Gwanak-gu Designates Alley Shopping Districts No. 9 and 10 to Revitalize Local Alley Commerce

Designation of No.9 ‘Haengundamgil Alley-type Shopping District’ and No.10 ‘NokduS Valley Alley-type Shopping District’
Holding a total of 10 alley-type shopping districts... Ranked 1st among Seoul's autonomous districts
Enables various supports equivalent to traditional markets, including Onnuri gift certificate handling, events, and environmental improvements

Gwanak-gu (District Mayor Park Jun-hee) has become the district with the most alley-type shopping districts among Seoul's autonomous districts by newly designating the 9th and 10th alley-type shopping districts.

The newly designated alley-type shopping districts are ‘Haengundam-gil Alley-type Shopping District’ located in Haengun-dong (16 Nambusunhwan-ro 233-gil and 33 other lots) and ‘Nokdu S Valley Alley-type Shopping District’ located in Daehak-dong (76 Hoam-ro 22-gil and 29 other lots).

These two areas have served as central commercial areas for residents for decades by selling groceries, food, daily necessities, and more. However, they were not recognized as traditional markets and thus were restricted from joining the Onnuri gift certificate program and receiving various support projects.

However, following the amendment of the Seoul Metropolitan Government Gwanak-gu Ordinance on Support for Revitalization of Alley-type Shopping Districts in April, the ‘requirements for designation of alley-type shopping districts’ were relaxed from a concentration of 30 or more small business stores within 2,000㎡ to 25 or more.

Accordingly, the 9th and 10th alley-type shopping districts were newly designated, allowing them to enjoy support and benefits equivalent to traditional markets, such as joining the Onnuri gift certificate program. As a result, Gwanak-gu now holds the largest number of alley-type shopping districts among Seoul's autonomous districts.

In particular, the ‘Daehak-dong Nokdu S Valley Alley-type Shopping District’ had experienced significant commercial decline due to the sharp decrease in exam candidates after the abolition of the judicial examination in 2015 and the impact of COVID-19. Therefore, this designation presents a welcome opportunity to revitalize the commercial area.

The district expects that the designation of alley-type shopping districts will be a step forward in strengthening the competitiveness of small business owners and revitalizing local commercial areas as part of its administrative goals.

Meanwhile, since enacting the Ordinance on Support for Revitalization of Alley-type Shopping Districts in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, on December 31, 2020, the district has designated a total of 10 alley-type shopping districts, including the two newly added locations: Miseong-dong Dokkaebi Market, Nangok Alley-type Shopping District, Gwanak Jungbu Market, Gangnam Alley Market, Bongridan-gil Alley-type Shopping District, Seorim Happy-filled Alley-type Shopping District, Bongcheon Dalbit-gil Alley-type Shopping District, and Namhyeon-dong Artist Village Alley-type Shopping District. Various commercial revitalization projects are being promoted in these areas.

District Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “We will continue to discover alley-type shopping districts to overcome the difficult economy and maintain diverse commercial areas in every alley, providing convenience and enjoyment to residents,” adding, “We will spare no effort to revive local commercial areas.”

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