Guro Market and Gocheok Neighborhood Market Become Better Places for Business

After the first installation of 2,070㎡ in 2016 at Guro Market, an additional 1,150㎡ was created this year... Gocheok Neighborhood Market was selected as a Cultural Tourism Market last year, with various internal and external facilities renovated

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Guro Market and Gocheok Neighborhood Market have improved.

Guro-gu (Mayor Lee Seong) announced on the 3rd that “the arcade extension project at Guro Market and the traditional market street creation project at Gocheok Neighborhood Market, both aimed at revitalizing traditional markets, have recently been completed.”

The Guro Market arcade extension project was carried out in the area of 736-1 Guro-dong, covering a total area of 1,150㎡ (length 59m, width 15m).

Guro-gu invested about 1.3 billion KRW, starting construction in April this year and completing it last month. This is the second project following the installation of a 2,070㎡ (length 300m, width 6.9m) arcade around 22beon-gil, Gurodong-ro in May 2016.

With the additional arcade at Guro Market, a comfortable environment has been created where customers can shop regardless of the weather.

Along with the arcade construction, Guro-gu also installed ceiling lighting, secured fire lanes, repaved the floor, and maintained Korea Electric Power Corporation poles and communication poles.

Guro-gu also developed a traditional market street at Gocheok Neighborhood Market (around 32-gil, Gocheok-ro).

Gocheok Neighborhood Market, with a total floor area of 6,014㎡ and over 80 stores, was selected as a ‘Cultural Tourism Market’ by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups in March last year, and has been promoting the creation of a traditional market street. Various facilities inside and outside the market were refurbished, food products were developed, merchants were educated, and club activities were conducted.

For facility maintenance, in the first phase last year, traditional roof tiles and eaves were installed above the stores. Existing protruding signs were unified into Cheongsachorong (traditional Korean lantern) shapes, and traditional pattern design panels were commonly installed at the lower part of store stands. Traditional color designs were applied to corridor pillars, and a mobile stage was also created.

In the second year of the project this year, efforts were focused on creating an external base that matches traditional shops. Traditional pattern gates were built at two main entrances and the north gate entrance, where many customers enter, and an electronic display board was installed for market guidance. Around the north gate entrance, a rain shelter facility about 15 meters long was also installed.

Along with the creation of the traditional market street, Gocheok Neighborhood Market is also operating an online sales service called ‘Naver Neighborhood Market Shopping.’

A Guro-gu official said, “The shopping environment at the two markets has greatly improved due to facility upgrades,” and added, “We will do our best to make these traditional markets happy places for both merchants and residents.”