Dispute intensifies over street food stalls near Seoul elementary school
As autumn reaches its peak, street food stalls across from Yeomni Elementary School in Seoul's Mapo District begin lighting up one by one in the early evening. On Oct. 8, the aroma of spicy rice cakes spread through the street. Office workers heading home and nearby residents gathered at the stalls, where drinking sessions continued late into the night. As the cooler season draws more visitors to…
As autumn arrives in full force, street food vendors set up shop outside Yeomni Elementary School in Seoul's Mapo District. On October 8, the tantalizing scent of spicy rice cakes wafted through the neighborhood. Office workers on their way home and residents nearby flocked to the stalls, where socializing continued well into the night. With the onset of cooler weather, more people began to frequent outdoor dining establishments, reigniting a long-standing disagreement between the local residents and street vendors.
In the spring, parents had initiated a petition demanding the removal of the food stalls, citing safety concerns for pedestrians and worries about children witnessing excessive drinking and smoking. This autumn, the vendors retaliated with their own petition drive, pleading with authorities to safeguard their means of income. The stalls had been present near Yeomni Elementary School for generations, but tensions have recently heightened after the area became a popular destination for cherry blossom season outdoor dining, known as the "cherry blossom night market."
The sudden surge of visitors during this period has exacerbated the already tense situation.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
