The neighborhood around Paldalmun Gate serves as the main business district of Suwon, where more than 300 stores and stalls are joined to make a large market place. The atmosphere and the physical surroundings help to both keep traditions alive and move into the modern age, which is one of the many aspects of this market that draws in more visitors each year. Since 1917 when the market first opened to the public, the vendors here have specialized in traditional garmets, including hanbok (traditional Korean clothes) and accessaries. The products made here are highly praised by customers for their outstanding quality. For this reason, nearly one-third of the stores currently in business are hanbok shops. Moreover, the lively vibe is added to by the nearly 20,000 visitors to the market every day, including the regular sellers and buyers. An on-going maintenance project to keep the originality of the market began in 2002 and is continuing to make Yeongdong Market a representative tourist desitnation in Suwon.