Eunpyeong-gu's Comprehensive Efforts to Revitalize Alleyway Businesses and Traditional Markets

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) is carrying out comprehensive consumption promotion activities to revive the local economy, which was directly hit by the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Since the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Eunpyeong-gu on February 20, the local economy of Eunpyeong-gu has gone through a very difficult process under social distancing measures.

In fact, Restaurant A, famous as a popular eatery in Jingwan-dong, Eunpyeong, saw its customer numbers drop to only 25% of usual after it was revealed that a confirmed case had visited at the end of February. In response, employees from the Jingwan-dong Community Service Center visited the restaurant in relay fashion. This was a case where Eunpyeong-gu staff took the lead to demonstrate that with disinfection and quarantine, the place was safer than anywhere else.

From mid-March, to recover from the severe local economic impact, the Eunpyeong Love Gift Certificate was issued and consumer benefits were expanded to 20%. The Eunpyeong Love Gift Certificates issued via mobile had a significant ripple effect on small businesses in alleys, serving as a useful part of local economic revitalization.

Ultimately, these gift certificates played a pivotal role as a foothold for local economic recovery by producing explosive effects during the distribution of emergency disaster relief funds from Seoul City and the government.

Additionally, until the end of June, the district office encouraged the use of welfare points by public officials.

Eunpyeong-gu’s efforts to revive the local economy gained further momentum through proactive campaigns. In early March, under social distancing, compliance with quarantine rules was observed, and visits to traditional markets by each department were promoted to stimulate the local economy.

Also, in mid-March, Eunpyeong-gu employees voluntarily raised about 20 million KRW in donations and designated them to the Eunpyeong-gu Social Welfare Council.

In April, SNS promotions of traditional markets and shopping districts’ popular restaurants began to revitalize the local economy. Among stores in Yeonseo Market, Daerim Market, Sin-eungam Market, Yeonsinnae Shopping District, Jeungsan Market, and Daejo Market, 50 representative popular restaurants recommended by merchant associations were selected and posted on SNS. These were posted on the Eunpyeong Internet Broadcasting Station within the district office, blogs, Facebook, and Instagram to encourage residents’ use.

In May, community contribution activities combining beautiful donations and consumption were carried out. The “Beautiful Consumption Campaign” was conducted, raising 40 million KRW from all employees, listening to opinions from various welfare facilities and corporations, and purchasing and distributing necessary items from local traditional markets and small business owners. The valuable consumption of emergency disaster relief funds, conducted in a relay manner by each department, rendered the social debate of “Donation or Consumption?” meaningless.

In fact, Eunpyeong-gu employees met residents with creative ideas in each department. Staff delivered customized donation items to residents one-on-one. They listened in advance to the needed items and replaced fluorescent lights with LED lights in the homes of centenarian elderly living alone.

Also, in the “Support Our Neighborhood Stationery Store” project, children from local after-school centers purchased school supplies under the accompaniment of teachers.

During the COVID-19 phase, two battles are being fought. First, in the quarantine battle, as of March 1, Eunpyeong-gu ranked first among all Seoul autonomous districts in COVID-19 related treatment and statistics (based on the Seoul Infectious Disease Control Support Group website).

Additionally, a new screening clinic called the “Eunpyeong-style Walk-Through” was established to swiftly test residents and protect screening clinic staff, showing prompt action. There is no room for error in quarantine efforts.

Eunpyeong-gu has also prepared for another battle against the local economic downturn. Since March, under social distancing quarantine standards, various efforts to revitalize the local economy have been ongoing.

Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, stated, “I am well aware of the staff’s struggles in quarantine and local economic revitalization efforts since the confirmed COVID-19 case appeared at the end of February,” and added, “We will work even harder with the determination that the region must survive for Seoul and South Korea to survive.”