“Politicians who back the bill will find no footing in neighborhood or traditional markets”
“We’ll even file a constitutional challenge… We will hold pro‑bill politicians accountable”
Small‑business organizations called on lawmakers to withdraw a proposed amendment to the Distribution Industry Development Act that would permit early‑morning deliveries by large supermarkets. Representatives of those groups went to the constituency office of Rep. Kim Dong‑a, the bill’s sponsor, to protest and pledged to oppose the measure vigorously.
On March 10, the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprises, the National Merchants’ Federation and the Korea Supermarket Cooperative Association held a press conference in front of Rep. Kim’s constituency office in Hongje‑dong, Seodaemun‑gu, Seoul, demanding the bill be withdrawn.
Song Chi‑young, chair of the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprises, said in a statement that pushing to allow early‑morning deliveries by large supermarkets is tantamount to a declaration of war on neighborhood commerce, especially as small businesses are already straining under deteriorating economic conditions. He added that limits on operating hours and mandatory holiday closures have been symbols of coexistence and the last line of defense that allowed traditional markets and neighborhood shops to survive.
Song warned that the rapid rise of online platforms has already pushed small businesses to the brink, and giving large supermarkets—with their capital and logistics networks—an added advantage through early‑morning deliveries would choke off neighborhood commerce. He characterized the proposal not as fair competition but as a “brutal slaughter” of small businesses by capital.
Addressing politicians, Song said, “Don’t destroy the whole house to get rid of the bedbugs.” He vowed that small‑business groups would not concede an inch or accept any settlement from the ruling party and government, and he warned they would block any politician who supports the bill from gaining a foothold in neighborhood and traditional markets.
Hong Cheon‑pyo, head of the Seoul region for the Korea Supermarket Cooperative Association, said some neighborhood supermarkets saw sales fall by more than 30 percent after a large supermarket opened nearby. He warned that if large supermarkets come to dominate early‑morning deliveries, small neighborhood supermarkets and local shops will be unable to compete on logistics.
Yu Deok‑hyun, chair of the Seoul Small Business Association, said roughly 7.9 million small business owners operate in the country and, including their families, tens of millions rely on them for their livelihood. He cautioned that allowing early‑morning deliveries by large supermarkets could erase even the minimal space left for neighborhood commerce and collapse the local markets small businesses have struggled to preserve.
In a resolution, the small‑business groups demanded the withdrawal of the bill allowing early‑morning deliveries by large supermarkets; legislation to mandate holiday closures; inclusion of large food‑service supermarkets under regulatory oversight; and concrete support measures to promote coexistence with neighborhood commerce.
They also issued a warning: “If the ruling party and government insist on allowing early‑morning deliveries, small‑business groups will file a constitutional challenge with the Constitutional Court. We will hold pro‑bill politicians accountable,” they said.
