Sokcho City Newly Designates Alley-Type Shopping Districts Around Daepo Port, Expanding to Four in Total

Sokcho City Continues to Designate Alley-Type Shopping Districts
Expectations Rise for Revitalizing Local Commercial Areas
Two New Districts Designated Around Daepo Port

In Sokcho, Gangwon Province, the consecutive designation of alley-type shopping districts is raising expectations for revitalizing the local commercial area and supporting the recovery of small business-centered commerce.

Sokcho City designated two areas around Daepo Port as alley-type shopping districts on the 4th and is delivering the designation certificates. Provided by Sokcho City

On December 4, Sokcho City designated two areas around Daepo Port as alley-type shopping districts and delivered the designation certificates.

The newly designated areas are "Daepo Port Alley-Type Shopping District A" and "Daepo Port Alley-Type Shopping District B."

"Daepo Port Alley-Type Shopping District A" covers a total area of 2,168.9 square meters and houses 29 stores, while "Daepo Port Alley-Type Shopping District B" spans 2,813.7 square meters and contains 36 stores.

With this, Sokcho City now operates a total of four alley-type shopping districts, further expanding the foundation for stabilizing the management of local small businesses and strengthening the self-sufficiency of the commercial area.

Previously, on November 4 and September 1, Sokcho City designated 5,166 square meters in the Saemaeul area of Joyang-dong and 3,304 square meters around 159 Jungang-ro as "Saemaeul Alley-Type Shopping District" and "Jungang 1st Street Alley-Type Shopping District," respectively.

Additionally, in July, the city amended its ordinance to ease the designation criteria for alley-type shopping districts from "an area within 2,000 square meters with 30 or more stores" to "an area with at least 15 stores."

The Saemaeul Alley-Type Shopping District is home to 44 stores, while the Jungang 1st Street Alley-Type Shopping District has 25 stores.

To be designated as an alley-type shopping district, merchants in the desired area must voluntarily form an organization, establish the district boundaries, create a list of merchants, and decide on the district's name. They then apply to the local government, which reviews whether the requirements stipulated by relevant laws and ordinances are met before granting the designation.

Once designated, these districts are eligible to participate in national and provincial funding programs for facility modernization and business improvement.

They can also register as affiliates for the Onnuri Gift Certificate program.

The Onnuri Gift Certificate is issued by the government to promote traditional markets and local shopping districts. It is popular because it offers discounts upon purchase, but it can only be used at registered affiliate stores.

Therefore, being designated as an alley-type shopping district allows stores within the area to register as affiliates that accept the gift certificate, which is expected to be a significant benefit.

Accordingly, Sokcho City plans to continue providing support to ensure that alley-type shopping districts receive practical benefits such as facility modernization, joint marketing, merchant capacity-building training, digital transformation, and Onnuri Gift Certificate affiliate registration, so that these districts can revitalize the local economy as vibrant commercial hubs.

Lee Byeongseon, Mayor of Sokcho, stated, "We expect this designation to bring new vitality to the commercial area around Daepo Port," adding, "We will spare no administrative support to ensure that alley-type shopping districts become a solid foundation for the growth of small businesses."

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