Shop owners in Hambak Village, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, which is home to a significant foreign population, have come together to demand protection for their business rights. (Image courtesy of Yonhap News)
SEOUL, Sept. 19 (Korea Bizwire) – Shop owners in Hambak Village, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, which is home to a significant foreign population, have come together to demand protection for their business rights.
On September 18, more than 50 members of the Task Force for the Survival Rights of Local Shop Owners in Hambak Village gathered in front of the Yeonsu-gu Office to express their concerns. They stated that they were facing unfair treatment, which was pushing domestic businesses out of the area due to a rapid increase in foreign-owned shops. They called for actions to ensure that local shop owners could sustain their livelihoods.
The group expressed concerns about the rising issues, saying, “There have been incidents where groups of foreigners are involved in altercations with various weapons, as well as engaging in drug-related activities and sex trafficking among the foreign community. Additionally, residents have been dealing with problems such as littering, illegal parking, and drunk driving.”
They urged authorities to enhance security efforts to protect residents from harm caused by these incidents and to provide support and compensation for local shop owners who are forced to close their businesses.
Hambak Village, located in Yeonsu-gu’s Yeonsu 1-dong, has witnessed a significant increase in its foreign resident population since 2015, with foreign nationals now comprising 61 percent of its 12,000 residents. The village’s proximity to Incheon’s Namdong National Industrial Complex, where many small and medium-sized manufacturers are located, along with its affordable rent and convenient access to the airport, has made it an attractive destination for foreign residents.
As conflicts between locals and foreigners have escalated due to the growing foreign population, Yeonsu-gu has been implementing comprehensive measures for mutual growth, including the establishment of a public-private council involving residents and officials from relevant organizations.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
