Groundbreaking of Customer Support Center at Dokkaebi Market, Gongneung-dong, Nowon

Traditional Markets Strengthening Self-Sustainability Amid Persistent Extinction Concerns
Highlighting Offline Space Advantages by Preserving Market Identity... Efforts to Secure Convenience Facilities Like Customer Support and Parking Towers Comparable to Large Marts... Simultaneous Development of Online Sales Channels in Line with Current Trends

Aerial View of Nowon Gongneung-dong Dokkaebi Market Customer Support Center

Nowon-gu, Seoul (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it will strengthen the competitiveness and revitalize the market by expanding customer convenience facilities at Gongneung-dong Dokkaebi Market.

Traditional markets have continuously dispelled recurring crisis theories through relentless challenges and innovations, despite facing existential threats due to changes in consumption patterns such as the emergence of large supermarkets, corporate supermarkets, and the boom of online-based e-commerce.

Dokkaebi Market is the largest traditional market in Nowon-gu, with an average daily footfall of about 4,100 people. Located near a university area, it attracts a large floating population, and its proximity to the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail, a tourist attraction adjacent to the market’s back gate, has further increased its potential to draw consumers.

Accordingly, the district quickly responded to enhance user convenience and promote market economic revitalization by constructing a customer support center and a parking tower.

Starting with the purchase of land near the market in May 2020, the district completed architectural design in October 2022 for a building with a total floor area of 547.5㎡, spanning from one basement floor to four above-ground floors.

The first floor will house public restrooms and parking spaces (two spots) for customers visiting the market. The second floor is planned to include a caf? and community space for various uses, while the third floor will accommodate the merchants’ association office and the customer support office. The customer support office will handle overall inconveniences related to using the traditional market.

The parking tower will be located within the customer support center building. Designed to solve the chronic parking problems of traditional markets adjacent to residential areas, it will be a mechanical elevator parking system to efficiently use the land. It will accommodate a total of 20 vehicles, including one disabled parking space.

Meanwhile, the district is promoting various projects aimed at securing the self-sustainability of traditional markets. Starting with the launch of the Dokkaebi Market Development Team in 2021, it has discovered unique storytelling elements of Dokkaebi Market and successfully launched distinctive PB products such as Dokkaebi Fire Chicken Sauce, Kkongkkongi’s Takoyaki, and Buckwheat Kkongmi Ice Cream. Recently, it has also challenged online sales channels by collaborating with Coupang Eats and holding special sales discount events.

In addition, the district is fostering Gongneung-dong Dokkaebi Market as a genuine cultural tourism market through extensive collaborative programs and support, including cooking classes where merchants share their secret recipes, the Gongneung-dong Dream Road Market blending market products and handicrafts, and participation in the Nowon Craft Beer Festival.

Dokkaebi Dream Roadjang

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, “Securing the market’s self-sustainability is essential amid the onslaught of department stores and large supermarkets,” adding, “We will continue to do our best to strengthen the market’s competitiveness and create a traditional market environment that satisfies both market users and merchants.”

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