Minister Lee So-young: "We Will Consider Restricting Items Sold on Online Traditional Market Malls"

Minister of SMEs and Startups Lee So-young stated today (the 7th) that she will review measures to restrict products sold on online traditional market malls where Onnuri gift certificates can be used, following concerns over the sales of expensive imported electronics and travel packages.

During a parliamentary audit of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups by the National Assembly's Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs, and Startups Committee, Minister Lee responded to a point raised by People Power Party lawmaker Park Seong-min, saying, "I raised the exact same issue during an internal meeting last week," and adding, "I agree that it does not fit the original purpose."

The online traditional market mall is an online shopping platform operated to help merchants in traditional markets and shopping districts secure online sales channels and to enhance the convenience of using Onnuri gift certificates. Shoppers can purchase products using Onnuri gift certificates on shopping malls that have signed agreements with the Small Enterprise and Market Service.

According to lawmaker Park, some online traditional market malls currently sell items such as a 7.95 million won imported audio system, a 3.67 million won speaker, and cruise travel packages priced in the 2 million won range.

Minister Lee explained, "Because sellers who import or purchase and sell electronic appliances have a shop located within a traditional market, they are able to enter the traditional market mall and benefit from Onnuri gift certificate discount sales."

Regarding the Onnuri gift certificate system, she noted, "There have been no item restrictions for the past 18 years, and there are still none," adding, "That is a task and challenge we need to resolve."

However, Minister Lee stated, "We likely have a way to resolve this specifically for online traditional market malls."

She added, "Restricting the items that can be sold by entering the online traditional market malls where Onnuri gift certificates can be used is technically and contractually feasible," and promised, "We will review such methods and report back."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.