At a time when the world is suffering from a pandemic, there is a very different but similarly tragic death toll taking place in Japan, one that is striking young people in the prime of their lives and in ways that challenge easy explanations.
The Presidents Cup: Red light or green light for local businesses?
By Brian Kim, Joshua Na and Yoo Bin Cho
GSS correspondents
Local businesses in Songdo International Business District, the site of this year’s Presidents Cup from Oct. 7 to Oct. 11, were hoping to increase their sales during the period. But it’s too early yet to know if Songdo’s economy will come out the winner.
Restaurants and hotels appear to be profiting from the increase of tourists coming to see the Presidents Cup, whereas merchants with clothing stores, supermarkets, and even a golf shop reported sales are flat despite increased foot traffic.
“We have seen considerably more customers at our restaurant especially in the morning between 9 and 11,” said an unidentified worker at “Gusuhan Seolleongtang Kkoligomtang,” a Korean restaurant located at The Sharp Central Park 2 Mall. The Oakwood Hotel hosted many players and families, according to a worker from the rival Sheraton Hotel Incheon Songdo.
But other workers at Jessi New Yorks, a clothing store, and “The Market”, a new supermarket recently opened at Central Park Prugio, reported slow sales.
Interestingly, some store owners said they had not made any efforts to attract more customers. “Frankly, we didn’t think our business would be affected at all by the Presidents Cup, and that is why we aren’t working to particularly advertise more in this time frame,” said a worker at Jessi New Yorks.
But some businesses hope that the Internet and publicity about the Cup may benefit them in the long run.
“Songdo will be more known to more people, since many people have come to Sondo from across Korea and from across the World in some cases, and they will spread the word,” said a salesman at Golf Bank Songdo, the only golf shop in Southern Songdo District 1.
—This story was published with cijournalism.org, the student-led news website of Chadwick International School. For more information, contact CI Journalism editors-in-chief Diana Minjin Kim mkim2016@chadwickschool.org and Sarah Choi s2choi2017@chadwickschool.org.
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