Gwangju City Council Urges Extension of National Funding for Alley Commercial Districts Facility Modernization

Proposal Submitted to Council Chairpersons Association
"Revitalizing the Local Economy"

Gwangju City Council building.

The Gwangju City Council (Chairperson Shin Sujeong) announced on September 8 that it has submitted the "Proposal to Extend National Funding for Alley Commercial Districts Facility Modernization Project" as an agenda item to the National Association of Metropolitan and Provincial Council Chairpersons of Korea.

The proposal emphasizes that extending national funding is essential for the growth of alley commercial districts, which have only recently entered the activation stage. It points out that the facility modernization project for traditional markets and commercial districts, which has been promoted with national funding since 2002, is scheduled to end in 2026.

Alley commercial districts are generally composed of small-scale merchants and have significant needs for modernization, such as fire prevention safety facilities, customer convenience facilities, and renovations of aging buildings. However, local government resources alone are insufficient to meet these demands.

There are particular concerns that if government support is discontinued, it will be difficult for small business owners to maintain competitiveness, and this could negatively impact the local commercial ecosystem.

Chairperson Shin Sujeong stressed, "Alley commercial districts are closely tied to the daily lives of local residents and are a vital pillar for the survival of small business owners and the recovery of the local economy. If national funding is suspended, the virtuous cycle of the local economy could be disrupted, so the government must extend its support."

Meanwhile, this agenda item will be considered for official adoption at the 5th extraordinary session of the National Association of Metropolitan and Provincial Council Chairpersons of Korea, scheduled to be held in Seoul on September 23. If officially adopted, the proposal will be formally submitted to the central government in the name of the association.