Seoul street vendors volunteer to collect tourist trash in Myeongdong

The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Tourism Organization launched the Clean Myeongdong campaign to help tourists manage waste in a busy shopping district.

Local street vendors in Myeongdong, a popular shopping area in Seoul, South Korea, now volunteer to collect and dispose of empty drink cups and food packaging from visitors. This initiative started after tourists complained about the lack of trash bins near street food stalls.

Following a request from the Seoul Namdaemun Police Station, vendors joined the program to improve the experience for international travelers. The campaign provides 346 stalls with multilingual signs to help people identify where they can drop off their waste. These signs help keep the streets clean while making it easier for tourists to enjoy local food and drinks. The project transforms a logistical problem into a service provided by the local business community.