Gwanak-gu Collaborates with Local Self-Sufficiency Center to Improve 'Byeolbit Sinsari' Environment

Collaboration with Gwanak Community Self-Sufficiency Center to Solve Cleaning Issues like Starlight Sinsari Cigarette Butt Littering... District Supports Low-Income Independence with Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation through Education, Consulting, and Credit Guarantees

Starlight Sinsari Street Cleaning

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) is promoting collaboration with Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation (Chairman Han Jong-kwan) and Gwanak Regional Self-Support Center (Director Kim Seung-oh) to improve the environment within the ‘Byeolbit Shinsari’ commercial district and support self-sufficiency for low-income groups.

As part of the ‘Byeolbit Shinsari Commercial District Renaissance’ project, they have joined forces with the Self-Support Center to create a clean commercial area free of cigarette butts.

The area around Sillim Station has suffered from severe illegal disposal of cigarette butts in every alley, which not only harms the aesthetics but also causes customers to avoid the commercial district.

To address this chronic issue, the district plans to install cigarette butt collection bins at 15 locations with severe illegal dumping, with collection and management to be carried out by the Village Environment Keeper Project Team of the Self-Support Center.

Additionally, the foundation will provide comprehensive financial and non-financial support such as education, consulting, and credit guarantees for low-income prospective entrepreneurs to help them achieve independence.

The district expects that through this collaboration, Byeolbit Shinsari will have a clean street environment and low-income groups will be given opportunities to participate in regional development and achieve self-reliance.

Meanwhile, since last year, the district has named the area around Sillim Station, including Seowon-dong Shopping Street, Shinwon Market, and Gwanak General Market, as ‘Byeolbit Shinsari’ and, together with the foundation, is investing a total of 8 billion KRW by 2025 to fully commit to the commercial district renaissance.

To improve the outdated commercial district image and promote visitor inflow, old gates and sidewalks have been renovated, and digital signage and go-bo lighting have been installed.

They are also revitalizing the commercial district by holding online Byeolbit Festivals and Byeolsari Markets linked with Danggeun Market.

Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “I hope this collaboration will bring small comfort and hope to local merchants and low-income groups struggling due to COVID-19,” adding, “We will continue to actively promote various projects to strengthen the self-sustainability of local commercial districts, invigorate the stagnant local economy, and help them grow into sustainable neighborhood commercial districts.”

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