'Support for Local Small Business Recovery from COVID-19 through Creation of Region-Specialized Alley Commercial Districts'

Busan Yeonje-gu 'Seocheong Matgeori Revitalization Project' and 6 Local Government Alley Economy Recovery Support Projects Selected

On the 27th, as intensive social distancing measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) continue, a store located in the commercial area in front of Ewha Womans University in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, is closing down and posting a notice for lease inquiries. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that it has selected six projects through the public contest for the ‘2021 Alley Economy Recovery Support Project,’ including Busan Yeonje-gu’s ‘City Hall Food Street Revitalization Project’ and Daegu Dalseo-gu’s ‘Rejuvenation: Continuing Youth, Duryu Food Town Development Project.’

The ‘Alley Economy Recovery Support Project’ is a program that builds alley economy infrastructure by strengthening local community capabilities and utilizing and linking local resources. Since its inception in 2015, it has contributed to revitalizing the local economy by supporting 33 projects nationwide with 31 billion KRW (including local government funds).

This year, to ensure the rapid recovery of the local alley economy, which has been severely affected by the spread of infectious diseases, support was also provided for digital transformation of ordering, delivery, and promotion systems, as well as the establishment of infectious disease prevention and support systems.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety conducted a public contest in March this year to select projects. After a fair evaluation by a panel of private experts through a two-stage review process (first written, second presentation) of 13 submitted projects, six projects were finally selected. The evaluation comprehensively considered factors such as the completeness of the project plan and appropriateness of the target area, feasibility of rapid project execution, formation and cooperation of alley commercial recovery communities, whether the project was a region-specific initiative that could be linked and collaborated with local alley resources, and the potential to secure competitiveness of alley commercial districts during the infectious disease outbreak period.

The projects finally selected are: Busan Yeonje-gu’s ‘City Hall Food Street Revitalization Project,’ Daegu Dalseo-gu’s ‘Rejuvenation: Continuing Youth, Duryu Food Town Development Project,’ Gwangju Dong-gu’s ‘Daein-dong Food Culture Street, Art Damgil Project,’ Gwangju Gwangsan-gu’s ‘Five Senses Coexistence Dorume-gil Blossoming,’ Daejeon Daedeok-gu’s ‘Surprise? Come on? Birae! Coloring Delicious Flavors,’ and Jeonbuk Jeongeup-si’s ‘Juhyang Street: The Fragrance of Jeongeup Blossoms Throughout the World.’

Each selected project is expected to receive approximately 800 million KRW (including local government funds). The projects will promote the creation of smart commercial districts centered on local community networks, landscape formation, remodeling of vacant stores, establishment of quarantine systems, and support for new product development linked to local resources.

Busan Yeonje-gu and Daejeon Daedeok-gu plan to build smart store systems to strengthen non-face-to-face ordering, payment, and promotion for post-COVID-19 economic revitalization. They will also establish delivery apps (linked with local love gift certificates) and online shopping malls to attract younger customers in response to the online consumption environment. Daegu Dalseo-gu and Gwangju Gwangsan-gu will remodel vacant stores to create alley safety community centers that can function as customer rest areas and quarantine hubs, as well as alley smart studios for merchant YouTubers.

Gwangju Dong-gu will install smart streetlights, safe walking paths, design lighting, and fire prevention systems to create a safe and secure street atmosphere day and night. It will also link with existing local cultural tourism resources to establish and operate street museums, after-work concerts, and alley tour programs. Additionally, Jeonbuk Jeongeup will develop and nurture a unique Jeongeup Makgeolli brand using local agricultural products and create synergy effects for local economic revitalization by linking with the ‘Ssanghwa Tea Street’ established in 2018 through the Alley Economy Recovery Support Project.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety plans to regularly monitor the progress of the six selected projects and continue cooperating with related local governments to ensure the rapid recovery and competitiveness enhancement of local alley commercial districts, which have been struggling due to COVID-19.

Minister Jeon Hae-cheol stated, “Active support is necessary to revitalize local commercial districts suffering from economic recession and rapid social changes caused by COVID-19,” adding, “We will actively support and cooperate with local governments so that this Alley Economy Recovery Support Project can serve as a catalyst for the recovery of depressed alley commercial districts nationwide.”

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