[Interview] Lee Chang-woo, Mayor of Dongjak-gu, "Making 'Dongjak Youth Cafe No.1 THE Hangang' a Landmark by the Hangang River"

Completion of ‘Yongyangbongjeojeong Park Natural Yard’ followed by operation of the second project in Bondong area, ‘Youth Cafe’... Major detailed projects to finalize by next year to develop ‘Yongyangbongjeojeong Area’ as a key tourist attraction securing Dongjak’s future economic growth

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] “Dongjak-gu is a transportation hub connected in all directions, but 84% of its total area is residential, making it a residential-centered city with relatively low harmful elements such as industrial complexes and entertainment facilities. Accordingly, the district has been considering creating an economically self-sufficient urban structure while leveraging the advantage of a high residential area ratio.”

Lee Chang-woo, Mayor of Dongjak-gu, stated in an interview with this publication that the ‘Yongyang Bongjeojeong Area Tourism Attraction Project,’ promoted from this perspective, is a representative project aimed at spreading the economic and social ripple effects generated in the Noryangjin (Bondong) area throughout the entire district.

Starting with the completion of the ‘Yongyang Bongjeojeong Park Natural Yard’ at the end of April, projects such as ‘Creation of Historical and Cultural Spaces,’ ‘Construction of a Park Summit Observatory,’ and the ‘Bondong Urban Regeneration New Deal Project’ are being carried out as planned. The mayor said, “Another achievement in the Bondong area, ‘Dongjak Youth Cafe No.1 THE Hangang,’ has begun full operation.”

The youth cafe was created by remodeling the old district-run senior citizens’ center building (Noryangjin-ro 32-gil 29-6), which had been left unused for over 10 years. It has a total floor area of 227㎡ (basement 1 to ground 2 floors), with the first floor housing a cafe and Hangang viewing deck, and the second floor planned to include a cafe and photo zone.

The district held a contest among residents to discover a creative cafe name while emphasizing the image of “the cafe with the best view of the Hangang in Seoul,” and last month, the name ‘Dongjak Youth Cafe No.1 THE Hangang’ was finalized.

In particular, fitting the name ‘youth cafe,’ the cafe operator was selected through a contest targeting young prospective entrepreneurs. ‘Dongjak Youth Cafe No.1 THE Hangang’ aims to be a space where anyone can visit comfortably at any time.

From visually appealing menus like Einsp?nner for the younger generation to healthy drinks favored by seniors, the cafe is preparing a variety of offerings. Busking performances will be held on the Hangang viewing deck to provide a ‘healing place’ that offers rest from the tiring daily life.

The district also created 20 parking spaces to accommodate family visitors, along with an additional access road to improve the youth cafe’s accessibility. Mayor Lee said, “We put great effort into a customized design to make the exterior of Dongjak Youth Cafe No.1 look fresh. With the young operator’s sensibility added, it will become a night view hotspot where you can enjoy the best atmosphere while sipping a cup of tea, with views stretching from the Hangang to Namsan.”

After enjoying a cup of tea at the youth cafe, visitors will find stairs leading to ‘Yongyang Bongjeojeong Park,’ the first of the detailed tourism attraction projects introduced to residents.

At the end of last year, the district analyzed the economic ripple effects expected from the Yongyang Bongjeojeong area tourism attraction project, estimating an average daily visitor count of about 13,000, an annual visitor count of 4.9 million, and annual consumer spending of 133.2 billion KRW.

If realized, the Noryangjin area centered on Yongyang Bongjeojeong will become a hot place frequently visited by all citizens, establishing a cultural and tourism belt connecting Yeouido and Yongsan.

Along with Noryangjin, the district is fostering the Sadang area (Sadang Station?Isu Station LINK commercial district), which forms the largest commercial zone in the region, into a representative commercial district of southwestern Seoul. The ‘Sadang Station?Isu Station LINK commercial district,’ covering about 180,000㎡ with over 820 stores, was selected last year as a target for the ‘Commercial District Renaissance Project’ by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, with plans to invest up to 10 billion KRW over five years.

This area includes the region’s largest traditional market, Namseong Sagye Market, food alleys near Sadang Station and Isu Station popular among young people, and over 30 workshops that have organically developed in Sadang 1-dong.

With the goal of creating a four-color themed street for the Sadang Station?Isu Station commercial district, the district announced a ‘5-year Commercial District Revitalization Plan’ in the first half of this year after consulting commercial district experts, and is also promoting the establishment of a foundation for systematic project implementation. Mayor Lee Chang-woo emphasized, “During the remaining term of the 7th local government, I will definitely complete the first milestone of change in Dongjak, which has seen little change for a long time.”