Opening of Customer Center Branch 3 at Seongdong-gu Yongdap Sangga Market to Strengthen Self-Sustainability

Convenience facilities including merchant offices and multipurpose rooms, Yongdap Urban Regeneration Support Center and multipurpose spaces established... Art exhibitions and shows held through local artists, hoping for interaction and enjoyment among market visitors and merchants

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongdong-gu (District Mayor Jung Won-oh) has opened and begun full operation of the Yongdap Sangga Market Customer Center, the third customer center in the traditional markets within the district this month.

To strengthen the market self-sustainability of local shopping districts suffering from prolonged COVID-19 impacts such as economic downturn and decreased customers, the district promoted the establishment of the Yongdap Sangga Market Customer Center. This is the third center following the Majang Livestock Market in 2017 and the Wangsimni Doseondong Shopping District Customer Center this year.

Opened in 2011, Yongdap Sangga Market is located near Yongdap Station on Line 2 and Dapsimni Station on Line 5, with high foot traffic and situated at the center of a densely populated multi-family housing area, offering excellent accessibility.

Covering approximately 15,821㎡, it is the second largest traditional market in the area, housing about 180 stores, with many food service businesses, and sees about 5,000 daily visitors.

In 2019, through the Ministry of SMEs and Startups’ traditional market facility modernization project, the district purchased the building at 57-17 Yongdap-dong last year and carried out large-scale remodeling. The merchants’ association office, which was previously difficult to use due to being located in semi-basements and other areas because of rent issues, was relocated to the customer center.

The customer center is a five-story building with a total floor area of 325.27㎡. The first and second floors house the customer center, merchants’ association office, multipurpose rooms, and other convenience facilities. The fifth-floor education room is designed as a multipurpose space for merchants’ training and events. Additionally, the third and fourth floors accommodate the Yongdap Urban Regeneration Support Center, which promotes urban regeneration projects linked to traditional markets, improving accessibility for residents.

Programs for market visitors will also be prepared in connection with nearby community centers. Exhibitions and art shows will be held through local artists, utilizing the space as a cultural venue. The center is also considering free venue rental for users, aiming to serve as a place where both market visitors and merchants can interact and enjoy.

Kim Byung-ok, chairman of the Yongdap Sangga Market Merchants’ Association, said, “There has been a lack of convenient spaces for customers and merchants using Yongdap Sangga Market, but through the customer center, we will do our best to provide high-quality services that satisfy visitors.”

Jung Won-oh, mayor of Seongdong-gu, stated, “Once the Geumnam Market Customer Center construction is completed in the second half of this year, Seongdong will have a total of four customer centers. The district will continue to promote various projects such as market facility modernization, parking environment improvement, and management innovation support to secure competitiveness and activate usage of traditional markets, revitalizing the stagnant traditional markets.”

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