Ahead of Christmas, economic downturn, shift in consumer taste have rendered Seoul’s streets staid
While the Christmas holiday season is here, Seoul’s streets have been particularly quiet. On the night of December 20 in Seoul’s bustling Myeongdong, Sinchon, and Gangnam districts, few carolers were heard, a change from the usual merriment. Some businesses in Seoul are not decorated in the spirit of the season.
The biggest reason for the dampened spirits this holiday season is cited as Korea’s long-term economic downturn. Lee Suk-hyeon, 46, who has sold spicy rice cakes in front of the Shinchon subway station for seven years, said, "It used to be common this time of year to hear carols ringing out and many people walking on the streets. But this year, the streets look almost empty just after 11 p.m. I think it is due to the economic downturn." Lee Jae-yong, 30, who operates a bar in Seoul’s central Gwangjang district, said he will not buy Christmas decorations because of slumping sales.
The economic downturn is not the only thing keeping the streets quiet. Changes in technology and consumer taste have taken their toll, as well. With digital downloads of music surging in popularity, people are listening to holiday songs on their iPods and other MP3 devices, meaning that the street vendors usually selling seasonal albums have been forced to offer other items.
Lee Kyeong-min, an official at the Seoul Southern Street Vendor Association, said, "Those who sell music albums in the street have changed their items of sale, as people increasingly prefer to listen to music [using digital devices]." Sin Eun-hyang, an official at the Ministry of Culture, agreed, saying that the number of street vendors selling music has rapidly reduced.
Last year, about 40 albums of Christmas carols were released. However, only 15 seasonal albums have been released so far this year. An official with Universal Music said, "Music listeners have changed their consumption patterns from buying albums to downloading music, and singers are reluctant to put their Christmas albums on the market, unlike in other years." Choi Yun-seon, a spokeswoman at Blue Cord, a digital music seller, said that this year, singers have been focusing on holding big concerts rather than introducing Christmas albums. Over the December 23-24 weekend, about 40 concerts are scheduled around the nation. Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]
