Why Did Jongno-gu Transform Vacant Stores into a 'Traditional Craft Exhibition Hall'?

Selected 15 Projects Including 'Traditional Culture Blooming from Hands'... Creating Exhibition Spaces by Leasing Vacant Stores, Supporting Artists Struggling to Secure Sales Channels

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Jongno-gu (District Mayor Kim Young-jong) has been promoting the ‘Insadong Regional Development Contest Project’ since 2018 to restore the identity of Insadong, known as the cradle of traditional culture, and to revitalize the area.

This project is meaningful not only because it supports maintaining the original function of the Insadong cultural district, but also because merchants and residents take the lead in directly planning and implementing projects centered on traditional culture.

In particular, Jongno-gu has actively encouraged participation from workers in related recommended industries such as antique shops, galleries, framing shops, calligraphy and stationery stores, and folk crafts to preserve the regional characteristics of Insadong.

Through this contest project, now in its fourth year, a total of 15 projects were selected, including ‘Traditional Culture Blooming from the Hands,’ planned by the Traditional Culture and Arts Center (CEO Kim Mina).

The representative project of this year’s contest, ‘Traditional Culture Blooming from the Hands,’ embodies the intention to preserve and further develop the traditional cultural ecosystem of Insadong, where related industry shops are gradually leaving due to high rent and increasing vacancy rates.

It stands out by leasing vacant stores in Insadong at affordable rates to create exhibition spaces for traditional craftworks (Insadong-gil 24), supporting exhibition activities for artists who have difficulty securing sales channels.

The district has already provided partial support for store rent through the selection of this contest project.

The exhibition period is two months, from May to June, with 10 craft artists participating and showcasing about 100 works.

Artist Kim Eun-joo, who participated in the project, said, “I am very happy that such a special space supporting craft artists facing difficulties in Insadong has been created. I hope it remains a continuous exhibition space rather than a one-time event.”

District Mayor Kim Young-jong stated, “A meaningful space has been created that breathes new life into the stagnant Insadong and contributes to securing sales channels for traditional craft artists,” adding, “We plan to actively request cooperation from the Seoul Metropolitan Government so that workers in the traditional culture industry facing difficulties can continue their activities in Insadong.”

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