It has been revealed that a well-known mart in Jeju has been operating for over a decade with unauthorized extensions and illegal changes in building use.

According to Jeju City and an informant on Wednesday, a mid-sized enterprise in the Jeju region (Company A) was confirmed to have operated a large mart and food hall in Jeju City while using illegally installed facilities.

The company illegally extended 202.6 square meters of tent-style facilities connected to the main building of the mart in 2014 and has been using them ever since.

In the same year, the company also illegally extended a 391-square-meter steel-pipe structured warehouse on the first floor of the food hall next to the main building.

In 2022, it further extended a 466.94-square-meter warehouse on the first floor and a 9.66-square-meter machine room on the third floor of the main building without permission.

In addition to these violations, it was confirmed that some spaces were unlawfully converted for use as retail stores.

Although permitted only as a neighborhood living facility and thus barred from operating retail stores exceeding 1,000 square meters, the mart was found to have used approximately 850 square meters of space—including warehouses—as retail stores, on top of its existing permitted retail area of about 970 square meters.

However, Jeju City only confirmed the legal violations and imposed a compliance penalty in August 2017, followed by a second compliance penalty five years later in 2022.

Unauthorized buildings that violate the Building Act are all subject to demolition orders, and if a building owner fails to comply with a demolition order, a compliance penalty is imposed.

Compliance penalties can be imposed up to twice a year.

A citizen, identified as A, who reported these facts, posted a message on the e-People portal (Sinmungo) urging an investigation, criticizing what they called "passive administration by Jeju City authorities, including the connivance of the mart's illegal buildings and failure to execute administrative vicarious execution."

Citizen A pointed out, "When an unauthorized container issue at a Nonghyup Hanaro Mart was reported in the media in the past, that Nonghyup immediately dismantled the unauthorized building, but this mart has been operating with its violating structures left intact for 12 years."

A further claimed, "The fact that a retail company making massive profits has been using illegal structures for over 12 years can foster a misconception that they can get away with just paying compliance penalties," adding, "It raises suspicions that Jeju City is effectively turning a blind eye."

In response, Jeju City stated, "While compliance penalties can be imposed up to twice a year, it is not a mandatory obligation," and added, "We plan to conduct an on-site inspection soon to encourage demolition and impose compliance penalties."

(Photo provided by reader, Yonhap News)