Seongdong District Enacts Nation’s First “Regional Integrated Management Ordinance”… Legal Foundation for Town Management

Promoting a Systematic Regional Integrated Management Model through Public-Private Cooperation

Seongdong District in Seoul (Mayor Jung Won-oh) has enacted the “Seoul Metropolitan City Seongdong District Regional Integrated Management (Town Management) Ordinance,” the first of its kind in the country. This institutional framework was established to enable residents, businesses, and the local administration to jointly manage regional issues and achieve sustainable development amid the city’s rapid growth.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong District, is giving a greeting speech at the 'Seongsu Town Management Launch Ceremony' last June. Provided by Seongdong District.

Seongsu-dong, located alongside Seoul Forest and the Han River, is a major tourist destination attracting 26 million visitors annually, thanks to its unique street culture and the presence of global brands. With domestic and international companies such as Musinsa, SM Entertainment, and Krafton moving in one after another, the area’s cultural and economic influence is expanding rapidly. As a result, new administrative demands related to transportation, environment, and safety are also increasing.

To respond to these changes, Seongdong District introduced the concept of “regional integrated management” starting last June. The enactment of this ordinance formalizes the system, with its core objective being systematic management of the district and collaborative exploration of development directions through public-private cooperation.

According to the ordinance, “regional integrated management” refers to activities in which residents and local organizations take the lead in maintaining and utilizing public spaces, as well as autonomously designing the future vision of the area. To this end, a “regional management council” comprising residents, merchants, institutions, and companies can be formed to directly propose and implement designated areas and business plans. The administration actively supports private sector participation through incentives such as permits for the use of public spaces.

Based on this ordinance, Seongdong District plans to promote various projects, including forming councils for each designated area and operating public popup stores. Last June, a “Seongsu Town Management Launch Ceremony” was held in Seongsu-dong, where companies, residents, and related organizations shared a vision for sustainable urban management.

As the first experiment in town management, a public popup store is being operated in the “Seongsu Industrial Innovation Space” near Ttukseom Station, supporting market access for small businesses and local brands. A second popup store is also planned to open near Yeonmujang-gil to disperse foot traffic and revitalize the local commercial district.

Mayor Jung Won-oh stated, “Town management is a regional integrated management system that keeps the city sustainably alive and vibrant,” adding, “With this ordinance, we will wisely address local issues through public-private cooperation and develop a Seongdong-style urban model.”

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