Gwanak-gu Receives Minister of SMEs and Startups Award for Traditional Market Revitalization

Recognized for Outstanding Traditional Market Project Achievements Including Seoul's First Commercial District Renaissance Attraction... Focus on Alleyway Commercial District Revitalization Through Representative Commercial District Development and Living Commercial Area Promotion Projects

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) was honored with the Minister's Award at the '2020 Traditional Market and Shopping District Revitalization Merit Awards' hosted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups on the 4th.

As a meritorious merchant, Lim Young-eop, president of the Sinsa Market Merchants Association, also received the Minister's Award.

The 'Traditional Market and Shopping District Revitalization Merit Awards' is an award given annually by the government since 2004, evaluating ▲market revitalization through facility and management modernization ▲promotion of traditional markets and discovery of independent projects ▲government project implementation rates. This year, due to COVID-19, the ceremony was replaced with a non-face-to-face event.

Since the launch of the 7th local government, the district established the Local Commercial Area Revitalization Division and focused on supporting small business owners, the lifeblood of the local economy, and revitalizing traditional markets through various projects, resulting in the honor of receiving the Minister's Award.

In particular, the 'Starlight Sinsari Commercial Area Renaissance' project, which is the first in Seoul and involves a total investment of 8 billion KRW over five years in the area around Sillim Station, including Sundae Town (61,906㎡), along with management modernization projects, COVID-19 response online shopping services, and the operation of a public-private joint autonomous quarantine team, received high evaluations.

Additionally, the district implemented various projects for traditional market revitalization through facility modernization, including ▲installation of evaporative cooling devices ▲improvement of parking environments ▲construction of wireless (IoT) fire alarm facilities ▲repair and replacement of outdated electrical and fire-fighting equipment ▲repair and reinforcement of safety facilities.

Meanwhile, to revitalize the local economy, the district is promoting the 'Representative Commercial Area Development Project by Living Zones,' investing approximately 3.6 billion KRW in 10 major alley commercial areas. This aims to support the establishment of a self-sustaining commercial area base through merchant organization and consulting support, infrastructure development such as road and sculpture installation, and brand development and marketing projects to improve the business environment.

Furthermore, significant projects to boost alley commercial areas are underway, such as the 'Our Neighborhood Artterior Support Project,' which improves interior and product design of small business stores using the talents of local artists, and the Seoul City 'Living Commercial Area Development Project' in Nangok-dong, transforming deteriorated neighborhood stores into living shopping districts enjoyed by residents with a total budget of 3 billion KRW by 2023.

Mayor Park Jun-hee said, "This award is the fruit of concentrated investment and support efforts for revitalizing traditional markets," adding, "We will continue to actively provide various support for strengthening the self-sustainability of local commercial areas and revitalizing the local economy through diverse education and facility improvements for local merchants."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.