Donghae City Launches Full-Scale Environmental Renovation at Cheongokjeil Market, Its First Alley-Type Shopping District

A Leap Toward a Safe and Vibrant Commercial District

Donghae City in Gangwon Province will begin rooftop waterproofing work at Cheongokjeil Market, the city's first alley-type shopping district, starting in November as part of a revitalization and renovation project for the downtown commercial area.

Cheongokjeil Market. Provided by Donghae City

This construction aims to address water leakage and safety issues in the aging building and to create a more pleasant market environment. The project will be carried out with a total budget of 145 million won.

Cheongokjeil Market, which opened in 1995, was once the vibrant center of Donghae City's downtown commercial district. However, it has since entered a period of decline due to the emergence of large supermarkets, aging facilities, and an aging merchant population. Currently, only 31 out of 48 stores remain in operation.

In response, Donghae City and the Cheongokjeil Market Merchants Association held multiple consultations with the goal of revitalizing the downtown market and commercial district. As a result, in October, Cheongokjeil Market was designated as Donghae City's first 'alley-type shopping district.'

An alley-type shopping district is a system that targets areas of less than 2,000 square meters with more than 30 clustered stores, where merchants voluntarily cooperate to revitalize the commercial area and support joint marketing and environmental improvements, aiming for sustainable regional economic growth.

This rooftop waterproofing project is the first renovation initiative to be implemented since the designation. It was selected for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' "Traditional Market and Shopping District Safety Management Package Support Project" earlier this year. Through this project, the city plans to prevent safety accidents caused by aging facilities and to create a safe and pleasant market environment where visitors can shop with peace of mind.

Im Seongbin, head of the Economic Affairs Division, stated, "This rooftop waterproofing project will serve as an important starting point for the regeneration of Cheongokjeil Market." He added, "We hope this project will serve as a springboard for merchants to participate and cooperate in creating a vibrant alley-type shopping district, and the city will spare no effort in supporting market revitalization."

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