Big supermarkets are mandated to take two self - enforced days off per month in a bid to provide protection for traditional market . However , on the same days when they close , traditional markets are also taking their day off , only to cause inconveniences to customers . According to the Maeil Business Newspaper ’ s inside - out survey on 276 traditional markets in Seoul , 69 traditional markets closed on December 14 , the date for mandatory closure of big supermarkets . In other words , 25 percent of the entire traditional market took their day off on the same day of big supermarkets ’ mandatory closure . On this day , three out of four traditional markets closed in Dongjak - gu while four out of six traditional markets took their days off in Yongsan - gu . Additionally , the Maeil Business and Hankook Research ’ s poll on 1 , 000 consumers , 72 percent responded that they were unable to shop due to big supermarkets ’ mandatory work stoppage . It is hard to conclude that forced closure is the way to reinvigorate the traditional market . After the measure becomes effective , both traditional market and big super markets suffered from declining sales . In other words , even though big markets take their days off , this does not lead to an increase in the number of traditional market ’ s customers . Instead , customers are going for other retail channels including online shopping . “ The mandatory work stoppage aims at reinvigorating the sagging traditional market , but it did not consider violations of consumers ’ rights and damages done to big marts ’ partners , ” Choi Young - hong , professor at Korea University , explained . “ We should reconsider the way to give a boost to both traditional market and big supermarket and assuage consumer convenience . ”[ⓒ Maeil Business Newspaper & mk . co . kr , All rights reserved ]