"Establishing Foundation for Urban Regeneration in Dongbuk 4 Districts"… City Opens Resident Proposal Submissions

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 7th that it will conduct the 'Northeast 4 Districts Urban Regeneration Resident Contest Project' to explore urban regeneration plans through the voluntary participation of residents in the Northeast 4 districts(Seongbuk·Gangbuk·Dobong·Nowon Districts).

The Northeast 4 Districts Urban Regeneration Resident Contest Project was first conducted last year. Last year, the city selected three themed contest projects such as 'Merchant Network for Changdong Station Rodeo Street Regeneration,' 'Let's Regenerate the City with Music,' and 'Dancing Heart,' as well as three general contest projects including 'Elegant Art Map Leading to the Flower Market,' 'Nowon Graffiti Knitting,' and 'Opening the World with Fingertips,' providing a total support of 40 million KRW.

This year, considering the ripple effects around the Northeast 4 Districts Urban Regeneration Project and the Changdong-Sanggye New Economic Center Development Project, the contest is divided into two categories: a general contest for revitalizing the Northeast area metropolitan center and strengthening hub functions as envisioned by local residents, and a planning contest to discover sustainable plans and solutions to urban problems that can be implemented and operated based on the region in connection with the Changdong-Sanggye New Economic Center Development.

Anyone interested, including residents, merchants, youth, activists, and private organizations, can participate in this resident contest project. Applicants can be groups of three or more people (with one representative) who are life-based in the project area such as workplaces, schools, or business locations, as well as non-profit private organizations, non-profit private corporations, cooperatives, and (preliminary) social enterprises. Each project can receive up to 10 million KRW (with a 10% self-contribution).

Seoul City will provide consulting support to ensure the execution capability of residents (groups) participating in this contest project. To enhance connectivity among participants and expand activity networks, regular public forums will also be established.

Proposal applications, including the project application form (proposal) and project plan, can be submitted by visiting the Northeast 4 Districts Urban Regeneration Cooperation Support Center located in Platform Changdong 61, Dobong District, or by email from the 22nd to the 24th of this month. For detailed information, inquiries can be made to the Northeast 4 Districts Urban Regeneration Cooperation Support Center.

The evaluation will proceed in three stages: first, a document (eligibility) review; second, an interview; and third, a final selection committee. The final selection will consider the necessity and feasibility of the project, the project plan and its viability, project sustainability, resident participation, and public interest. The interview will be conducted individually or in groups depending on the number of applicants, and the final selection and funding amount will be decided by the Seoul Metropolitan Government Local Subsidy Review Committee in the third stage.

The final results are scheduled to be announced on May 13, and the selected candidates will sign agreements with the city in May, receive project funds, and carry out the projects until the end of November.

Kim Seon-soon, Head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government Regional Development Headquarters, said, "We will establish the foundation for urban regeneration in the Northeast 4 districts through resident contest projects planned and participated in by the residents themselves," adding, "We will actively cooperate and support projects that can continuously operate in the region by discovering various ideas for the Northeast 4 districts and the Northeast metropolitan center."