[Interview] Seong Jang-hyun, Yongsan District Mayor, "Itaewon Renaissance Project Fully Launched"

Yongsan-gu, Successful Public-Private Joint Halloween Day Special Quarantine, Partial Lifting of Business Restrictions, Agreement Signed with 10 Businesses Selected for Itaewon Star Shop Project, Expecting Revitalization of Itaewon Commercial Area

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] “As expected, 170,000 people visited Itaewon on this Halloween Day. I saw news reports saying Itaewon would be the testing ground for phased daily recovery. We will return to normal life without any problems. Itaewon will regain its former glory.”

Seong Jong-hyun, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, who successfully completed the special Halloween quarantine, expressed this confidence in an interview with this paper.

Mayor Seong emphasized, “To recover the local economy devastated by COVID-19, we must catch two rabbits: health quarantine and economic quarantine.”

Yongsan-gu launched a task force in April this year to revitalize the Itaewon commercial district and has been preparing countermeasures with merchants. In July, they encouraged foreigners to get tested proactively, distributing 10 KF masks each to foreigners who underwent COVID-19 testing, and promoted the ‘One-Ten-Hundred’ campaign aiming to save 100 people. On the weekends of October 16 and November 6, they conducted focused vaccination for foreigners.

Halloween Day, which came at the threshold of the government’s announced phased daily recovery, Yongsan-gu established a cooperative system with Yongsan Police Station and Yongsan Fire Station on October 21, prepared special Halloween Day quarantine measures in 14 sectors, and held a ‘Public-Private Joint Countermeasure Meeting’ on October 27.

From October 29 to 31, after 10 p.m., district office staff inspected restaurants one by one to ensure no customers remained, and police guided the dispersal of visitors who flooded the streets.

Mayor Seong expressed gratitude, saying, “Merchants sincerely hope for the revival of the Itaewon commercial district. Although it was exciting to see tables fully occupied after a long time, most people followed quarantine rules such as table distancing and entry log writing well.”

On November 1, when phased daily recovery began, restrictions on restaurant operating hours were lifted. Timely, on November 2, the district opened 374 underground parking spaces at the Comprehensive Administrative Town 24 hours a day. Since the Comprehensive Administrative Town is adjacent to Itaewon, the purpose is to revitalize the commercial district, which has been depressed due to COVID-19, by opening the parking lot.

On the 4th, a signing ceremony was held for 10 businesses selected for the Itaewon Star Shop Project. The ‘Star # (Star Shop) Project,’ which utilizes vacant spaces in Itaewon, recruits operators through public contests and operates stores distinctively to enhance Itaewon’s charm.

Through consultations with building owners, leasing at prices lower than market rates will also be promoted. Selected Star Shop businesses will receive 12 million KRW each in rent support. In cooperation with the Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation, startup consulting education and startup support loans up to 50 million KRW will also be provided. The second recruitment will continue in December.

Mayor Seong said, “I visited the site of the first Star Shop on the 1st. Seeing the passion of Lee Sang-doo, a man in his 20s who hurriedly opened the store anticipating many visitors on Halloween Day, I am confident that the Star Shop will be the catalyst to revive the Itaewon commercial district.”

The district is making quarantine measures more thorough. Since entertainment facilities such as clubs can operate until midnight, a guidance inspection team has been formed to regularly check quarantine rules every Friday when visitors gather, and inspections are also conducted frequently during weekdays.

Mayor Seong requested, “When phased daily recovery begins, COVID-19 cases may temporarily increase. At such times, it is important to follow personal quarantine rules well, such as staying home if you have a fever.”

Yongsan-gu formed a dedicated COVID-19 home treatment TF team by integrating the living treatment center and home treatment management team to unify the COVID-19 case management system and activated an emergency response system.

The start of phased daily recovery is visible throughout Yongsan-gu. Yongsan Dream Tree Comprehensive Town, Yongsan-gu Lifelong Learning Center, and resident autonomy center programs have resumed face-to-face classes, and the cultural shuttle bus service has also restarted.

Mayor Seong Jong-hyun said, “Long before the start of daily recovery, the district has been preparing for the post-COVID-19 era. Last month, we published a white paper documenting the COVID-19 response process, including quarantine, damage support, and vaccination from the early domestic outbreak to the present,” adding, “We have been steadily preparing for commercial district recovery by reviewing the COVID-19 response process.”

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