Four out of five Korean consumers are satisfied with megamarts' shift to weekdays instead of mandatory holidays

It has been found that four out of five local consumers in South Korea who have changed their mandatory closing days at large retail stores to weekdays are satisfied.
A survey of 520 consumers in Seocho-gu and Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, and Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province revealed that 81% were 'satisfied'.
Only 1.2% of respondents were 'not satisfied', while 17.8% answered 'average'. Reasons for satisfaction included 'I can use the hypermarkets any time on weekends'
The reasons cited were, 'Because I can shop at my own leisure on Sundays' (69.8%), 'Because I don't have to worry about large marts being closed' (45.7%), and 'Because I can shop at my own leisure on Sundays' (57.0%).
More than half of the respondents, 53.8%, were in favor of expanding large-scale retailers' mandatory closing days to weekdays to other regions.
Generally, there are intentions to use large-scale marts on Sundays on the 2nd and 4th week of the month, which are mandatory holidays for large-scale marts.
When asked whether they would do so, 76.9% answered "yes." The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry pointed out that the survey showed that the shift of large-scale marts' mandatory holiday to weekdays would have little impact on traditional markets.
According to the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 61% of respondents answered "it has nothing to do with it" to the related question, and 9.4% said that the large marts would have a positive impact on traditional markets by attracting customers.
The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry said in response to the survey results, "Unlike when regulations were introduced in 2012, the competitive relationship between traditional markets and large marts has become virtually irrelevant due to the popularity of online shopping.
"Although the restrictions have become a trend, the perception that they will only increase the inconvenience for consumers has spread," said Chang Geun-moo, president of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Distribution and Logistics Promotion Institute.
There are concerns that the expansion of online shopping platforms will make offline distribution more difficult.
"We need to change the policy direction in terms of convenience and guaranteeing the right to choose," he said. The current Distribution Industry Development Act requires local government leaders to decide on mandatory holiday days for large-scale marts twice a month.
Although work holidays are generally public holidays, they can be decided on days other than public holidays upon agreement with the interested parties.