A street food vendor sells food in Myeong-dong, Seoul, in this Jan. 3, 2023 photo. Korea Times photo by Lee Han-ho

Starting in April, visitors to Myeong-dong, the busiest shopping district in Seoul, will be able to pay street food vendors using credit cards.

According to the Jung District office, preparations for implementing a credit card system for street food vendors are currently underway, with the system set to go into action from April 1.

Myeong-dong is famous for its diverse array of street foods, ranging from "bungeoppang," a fish-shaped pastry, and "tteokbokki," simmered rice cake, to "eomuk," fish cakes. Street food is an important aspect of the Korean cultural experience for tourists.

Although there have been voices calling for a card payment system to be implemented, street food vendor-owners were opposed, expressing concerns about a reduction in profits. However, a consensus was reached among the owners, many of whom have endured hardships under the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing changes that hit the district hard.

"This development was possible thanks to the cooperation of businesses in the area. With this new change, I hope Myeong-dong will reclaim its position as a premier tourist destination," Jung District head Kim Kil-sung remarked.

In addition to the new payment system, vendors will display price tags for their offerings, aiming to control prices. Unreasonably high prices for street food have been a major complaint from tourists.

Besides, the district office plans to monitor food prices on selected items and encourage vendors to disclose information about ingredients used in their foods. Hygiene standards will also see improvement, with sellers required to wear masks, caps and gloves while serving customers.