumption.
Staff also had lunch at small businesses and affordable eateries inside the market, each paying their own way, and spent time chatting with vendors.
About 100 staff from the health and welfare division descended on Sincheorwon Market, temporarily sending customer numbers sharply higher at the modest-sized market. They shopped, shared a Dutch-treat lunch, and visited three social welfare facilities in the area to deliver gift packages.
Welfare and Health Division Director Yu Ji-yeong said she hoped the effort would encourage traditional market vendors and small business owners struggling with high prices and sluggish consumer spending. "We will continue to look out for our neighbors in need and strengthen practical support," she added.
The forestry policy division and the Southern Branch of the Forest Science Research Institute held a chuseok traditional market shopping event the same day at Hwangji Jayu Market in Taebaek.
Participating staff browsed the market, purchasing ritual food offerings and daily necessities for the holiday, shared lunch at a market restaurant, listened to vendors' concerns, and pledged their support for reviving the local commercial district.
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