전통시장의 쇠락과정, 대응양상, 그리고 미래 : 전주 남부시장의 민족지적 사례

Abstract

전주의 남부시장을 방문하는 소비자는 노후화 된 시설, 진열된 품목의 영세성, 고령화 된 상인의 일상이 자아내는 활기 없는 풍경을 접하게 된다. 재래시장에 대한 향수를 기대하며 남부시장을 찾은 소비자는 이곳이 60~70년대 호남최대의 물류집산 시장(허헌회 2011: 95)이었다는 것을 상기해내기 쉽지 않을 것이다. 또한 남부시장의 현재의 모습이 쇠락을 막으려는 여러 주체(상인, 지자체, 관련 기관, 시민단체 등)의 다양한 시도와 노고의 결과물이라는 사실을 읽어내기 어려울 것이다. 실제로 남부시장을 찾는 대다수는 전통시장의 향수를 느끼며 시장의 주요 물품을 놓고 흥정하는 소비자라기보다 시장을 휙 돌아보고 시장 내 유명음식점을 찾는 여행객에 가깝다. This ethnographic study explores the ways that a traditional market called Nambu Sigiang (market) in Jeonju city has experienced a decline historically. It explains the political economic conditions and social cultural processes under which the Nambu market has reached to current situations. Based on the explanation, this study intends to reflect on the effectiveness of the measures proposed and implemented by various agents such as governmental officers, small traders in traditional markets, NGO activists and scholars for the revitalization of traditional markets in Korea. For the purpose, focusing on the political economy of Jeonju city, this study first describes historical processes that the Nambu market has declined. Second, it explains how various agents concerning the decline of the market have been involved in the attempts of revitalizing the market and how the market was constructed as a social cultural space in the processes. Finally, based on the political economic conditions and the social cultural characteristics of the market described earlier, this study attempts to speculate the possible future of the market. This study ultimately aims to emphasize that it is time to draw realistic diagnoses and alternatives for the future of the traditional markets in Korea beyond simply suggesting politically correct proposals and all the possible measures as many specialists on the revitalization of traditional markets in Korea did.