Gwanak-gu Expands Operation of Artterior Business

Support for Improving Interior and Exterior Environment and Design of Small Business Stores up to 1.5 Million KRW per Store... Priority Support for 70 Unselected Stores in the First Half and Additional Recruitment of 100 Stores... Store-Type Businesses with Fewer Than 5 Regular Employees Can Apply Until November 15

Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) is expanding the implementation of the ‘2023 Gwanak-style Artterior Project’ to support small business owners in improving their stores.

The term ‘Artterior,’ a combination of Art and Interior, is a project that matches small business owners with artists to improve the design of store interiors and exteriors, products, etc., while providing artists with opportunities for creative activities and activity fees. This project has been revitalizing local commercial districts for five years since 2019.

In the first half of this year, the district recruited participants for about a month and has completed improvement support for 398 stores so far. The project satisfaction rate reaches an average of 93%, receiving great response among small business owners.

Accordingly, the district secured an additional budget of 500 million KRW to support 170 more small business owners, aiming to support more stores and invigorate the local economy.

The district plans to prioritize support for about 70 stores that were not selected in the first half but wish to participate, and select new target stores through an open recruitment process.

In particular, to satisfy the diverse needs of small business owners, this year the district is promoting the ‘Gwanak-style Artterior Project’ in a new way.

In addition to the ‘matching type’ method, which improves the design of store interiors, exteriors, and products by matching local artists with each store, a new ‘non-matching type’ specialized in general environmental improvements without matching local artists has been introduced. The non-matching type is gaining popularity among small business owners who want functional improvements such as renovating old store environments.

Furthermore, the district has strengthened safety management measures to prevent accidents among on-site workers and create a safe working environment. It also plans to provide after-support for a certain period after the project ends by establishing ‘defect repair’ standards for facilities installed through the project.

The application period is until November 15, and applicants can visit the Gwanak-gu Office’s Regional Commercial Activation Division or the community service center of the business location with the completed application form and required documents to apply.

The support target is small business stores with fewer than five regular employees located in the region, and the improvement support limit per store is up to 1.5 million KRW. However, entertainment bars, franchises and chains, and stores participating in the same or similar projects are excluded.

For more details, check the announcement posted on the Gwanak-gu website (News & Notices → Public Announcements) or contact the Regional Commercial Activation Division.

Park Jun-hee, Mayor of Gwanak-gu, said, “We are working hard until the end of this year with the hope that the alley economy of our Gwanak-gu will be revitalized,” and added, “Next year, we will continue to walk with small business owners and carry out distinctive and effective support projects.”

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