Shin Kyeyong, the mayor of Gwacheon, stated on August 20 that the resolution of a 40-year conflict without physical confrontation was the result of ongoing communication and consultation with merchants. He emphasized that the street vendor conflict at Guldari Market was resolved through 'communication and systems.'
On this day, Mayor Shin announced that the Guldari Market street vendor conflict was recognized as an exemplary case, earning the '2026 Excellence in Public Conflict Management' award from Gyeonggi Province. The province selects outstanding cases each year to share effective strategies for preventing and resolving conflicts that arise during the implementation of public policies.
This year, four institutions, including Gwacheon City, were selected based on a comprehensive evaluation of their conflict resolution processes and efforts. The award highlights the success of Mayor Shin's conflict management approach, which combined dialogue and persuasion with systematic solutions, such as providing living stability support and phased restoration, rather than merely relying on administrative enforcement.
Since November of last year, Mayor Shin has met individually with street vendors at Guldari Market to explain the restoration plan and gather feedback from the field. Following this, he implemented measures such as providing living stability funds and notifying vendors about the restoration process, leading to the voluntary departure of most vendors. On January 17 of this year, administrative enforcement was carried out for the remaining eight vendors.
However, prior to the enforcement, multiple discussions and consultations were held, allowing for a thorough explanation and persuasion that resulted in the completion of the removal without physical confrontation. After the removal, the mayor continued to meet and consult with the vendors to implement follow-up measures.
Notably, the restoration of street vendors at Guldari Market has been positively received by the community, as it resolved a long-standing local conflict and restored pedestrian rights.
Local residents expressed their satisfaction, stating, 'The path that had been inconvenient for a long time is now organized, making it much easier to walk.' They also noted, 'It is fortunate that the street vendor issue was resolved through dialogue rather than just enforcement,' and highlighted the importance of considering the livelihoods of vendors while reclaiming space for public use.
Additionally, they remarked, 'Given that this was a problem lasting over 40 years, it is fortunate that it was resolved without major conflict,' and expressed hope for continued management that would be acceptable to both citizens and vendors.
Meanwhile, Mayor Shin added, 'I will continue to communicate thoroughly with stakeholders to prevent conflicts and develop reasonable solutions that citizens can feel.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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