72-Year History of Uijeongbu Jeil Market, a Hub of Local Economy Built by 1,000 Merchants

On the path starting from Haengbok-ro, a bustling street in Uijeongbu, and leading to the traditional Jeil Market, lies the central axis of the local commercial district. According to a Culture Portal video, Uijeongbu Jeil Market has attained its current scale through a modernization project in 1978 after being established as a street stall-style market in 1954.

The Core of Uijeongbu's Economy Protected by 1,000 Merchants

Uijeongbu Jeil Market is a large-scale traditional market where approximately 1,000 merchants have established themselves and continue their economic activities. In the video, Choi Nam-jin, the 21st president of Jeil Market, mentioned that 98% of the merchants reside in Uijeongbu, explaining that they play a massive role in the Uijeongbu economy.

Beyond the role of an individual market, Jeil Market acts as a driver for the economic expansion of Uijeongbu by uniting with surrounding commercial areas. The market side explains that it contributes to the revitalization of the entire Uijeongbu commercial district by connecting with nearby areas such as Haengbok-ro, Budae-jjigae Street, Nodaeho, Noksaekgol, and the fruit and vegetable market.

Scenery from the Bustling Haengbok-ro to the Traditional Market

The video captures the process of starting from the bustling scenery of Haengbok-ro, passing through quiet alleys, and leading to Jeil Market. In Haengbok-ro, people are seen looking around the streets or taking a brief rest, and as one moves deeper into the alleys, an atmosphere different from the bustling street unfolds.

Jeil Market, where the lives of merchants who have held their positions for a long time have accumulated, is described as a space where visitors can gain vitality for life. It delivers the message that even a street one used to pass by familiarly can reveal the time and daily lives of people contained within it if one walks slowly with a different perspective.