Completion of Public Parking Lot at Seongnae Traditional Market, Gangdong-gu

987㎡ Site with 28 Parking Spaces... Resolving Parking Inconvenience Increases Visits to Traditional Markets, Boosting Local Economy

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Jeong-hoon) has created a public parking lot with 28 spaces at Seongnae Traditional Market (31-10, Pungseong-ro 37ga-gil, Gangdong-gu, Seoul) to resolve the parking difficulties, which have always been the top inconvenience for residents using traditional markets.

According to a Seoul city public opinion survey (March 2018), the lack of parking facilities and parking difficulties ranked first at 33.9% among inconveniences and improvements needed in traditional markets.

In response, Gangdong-gu applied for and was selected in 2015 for a project sponsored by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and Seoul city to build a public parking lot at Seongnae Traditional Market, receiving national and city funding support.

After completing the investment review in October of the same year, contracts and registrations for land and buildings were finalized from November 2016 to 2017. Demolition of the building was completed in December 2018, and the parking lot was completed in February this year.

With a total budget of 8.7 billion KRW, the parking lot was constructed as a flat self-parking type on a 987㎡ (approximately 299 pyeong) site with 28 parking spaces.

The district plans to operate the parking lot with an unmanned control system for efficient management and improved parking services, and held a completion ceremony at 3 p.m. on the 25th of last month to commemorate the establishment of the public parking lot.

Market merchants and local residents attended to celebrate the new start of Seongnae Traditional Market. Considering social distancing due to COVID-19, the ceremony omitted pre-event performances and proceeded with a project progress report, commendation of meritorious merchants, and a completion ceremony.

Lee Jeong-hoon, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, stated, "With the creation of the public parking lot at Seongnae Traditional Market, parking inconveniences will be greatly alleviated, and we expect more visitors to come to the traditional market. We will improve the environment to support market merchants struggling due to COVID-19 and changes in commercial districts, and to revitalize the local economy."

Meanwhile, Seongnae Traditional Market is located around Cheonho-daero 162-gil in Gangdong-gu and consists of 86 stores selling various products such as agricultural products, seafood, meat, miscellaneous goods, and groceries.

In particular, the store signs here incorporate cartoon elements linked to the nearby Gangpul Manhwa Street. The store names and merchants’ faces are expressed as caricatures, providing visual interest and enjoyment, making it popular among residents.