‘Signal of Old Downtown Revival’… Gumi City Initiates Designation of Autonomous Commercial District

Public Hearing on Designation of Cultural One-Won Autonomous Commercial Zone

Eligibility for Onnuri Gift Certificate Membership and Commercial Zone Revitalization Project

On the 21st, Gumi City in Gyeongbuk held a public hearing at the Gumi Life Culture Center to designate a self-regulated commercial district on Munhwa-ro to revitalize the old downtown commercial area.

About 50 stakeholders, including commercial area experts, local merchants, and landlords, attended the event to engage in in-depth discussions on the designation of the self-regulated commercial district and plans for commercial area revitalization.

The public hearing proceeded in the order of △ explanation of the self-regulated commercial system and project progress △ presentation of the commercial area revitalization plan △ Q&A and collection of opinions. Participants formed a consensus by discussing necessary support measures and practical alternatives for commercial area revitalization.

Once designated as a self-regulated commercial district, various supports under the Local Commercial Area Act, including affiliation with Onnuri gift certificates, will be available, and applications can be made for commercial area revitalization projects worth up to 10 billion KRW over five years. Gumi City plans to enhance competitiveness through specialized support such as landscape improvement, commercial area branding, and discovering promising entrepreneurs.

Since April, Gumi City has been conducting a research project to establish a comprehensive plan for designating the self-regulated commercial district and revitalizing the commercial area, taking the first step to designate Munhwa-ro as a self-regulated commercial district. Since then, various communication channels, including project briefing sessions, have been prepared to gather opinions from merchants and landlords.

In October, with the consent of prospective self-regulated commercial district merchants, landlords, and landowners, the Munhwa-ro Self-Regulated Commercial District Preparation Committee was approved, and on November 7, the inaugural general meeting was held to promote the establishment of the Munhwa-ro Self-Regulated Commercial District Association (Chairman Kim Jae-sang).

Gumi City plans to establish a commercial area revitalization plan reflecting the opinions gathered at this public hearing for the designation of the self-regulated commercial district and to secure national and provincial funding through public contests to proceed with the project in earnest.

Mayor Kim Jang-ho said, “Local commercial areas are the foundation of the regional economy and spaces where citizens’ lives and culture breathe,” adding, “I hope the designation and revitalization project of the Munhwa-ro self-regulated commercial district will be successfully promoted and become a signal for the revival of the old downtown.”

The city continues to showcase festivals and content that highlight local characteristics to revitalize the old downtown. The Gumi Ramen Festival and Romantic Night Market were held around Gumi Station and Saemaeul Central Market, receiving great responses from citizens and tourists.

Gumi City plans to continue contributing to the development of small business owners and the local economy by creating commercial areas that reflect regional characteristics.

Designation of Ilwon Autonomous Commercial Zone by Culture (Draft). Provided by Gumi City

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