Shoe store was very famous near Seoul Station. People had been crowded all day long. Merchants from each provinces were busy to buy good shoes first. Shoe makers had earned much money. Once this place was downtown.
Old memories made me visit the shoe store alley. The glory of the past was disappearing. Shoe store was getting less and less. Some shoe stores were closed.
They displayed the shoes in front of the store but I couldn’t feel vigorous on the street
I couldn’t see people on the street.
Entering the shoe store, I asked the business condition to the owner. He told me the shoe business was over in Korea.
The Shoemaker couldn’t make shoes anymore. It is not easy to maintain their daily life only with making the shoes. They need to find another job to live. People do not want to learn how to make the shoes. Beside, it took several years to learn how to make the shoes. Who could learn shoemaking technology without paying. Rarely there are some hand made shoe technicians, but it is too expensive to buy handmade shoes for common users. So it would be hard to keep up handmade shoe business
This shoes street would be disappeared not for long time. We could not see crowded and loud scenery in this street any more. In their voice, there were life.
Too many things are disappearing in my generation. Most of them had been continued for several hundred years.
There are no exception in disappearing and oblivion. Nothing could escape from the oblivion, including myself. And the world would be renewed from the oblivion. That’s the principle of the world.
But I am sad, when I notice that acquainted things are being forgotten.
I am thinking again how to live with seeing the disappearing things
I feel a lot of this has happen because of big box stores. We have gotten away from have the quality of a good product as well as great relationships that you forged with local store owners. Nothing seems personal anymore due to the computer age we are removing cashiers from the retail store, we no longer call someone to have a conversation due to texting and we no longer get together for gathering instead he head to the hangout! Not all are bad but we as a generation are setting ourselves up for more robotic technologies to take over our everyday to day operations.
Yup you get it. I refuse to use the 'automatic pay line' (don't know how to call it) in the store so cashiers will hopefully stay. It's an easy job for students etc.
A piece of writing that makes everybody sad, including me. And oh, look at the shoes! The seem very very lonely and tired sitting on the display all day long, not sure if anyone would come over and touch them.
Those are such beautiful pictures its sad when the old disappear and what your used to that is an old profession is dying, more its regular shoe stores with cheap shoes , the business is a dying breed but that is the wave of the future I miss the old days
Time passes and things change, @slowwalker. But change is not just a result of Time - change is the very nature of Time.
I wrote a novel about this very subject and I've had to deal with this struggle in my own life. It's hard having to let go of precious things.
So, your post today is full of nostalgia for a life that is slowly passing away, and the real challenge is not to hold on to what used to be, but to embrace the world in which we now live.
Spending a lifetime to learn a trade to perform a task a machine can do is a waste of a life. Yes, machine goods are not as good quality as handmade, but the time that is freed up can be put to good use - and that's what you did walking around Seoul City, observing and reflecting and honouring the traditions of the past.
A thoughtful post, @slowalker
Things and how we do things are always changing. This can be sad when one reflects. Sort of like the "good old days. " But things change and evolve and one must adapt and change or get left behind. This goes for life and business. You're either growing or dying. Sad at times, but it is the only way we can grow and get, "new and improve" version/ variety. Like your post.
Wow this upsetting but happens with technology....If block chain does grow to the size we think it will, a lot of people will lose jobs. But that is the case with growing technology anyway.
Thank you for comment
so,.... there are shoes in Seoul.
thank you for the sharing those grat photos @slowwalker
노인이 죽고 아이가 태어나듯
과거는 사라지고 새로운것이 생기는거지요
님이 말하는 것들이 사라지고
인터넷이 생기고
가상화폐가 생기고
너무 쓸쓸해 하지는 마십시요
아버지의 시대가 사라지는 것을 보는 기분입니다.
One of the shoe stores in my hometown shut its doors recently as part of some corporate bankruptcy decision. To make matters worse, it was open for well over 20 years.
So sad when things like this happen.
it is so sad when I hear that kind of story
yes it is
Same thing is happening here in the UK. Most people buy of ebay or amazon these days it's a lot cheaper. Very sad.
Yup, Amazon is really a game changer. Places will disappear but hopefully make way for other businesses to flourish
amazon is problem maker...
so you too buy chinese stuff..
As an American, it is interesting to see businesses overseas, especially ones like this where the business operates on multiple levels and has whole salers and whatnot. You post is very informative. Upvoted and following!
Thank you
We start to lose our connection with traditional makings. That's pretty sad... but unavoidable.
Great post once again @slowwalker, I thoroughly enjoy your postings about Seoul, as I recognize a lot from my time living there (and gives me flashbacks...)!
thank you for your comment
Yeah, Its sad to read about disappearing shoe making industry in Korea. But this is life. As we reach more close to the practicality and become more advanced, we lose our connection with traditional things. Same can be said with Shoe making business.
This is the way of life, we have to live seeing the disappearing things whether it be individuals we love or the things we once desired.
Thanks for sharing this amazing post @slowwalker . Wish you all the luck.
thank you so much for your comment
Did you lease it? Tell me how to do the same as you.
Yes I lease my steem power.
You can find so many posting in the Steemit page
Very sad story/article @slowwalker ;( .. life is changing , cultures are changing :(
🤗
nice photos thank you for the share we wait the new ....
followed ! good lock .
옛장인과 추억이사라지는 장소에 아쉬움을 느낌니다. ~~그 또한 세월의야속함이라생각이드네요,즐거운주말되셔요!
네 감사합니다
But he can make his shop online. It's popular right now.
And there is a lot of peculiar looking shoes in his store.
This situation can be resolved.
Yes I need to tell him what you comment
As you said yourself there are no exception in disappearing n oblivion. Its always upsets to witness to see things which are used to it.
Stores n markets are like that in less profit now due to online marketing n shopping malls
Many old businesses collapse as they cannot continue in modern age. Now people are more eager to buy online rather than these stores. Nice post and photos. Thank you.
Thank you for dropping by
Machines took over the jobs of mankind , tragic indeed but it is for the best to achieve efficiency
Every story and problem, there is always a solution. The solution from me, keep stepping, despite any constraints. Never show your sadness before the person you care about. Keep believing there will be a better change. Then more importantly think positive, because that's the main key in living life. When the mind is healthy, anything will be easy to do friend,
Thank you @slowwalker for bringing this matter to attention. :c)
I must admit that my first reaction was sadness... but then I got into thinking...
Why 'should' a skilled leather worker learn entirely new skills unless they truly want to?
What if there exist skills related to shoe cobbling that would be in greater demand?
This is going to sound a little nutty... but how about bullet resistant clothing?
Now I 'suspect' that leather is hardly going to stop a bullet (Unsure of cured/soft leather layered in sufficient thickness) - but leather could hold other materials in place that do - and very comfortably too.
Well... that depends on how the South Korean government feels about either commissioning or allowing concerned citizens to purchase home-made body armor.
Damm , i dont have to look this ..........womens and shues ! We always need more !
Lol
Unfortunately this seems to be unavoidable. Our attachment to things which have a sentimental value are always hard to let go of. But hopefully there are also new things appearing which might be less visible for us at the moment.
A lot of old traditional type stores have gone due to big manufacturers. A lot of quality products were made by small businesses.
The street looks quite , that is heart breaking for anyone.
@slowwalker,
Great article friend. You discuss about the real situation of most of the traditional businesses are facing now. In my country we could experience the same scenario - market dominance by China synthetic shoes. So, people won't spend much but quality drops. It effected on traditional shoe makers and now they are struggling with price matters.
Thank you very much for this great article and you have touched very sensible area. Really appreciate your effort!
Cheers friend!
thank you
It's sad we have same problem
@slowwalker,
Yeah China dominant and most of businesses is going to die :/
hallo slowwalker, I would say welcome to globalization, where the most shoes are produced now for Korea? is it in china etc? In Germany is the same, we do not have really shops that are empty but new shops were just opened, .. almost nothing is produced in the country , that is sad , I agree
Same problem in Germany?
😢
yeah clothes are produced in Asia, the conditions are very bad in this factories for example India or Bangladesh, and people in the west can buy a shirt for 5 euro. Asian people almost get nothing for their hard work, a big problem ..
It's very sad to see so may things that are part of the culture disappear. Hopefully, after the shake out a better way will appear. There is nothing more certain than change. Another interesting post. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for your comment
This is the reality of life. We will all disappear eventually. But we should be thankful for the memories we have. And enjoy every moment of our life.
Thank you @slowwalker for always sharing a part of your life to us. :)
Thank you so much
You are always welcome. Continue sharing. :)
True story. Makes a bit sad...but that's life.. something must pass away to give path for something new or different
Traditional physical stores are both disappearing and replaced by E store like Amazon. They have to provide people different feelings more than goods such as memory.
Good solution
everytime i see some seoul shots makes me want to go there, seems so different and so diverse at the same time ! sad about the shop...
There's a certain melancholy to your posts that I like, @slowwalker.
It is said to learn that the days of the past have changed, from a buzzing liveliness...
...to now a street that only shows the last convulsions of a once thriving shoe business.
This is how the market – supply and demand – works.
Is it fair? I won't be the judge of that. Answering that question does not change anything.
Your post reminded me of the story Gary V. tells about Uber. When Uber just started, he was on board as an investor. Some of his dad's friends had owned taxi companies for decades. He warned them: sell now, in 18 months Uber is going to totally disrupt your business. But they were slow to act, didn't believe him. 2 years later, the value of their business had plummeted...
That's how fast it can go. Very unfortunate.
I see a lot of people commenting on this post that is very sad. It is. Yet at the same time, I bet they all go for the best bang for their buck (often the cheapest option) when they need to let their money speak. We all do.
It doesn't make it less sad, but it's the reality we live in.
Your point is acurate...but I am emotional than rational...
And that is why I like your posts, @slowwalker. They're all trips down memory lane.
I too sometimes reminisce about what once was and now is gone. It's the main reason why I love to watch black and white movies from the 1940's, for example.
The ones that are still worthwhile to watch stood the test of time, because they have good dialogues and great actors.
Yet, the world these movies take place in is vastly different than ours now. All men were hats, everyone smokes, no internet/smartphones/computers. No STEEMIT!
I love it...😉
really nice pictures this seems to be a nice place thanks a lot for sharing and keep on posting ;)
Thank you
Thank you for your first hand account. This is what is happening to many areas as business seek the low cost manufacturer leaving the people who made a living behind. What do you see as the "new opportunities"?
Yes we need to find new opportunity,
but shoe makers couldn,t.
I and sorry to hear this. I read so much about computers/AI/robots taking jobs in the future and to me I thin ok what will happen to the people who will bo out of a job, but people don't like to hear this or say this is progress. Your example is real. Jobs don't grow on trees and they effect people and their families -- and in some areas this is even more the case.
I like your posts @slowwalker thank you for sharing
I was just thinking about how we have a throwaway culture. People don't value old things. Change can be good and a needed thing. But there were things in the past that were actually better. Or at least made with more skill and better materials. There is a facebook group about historical things in my town. The places people use to go to for fun and a bite to eat. The schools they went to and the people they encountered. While you are going through the experience you may not think of it as special but later you realize and cherish those things.
Very good solution
In all honesty, situations like this are a common factor all over the world. People don't understand when they buy cheap they destroy once thriving industries. Mass produced shoes may work for some, but if you have more unique feet? Or it you want something traditional and long lasting? You won't get that from mass produced shoes. It is sad as you loose so much culture and tradition when you loose a handicraft, even one as seemingly non important as shoe making. Once-all around the planet, your hair style/ornamentation and your shoes showed everyone without words who you were, they were a part of your identity and your cultures identity. My mom still says "it doesn't really matter what you wear-if your head is good and your feet are good-your good!"
This reminds me when I used to sell shoes in college. It was a pretty fun job.
I did a review of a pretty cool movie if you have a chance to check my blog.
Absolutely
thanks for the information!
It's sad to see that traditional ways of life are slowly disappearing - hopefully the art of making handmade shoes is not forgotten completely.
That is how new technology effect the current scenario of business. can;t be survived in the future without being adopt to the e-commerce. feeling sorry for the shoe makers . anyway nice article . have to think about it twice
😢
Capitalism turns every single memory into a cellphone gadgets store.
LAME!
Remember the old bookstore you used to go as a kid with your grandpa?
Gone! Its a Vodafone Shop
Remember that good old bar where you used to go when dating your first crush?
Gone! Its a shop selling Iphone cases and gadgets now.
Thanks capitalism, no memories from the past. We will never run out of phone cases tho
Great post @slowwalker . Things like these happen all around the world
Yes, what should we do ?
우리나라는 다른 나라보다 더 빨리 변화해서 이런 것들이 더 자주보이는것 같습니다. 저도 어릴때부터 같은 곳에서 살고 있지만 예전 환경들이 그리울 때가 있습니다. 그대로 남아 있는 것이 없네요.
You reminded me a lot of my country. When my grandfather made me accompany him to polish his shoes or to buy one. Beautiful times ... I hope you are very well. Have a good sunday my friend!