On March 17, approximately 40 illegal street vendors assembled at the main entrance of Hongdae Police Station in Seoul’s Mapo-gu district around 10:30 a.m. The group, linked to a western district vendors’ association, staged a sit-in for about 40 minutes, demanding an audience with the station chief.
Direct Confrontation at the Station
Three vendors entered the station premises, voicing frustration over recent enforcement actions. “We’ve been urging fair treatment for street vendors, but the crackdowns at our sites are destroying our livelihoods,” one vendor stated. They insisted the police chief address their grievances directly.
Station officials responded that operations adhere strictly to legal procedures, even against illegal activities. “No matter the business type, we follow proper public enforcement protocols,” a police representative affirmed. “We handle everything by the book, even at the entrances.”
Triggering Incident
The unrest traces back to March 13, when a vendor at exit 9 of Hongik University Station contacted emergency services at 9 p.m., reporting an obstruction by goods blocking the entrance. Officers located the individual roughly 5 meters away, confirming the violation.
Present field officers emphasized that vendors do not alter behavior despite warnings. One vendor countered, “Forcing judgments without discussion leads to extreme measures.” They described the crackdowns as punitive for non-symptomatic illegal operations, labeling compliant sites as prime targets.
Pattern of Protests
Two days earlier on March 15, the association members shouted demands outside the station, including meetings with leadership. “Without direct talks with those responsible, we open assembly,” they declared. Police noted the vendors exited after brief detention.
Station contacts reiterated that demands relate to direct enforcement sites. “These illegal vendors ignore roads and safety, so we guide them to proper channels,” an official explained. One vendor remarked, “Associations finding stations are hypocrites claiming to protect livelihoods while harming them.”
Broader Context in Mapo-gu
Authorities in Mapo-gu report around 40 illegal vendors operating in the bustling Hongdae-Shinchon corridor. Despite repeated seizures over five hours, residents properly evict compliant vendors. Vendors claim discovering unregulated ‘life partners’ for operations.
The district counters that while road monitoring increases, illegal activities persist. “It’s not about heavy enforcement but addressing violations,” officials stated.
On March 19 morning, vendors returned to exit 9, prompting further intervention and dispersal toward nearby goals.
