Korean Job Discussion Forums

[crsandus]

My co-teacher mentioned (and I saw the signs at my local E-mart) that supermarkets will be closed Sunday. She explained the reason why the stores won't be open but something got lost in translation. Someone out there care to enlighten me? Thank you.

[schwa]

Its aimed at helping out mom&pop operations. More details here:
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2012/04/182_108617.html

[alongway]

That's stupid.

It might have some legitimacy if mom and pop shops carried half the stuff that these places do, let alone could remotely match their prices.

but all you're doing is hurting consumers by forcing them to pay higher prices, and not letting them one of the few days they get off to enjoy some shopping.

[hogwonguy1979]

Yeah saw the sign at the Yongsan Station E-Mart, they will be closed tomorrow and next Sunday for the same bs reason.

I wouldn't go near one of those places on a Sunday afternoon anyhow but it still sucks for people who work 6 days a week. At least I knew if I needed something on a Sunday or needed to go to a pharmacy E-Mart was there.

Whats next Korea adopting Blue Laws (if you are old enough and from the states you'll remember those)

[Lazio]

[Jake_Kim]

It's a political gimmick that no one actually thinks helping anyone.

[Captain Corea]

It makes me want to avoid those mom and pop stores.

[alongway]

[coralreefer_1]

The thing I find most backwards about this policy is that in the end it simply wont help the mom and pop stores.

I mean seriously, if they are already underwater as it is, 2-3 days a month when the megamarts are closed is not really going to make a substantial difference in the daily total of the mom/pop store. Sure they may see a bump, but its not likely to make up for the other 27 days of the month, cause folks to shun mom and pop stores even more out of the hassle their lobby has caused, and wind up backfiring.

Imagine pinning 2000 roaches on the floor under a box..and then suddenly releasing them. what happens? They spread in MANY different directions...so i don't see it likely that any one particular mom/pop mart is going to see a real surge of customers, thereby defeating the purpose.

[ajuma]

This used to be the norm way back when...and in the same era there were shuttle buses from most major apartment complexes that would take you to a mega-store that was too far or too difficult to get to by public transportation.

Will this help mom and pop stores? Very, VERY slightly...and...I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but most of the mom and pop owners shop at the mega stores to stock their shelves, especially where produce is concerned!

[wylies99]

It's a very stupid law that allows the government to close stores on Sunday just because they are popular. If Korean consumers support this then they are fools. All it does is inconvenience shoppers.

Here's an article about it-
http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2951153

[wylies99]

[alongway]

Apparently this won't effect mega stores that are in shopping centres, which my local emart is, so there is some small respite. However, if you live outside Seoul in smaller areas where one of these big box stores is really the main place for shopping it is going to suck.
I suspect if hagwon owners can get the courts to declare a lot of the government meddling as unconstitutional, the big box stores should be able to do the same.

[jondepoer]

Actually, my understanding is that the Yongsan emart is closed. The huge one in the iPark mall. So there goes the megamall exception theory. Confirm or deny?

[alongway]