Noryangjin merchants clash with operators over market relocation

By Kim Hyun-bin

Hundreds of merchants at a major fish market in Seoul Thursday clashed with the market operator that attempted to forcibly relocate the merchants' shops from an old building to a new one.

Some 400 merchants formed a human blockade at the entrance of the Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market beginning in the early morning to face 300 subcontractors and representatives from the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperation (NFFC), the operator and proprietor of the market.

For cautionary measures, 480 policemen were also deployed to the scene.

The skirmish lasted about an hour to a little past 10 a.m. as the NFFC representatives left the scene due to a strong protest from the merchants and concerns over possible injuries. This marked the third time the NFFC side had to turn back empty-handed, following previous attempts in April and July.

“We are the owners of the market,” the merchants chanted. “We cannot let the NFFC modernize the fish market as they please.”

After a new, more modernized building was opened next door in March 2016, 330 merchants moved to the new facility but another 200 have refused to do so, claiming the rent in the new building is much higher than before and the new facility is unfit to operate fish stores effectively as it is too cramped.

However, the NFFC says the merchants are illegally occupying the old building as they have signed to relocate to the new building.

In April 2009, the merchants were briefed on the relocation plan and 80.3 percent of them agreed to it.

“They agreed on the relocation and the size of each shop at the new building. The unreasonable claims from the merchants about the size and their attempts to nullify the agreement are illegal,” the NFFC said.

The NFFC also won a local court order to enforce the relocation of the remaining stores.

Last month, the Supreme Court also made a verdict in favor of NFFC's modernization project which aims to demolish the 48-year-old building and renovate the area. The project began after concerns over potential accidents due to deterioration of the structure. The NFFC began a government funded plan to demolish the establishment in 2004.