Seoul district mayors visit traditional markets, share rice cakes ahead of chuseok

With chuseok just over a week away, Seoul district offices are boosting the holiday spirit through traditional market shopping campaigns and community sharing events for vulnerable residents.

Jungnang-gu District Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi and Gwangjin-gu District Mayor Kim Kyung-ho visited traditional markets to buy holiday goods and hear concerns from vendors, while Dongdaemun-gu District Mayor Choi Dong-min joined volunteers to make songpyeon rice cakes and deliver them to neighbors in need.

Ryu has been visiting seven traditional markets and the Taelung alley shopping district in Jungnang-gu through Friday as part of a pre-chuseok shopping initiative.

Ryu and district staff toured the markets, encouraged vendors and purchased ritual food offerings and produce. The shopping campaign began at Sagajeong Market on Tuesday and runs through Jungnang Dongbu Market on Friday.

Jungnang-gu also conducted safety inspections covering electrical, fire and gas systems at its traditional markets from Aug. 31 to Sept. 4, so residents can shop with peace of mind.

"I hope residents who visit our traditional markets and alley shopping districts for chuseok will feel the warmth of the holiday season and that vendors will feel encouraged," Ryu said. "Please visit our traditional markets, which are stocked with quality ritual offerings and a wide variety of food, and help bring vitality to our local economy."

Gwangjin-gu District Mayor Kim Kyung-ho has also been running a "chuseok traditional market shopping" campaign from Sept. 11 through Monday to inject energy into the local economy.

Gwangjin-gu staff visit designated traditional markets by department to purchase ritual food offerings and groceries. The eight participating markets are Junggok Jeil Alley Market, Jayang Traditional Market, Hwayang Jeil Alley Market, Yeongdonggyo Alley Market, Norunsan Alley Market, Jayang Han River Traditional Market, Sinseong Traditional Market and Myeongok Market.

Kim has been making the rounds himself to encourage vendors and listen to their concerns. He visited Myeongok Market and Sinseong Traditional Market on Sept. 11, then Jayang Traditional Market on Wednesday, Junggok Jeil Alley Market on Thursday, and Jayang Han River Traditional Market, Norunsan Alley Market and Yeongdonggyo Alley Market on Friday, with Hwayang Jeil Alley Market scheduled for Monday.

"I hope residents will prepare their chuseok tables at traditional markets, where they can find generous hospitality and quality products," Kim said. "We will listen carefully to vendors' voices and continue providing practical support for traditional markets and alley commercial districts."

In Dongdaemun-gu, District Mayor Choi Dong-min joined volunteers to make songpyeon rice cakes and share them with neighbors.

The Dongdaemun-gu Volunteer Center held a "chuseok warmth-sharing" event Wednesday at the Dapsimni 1-dong volunteer center. About 60 people took part, including Choi, volunteers from 15 neighborhood volunteer camps and members of four local volunteer organizations.

The roughly 7,000 songpyeon the participants made by hand were delivered to about 480 vulnerable households in the district. Volunteers from each neighborhood camp visited recipient homes in person to hand over the rice cakes while also checking on residents' wellbeing and living conditions.

The Dongdaemun-gu Volunteer Center also sourced the dough, songpyeon ingredients and other supplies from traditional markets and small local businesses to support the local economy — adding a dimension of community spending to what was already an act of neighborly giving.

Choi himself rolled up his sleeves and made songpyeon alongside the volunteers. "I am delighted to take part in this meaningful event — making songpyeon with volunteers and sharing warmth with our neighbors," he said. "Dongdaemun-gu will continue to put people and community first, building a neighborhood where everyone can feel that warmth."