Seoul City plans to crack down on major discount retailers here to ensure that they take days off, to protect the commercial rights of smaller retailers.

The plan comes after the council of the southwestern city of Jeonju recently passed an ordinance requiring large retailers in the city to take days offs in a bid to protect smaller stores.

A Seoul City official told reporters Wednesday that it will set the guideline on ordinance revision, requiring two days off and a closing time of midnight to 8 in the morning for all major retailers operating in the capital city.

The city government has asked its 25 district offices to prepare to revise their ordinances according to the guideline. It also asked that they assess the large retailers’ situation. The guideline is to be distributed to every district office later in the month.

Seoul city officials see it likely for them to follow the guideline, citing that many councilors believe that small stores should be protected from large retailers.

According to the capital, districts may begin regulating major discount retailers and super supermarkets early as March forcing them to reduce their hours.

The Distribution Industry Development Act, announced last month, gives the capital the power to regulate business hours.

Retailers that fail to comply could face fines of 10 million won ($8,962) to 30 million won.

There are concerns that should the ordinance spread to retailers throughout the nations, profits will fall.

Analysts predict that sales could drop by as much as 3 to 4 percent. However, other experts believe that consumer patterns would adapt to the reduced hours, and cut the loss in sales by half.

In Seoul, 64 major discount retailers and 267 super supermarkets fall under the ordinance, and officials are also considering whether or not to include Nonghyup Hanaro Club as well.

Hanaro makes up more than half of all sales of agriculture and fishery products in the city.

Every district has 10 to 15 super supermarkets which are open 24 hours a day.

“We assessed the current situation in order to finalize policy details after an agreement is made with district officials and the Knowledge Economy department,” said one city official who declined to be named.

“Since all the districts are different, not all will have implemented the ordinance before the April 11 general elections.”

By Robert Lee (robert@heraldcorp.com)