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South Korean Market Revitalized, Attracts 10 Million Visitors
🇰🇷 South Korea /Economy & Trade

South Korean Market Revitalized, Attracts 10 Million Visitors

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Outcome reported
  • South Korea's Yesan Traditional Market has transformed from a near-empty site to a major attraction, drawing 10 million visitors.
  • The revitalization was spearheaded by Theborn Korea, led by CEO Baek Jong-won, who focused on creating reasons for people to visit and return.
  • The market was rebuilt to reflect its local identity, using regional place names and local specialty ingredients, with support from Theborn Korea for new and existing businesses.

The Yesan Traditional Market in South Korea has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving from a place with barely ten daily visitors to a bustling hub attracting 10 million people. This dramatic turnaround is largely credited to the intervention of Theborn Korea, a company led by CEO Baek Jong-won.

Baek Jong-won emphasized that revitalizing a region involves more than just creating photo opportunities. It requires building genuine reasons for people to visit, spend a day, and desire a return trip. The Yesan market's revival focused on preserving and enhancing its local character, incorporating actual regional place names into signage and featuring dishes made from local specialty ingredients.

The project supported both long-standing merchants and new ventures, including young entrepreneurs. Theborn Korea provided financial and developmental assistance, covering costs such as deposits, interior design, menu development, and training. This comprehensive approach has not only revived the market but also created a vibrant economic and cultural center, demonstrating a successful model for regional revitalization.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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