Gwanak-gu, First Seoul Autonomous District Selected for 'Urban Small-Scale Manufacturers Cluster Shared Infrastructure Project' Competition

Designation of Sinsa, Jowon, and Miseong-dong Areas as Cluster Districts, Establishing Foundation for Small Manufacturers' Organization and Competitiveness Enhancement... A Total of 1.966 Billion Won Invested Over 3 Years to Create a Sustainable Growth Ecosystem for the Garment Sewing Industry

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) achieved the great feat of being the first autonomous district in Seoul to apply for and be finally selected in the ‘Urban Small-scale Manufacturers Cluster Joint Infrastructure Construction Project’ announced by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (hereinafter referred to as the Ministry) on the 13th.

An ‘Urban Small-scale Manufacturers Cluster’ is a designated area by the Minister of SMEs and Startups upon application by the head of a local government, where the number of urban small-scale manufacturers in the same industry exceeds the administrative district standard (50 or more in eup, myeon, dong of a special city) according to the ‘Special Act on Support for Urban Small-scale Manufacturers.’

The ‘Urban Small-scale Manufacturers Cluster Joint Infrastructure Construction Project’ is a project that supports the construction of joint infrastructure to induce organization and collaboration among small manufacturers, activate the cluster, and enhance competitiveness.

The district applied for the area where clothing sewing small manufacturers (hereinafter referred to as small manufacturers) are concentrated in Sinsa-dong, Jowon-dong, and Miseong-dong as a cluster and established a three-year phased plan to revitalize the cluster.

Also, reflecting the demands of small manufacturers, joint infrastructure will be constructed on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the building at 1517-1 Nambusunhwan-ro (located in Sinsa-dong), equipped with ▲cutting room and CAD room ▲education room and development room ▲joint workshop and sample room.

To be selected for this public contest project, the district conducted a research service for the designation of the small manufacturers cluster and the construction of joint infrastructure in November last year, benchmarking excellent cases of clusters in other local governments, and conducted a demand survey of small manufacturers to reflect practical needs on site and prepared the project plan.

In addition, the district signed business agreements with related organizations such as Seoul City, Seoul Business Agency, Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation, and related groups including the Gwanak Fashion Sewing Association, Gwanak Chamber of Commerce, Gwanak Small Business Federation, and the Residents’ Autonomy Committees of Sinsa, Jowon, and Miseong-dong to lay the groundwork for smooth project promotion to revitalize clothing sewing small manufacturers.

Subsequently, the district was finally selected after passing the first document evaluation, second on-site evaluation, and third presentation evaluation through the public contest application on April 1.

With the selection, the district plans to invest a total budget of 1,966 million KRW, including 741 million KRW in national funds, 735 million KRW in city funds, and 490 million KRW in district funds, to ensure thorough implementation of projects for constructing and operating joint infrastructure and revitalizing the cluster.

Furthermore, the district plans to maximize synergy between this Urban Small-scale Manufacturers Cluster Joint Infrastructure Construction Project and the clothing sewing support project by linking and promoting them with the Seoul-type Clothing Manufacturing Collaboration Support Project and the Work Environment Improvement Project, which were selected in this year’s Seoul City public contest.

Park Jun-hee, Mayor of Gwanak-gu, said, “The selection in this public contest project is expected to be an opportunity for the stagnant clothing sewing industry to once again leap forward as the center of the local economy,” and added, “We will continue to actively respond to external contests to strengthen the self-sustainability and competitiveness of clothing sewing small manufacturers.”