The Shincheonji Volunteer Group is continuing efforts to support the revitalisation of traditional markets and neighbourhood commercial districts through activities designed around the characteristics and needs of individual communities. Its initiatives combine environmental cleanup, local events, and direct patronage of neighbourhood businesses to encourage greater activity in local commercial areas.

While online shopping continues to grow, traditional markets face the ongoing challenge of attracting visitors outside peak tourist periods and major holidays. Population decline in many regions has added to the difficulties faced by local merchants, increasing the importance of initiatives that encourage residents to visit and support neighbourhood businesses.

The Donghae Branch of the Shincheonji Volunteer Group entered into an agreement with the Merchants Association of Donghae City’s East Sea Central Market and organised a variety of activities aimed at increasing foot traffic and encouraging market visits.

The programme included balloon-popping games, quizzes, a “regular restaurant” sticker campaign, store stickers and coupons, and random prize drawings. Customers who made purchases at participating market stores received coupons that could be exchanged for goods at the campaign booth.

The event also incorporated traditional Korean activities, including Tuho (arrow throwing), Jegichagi (traditional foot shuttlecock), Yutnori, rope twisting, traditional stick-balancing activities, and sharing sword bean tea.

Additional activities were designed to appeal to multiple generations and evoke memories of earlier times. These included balsam finger dyeing, rubber-shoe throwing games, and a “Bongsunga Academy” experience featuring school uniforms inspired by the 1970s and 1980s.

Park Hyun-ju, a citizen who attended the event, said, “I visited the market for the first time in a while after hearing about the event. The products were reasonably priced, which was great from a consumer’s perspective.”

“If campaigns like this are held regularly, I believe they could be beneficial to the local economy,” Park added.

The volunteer group is also conducting ongoing environmental cleanup activities around traditional markets.

Since 2023, the Seoul Dongdaemun Branch has organised weekly Sunday cleanups around Gyeongdong Market and Cheongnyangni Market. Over the past three years, 1826 volunteers have participated, collecting approximately 8927 litres of waste.

Park Hee-soon, a merchant who operates a business at Cheongnyangni Market, said the regular cleanup efforts had made a visible difference.

“As the area was cleaned every week, the market became noticeably cleaner, and merchants naturally began paying more attention to keeping the environment clean,” Park said.

In Geoje, volunteers also cleaned the area surrounding Okpo International Market, a destination visited by both local residents and tourists. Following the cleanup, volunteers supported merchants by purchasing food ingredients and household goods directly from market stores.

Merchant Kim Jeong-suk said, “I was grateful that they supported the merchants by shopping at the market after completing the volunteer work.”

“It seems that combining environmental cleanup with direct support for traditional markets has also helped the surrounding commercial district,” Kim added.

Other branches have focused on encouraging residents to combine healthy activities with support for local businesses.

The Iksan Branch organised an eight-day “Donghaeng 10,000 Steps Challenge,” which encouraged participants to walk 10,000 steps each day while supporting local businesses. More than 300 people participated.

Participants who reached their daily walking goal received coupons that could be used at participating neighbourhood businesses, including cafés.

The operator of L Cafe, one of the participating businesses, said, “It was encouraging to see participants consistently visiting the store throughout the campaign.”

“They also offered words of encouragement, which gave me a real sense of warmth and connection with the community,” the café operator added.

Participants also incorporated plogging into their walks, collecting approximately 3000 litres of litter. In this way, the programme combined support for local businesses with environmental stewardship.

An official from the Shincheonji Volunteer Group said the organisation's goal is to create activities that generate tangible benefits for local communities rather than simply organising one-time volunteer visits.

“Our goal was not simply for volunteers to visit an area and leave, but to encourage citizens to visit local markets, spend time there, and contribute to actual economic activity,” the official said.

The official added that the organisation plans to continue pursuing initiatives that connect volunteer service, environmental improvement, community participation, and local consumption as part of its broader commitment to mutual growth.

Source: vo.la/mjPxO7L