Hampyeong-gun in South Jeolla Province is working to stamp out price gouging and promote compliance with price-display rules, aiming to build a fair consumer environment this summer.
Hampyeong-gun, part of the proposed Jeolla-Gwangju integrated special city in South Jeolla Province, has launched a price-stability campaign aimed at heading off price instability at summer resort areas and fostering a healthy consumer culture during the vacation season.
The county announced Thursday that it carried out the "Summer Vacation Season Price Stability Campaign" over two days — on Aug. 7 and Wednesday.
The campaign was organized to create an environment where vacationers and local residents can shop and spend with confidence during the summer holiday period.
On Aug. 7, the county held the campaign at the water park inside Hampyeong Expo Park. It followed up Wednesday with a second event at and around Hampyeongcheonji Traditional Market, joined by the market merchants' association and the small business owners' federation.
Through the campaign, the county promoted price stability, called for the elimination of price gouging and other unfair trade practices, encouraged the use of businesses certified for fair pricing, and publicized compliance with price-display regulations.
Particularly at Wednesday's event, which coincided with a market day, county officials distributed price-stability promotional materials and goods to residents and merchants, urging them to actively join efforts to eradicate price gouging and unfair trade practices and to comply with price-display rules.
"Both consumers and small business owners are struggling amid rising prices during the vacation season," Hampyeong-gun Mayor Lee Nam-o said. "We will do our utmost to create a fair and trustworthy trading environment where vacationers and residents alike can visit with peace of mind, through ongoing on-site inspections and campaigns."
Meanwhile, Hampyeong-gun regularly monitors local price trends through a network of price-monitoring agents and publishes the findings on the county's official website in an effort to build a transparent and reliable consumer environment.
kkm9971@heraldcorp.com
