The Ministry of SMEs and Startups said Vice Minister Lee Byeong-gweon visited Seoul's Daerim Golmok Market on the 19th to review safety management for the monsoon season and set up a meeting to hear opinions from the merchants' association and experts.
The on-site inspection was carried out to prevent damage from heavy summer rains by preemptively checking flood-prone sections and key safety vulnerabilities in electricity, fire safety, and buildings within traditional markets, and by reviewing emergency response systems.
The Vice Minister inspected the market's drainage facilities, aging electrical equipment, and structures, reviewing how they are managed. For matters identified on-site that require reinforcement, the Vice Minister asked relevant parties to make prompt improvements.
At a subsequent roundtable, representatives of the merchants' association, safety experts, and local government officials discussed ways to strengthen safety management in traditional markets.
The Vice Minister said, "On-site management and participation are paramount for safety in traditional markets," adding, "We ask merchants to join in building a participatory safety culture by routinely inspecting and managing not only individual shops but the safety of the entire market."
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) conducted safety inspections of about 300 traditional markets nationwide from Apr. 20 to today to prepare for monsoon-related disasters. Based on the results, the ministry plans to work with local governments and merchants' associations to improve vulnerable facilities.