[Seoul District News] Seoul Yakryeongsi Herbal Medicine Market Tour Program Combining History, Culture Story, and Herbal Experience as a K-Wellness Program with Multilingual (Korean, English, Japanese) Guided Services for Foreigners... Newly Created Circular Walking Path, Multipurpose Artificial Turf Field, Exercise Yard, Combination Playground, and More... Pet Temporary Shelter Established, Reborn as a Rest Area Considerate of Both Pet Owners and Non-Pet Owners... Gwanak-gu Supports Vitality of ‘Byeolbit Sinsari’ Commercial Area near Sillim Station... Gangseo-gu Collaborates with Village Buses to Revitalize Traditional Markets... Gwangjin-gu, Sewing Industry...
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) Seoul Korean Medicine Promotion Center (Seoul Yakryeongsi Korean Medicine Museum) operates the market tour program ‘A Tour of Yakridan-gil’ to inform tourists visiting the Korean Medicine Industry Special Zone Seoul Yakryeongsi (hereinafter Yakryeongsi) about the value of Korean medicine and provide enjoyment through Korean medicine experiences.
‘A Tour of Yakridan-gil’ is a market tour program combining a local historical commentary of Yakryeongsi given directly by a professional docent from the Seoul Korean Medicine Promotion Center (hereinafter the Center) and a Korean medicine specialized experience. It is conducted in consideration of seasonal conditions, divided into the first half (April to July) and the second half (September to December).
The detailed program includes ▲historical and cultural commentary of Yakryeongsi such as Bojewon, Iljumun, and Seongdong Station site ▲guidance on the safe distribution process of Korean medicine ▲stories about Korean medicine from Yakryeongsi merchants and tasting of Korean medicine products ▲visiting the Korean Medicine Museum and herbal foot bath experience ▲tasting Korean herbal tea, etc., allowing participants to see and enjoy everything about Seoul Yakryeongsi in about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Especially, this year, as a K-wellness tourist destination representing Korea selected by the Korea Tourism Organization, English and Japanese commentary services will be provided so that foreigners can also participate.
The participation fee for ‘A Tour of Yakridan-gil’ is 10,000 KRW, and reservations can be made through the Seoul Public Service Reservation system and by phone. For more details, please contact the Seoul Korean Medicine Promotion Center.
Yoo Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, said, “The Seoul Korean Medicine Promotion Center has prepared a market tour program combining historical and cultural stories and Korean medicine experiences together with excellent stores in the Korean Medicine Industry Special Zone Seoul Yakryeongsi,” adding, “We hope many people will participate in ‘A Tour of Yakridan-gil’ to learn the value of Korean medicine and enjoy the experience.”
The area around Sillim Station, famous for ‘sundae’ (Korean blood sausage), has faced difficulties due to changes in customer consumption patterns and aging facilities.
Accordingly, Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) is making every effort to promote the ‘Starlight Sinsari Commercial District Renaissance’ project to revitalize the Sillim Station area as a representative commercial district of Seoul.
The Starlight Sinsari Commercial District Renaissance is a large-scale project supported by the district and Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation to revitalize the local commercial districts around Sundae Town at exits 3 and 4 of Sillim Station, Seowon-dong shopping street, Sinwon Market across from Starlight Naerincheon, and Gwanak General Market.
The district has renovated the waterside stage and surrounding area centered on Starlight Naerincheon, providing various attractions and entertainment for visitors. It also signed a business agreement with Danggeun Market, Korea’s largest local community platform, establishing a foundation for non-face-to-face events that have become more important due to COVID-19, and recruited marketing support groups of various age groups to enhance commercial district awareness through SNS and blogs.
Starting this year, based on this foundation and governance, the district plans to accelerate commercial district revitalization. First, it will nurture 2050 stores to enhance the attractiveness of the commercial district. The 2050 stores refer to core stores that cover people in their 20s to 50s and can sustain themselves until 2050. Selected small business owners will receive systematic diagnosis, consulting by experts, and step-by-step close support to develop into representative stores of the commercial district.
It will also support the development of specialized products, delivery food, and the launch of commercial district brand products. With food service experts, the district plans to support the development of new food products like ‘sundae,’ the representative food of the commercial district, and develop delivery-friendly recipes to help merchants adapt to changing consumption patterns.
In particular, based on a self-survey, the district will improve the biggest inconveniences when using the commercial district: lack of parking facilities (42%) and discomfort with facilities such as restrooms (25.1%). To supplement the lack of public parking lots in the commercial district, the district will cooperate with private online parking platforms to allow customers to use private parking lots around the commercial district at discounted rates. It will also support facility improvement costs for small business owners in the commercial district to help improve restrooms comfortably.
Additionally, to attract customers, the district plans to add vitality to the commercial district with various events such as the Starlight Lighting Festival using Starlight Naerincheon, specialized product tasting events, Sinsari Commercial District relay events, and one-day classes.
A district official said, “We will do our best to revive Starlight Sinsari around Sillim Station as a representative commercial district of Seoul,” adding, “We hope this will bring new hope and opportunities to small business owners who have steadfastly protected the commercial district despite the difficulties of COVID-19.”
Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) has completed the renovation and opened Galul Park in Sanggye-dong as a space supporting healthy leisure activities for all residents.
Located at 644 Sanggye 9-dong, ‘Galul Park’ is a neighborhood park of 11,300㎡ including Haetbit Children’s Park, near Sanggye Jugong Complexes 12 and 13, between Sangwon Elementary School and Cheongwon Middle and High Schools.
The district started the regeneration project in January last year to renovate the park, which had aging facilities and environment, and completed the construction in March this year.
The newly renovated Galul Park carefully considered facilities and space composition to comprehensively support leisure activities for residents with diverse tastes.
The first noticeable place upon entering the park is a 340㎡ lawn yard. It is a sunny grassy area where visitors can bask in the sun and view Suraksan Mountain and the entire park, with a small stage installed for outdoor events.
The 683㎡ multipurpose ground, which had uneven ground and poor drainage, was replaced from sand soil to artificial turf to enable safe sports activities.
For seniors enjoying light exercise around the park, seven new exercise equipment were installed in the exercise yard, totaling 13 types of exercise facilities. The circular walking trail around the park was repaved with elastic rubber chips to prevent injuries. Also, a temporary shelter for pets was created to provide a considerate space for safe outdoor activities for pets.
Attached to Galul Park is Haetbit Children’s Park, where a combination playground and basket swing were installed, along with a sand play area stimulating infants’ tactile senses. Convenience facilities such as a pergola and water fountain were also provided so guardians can watch children and rest, ensuring both safety and fun for children.
Furthermore, old trees and flowers in the park were replaced with species matching the overall design and viewing points, and resting areas were installed. LED park lights were newly installed near the walking trail and rest garden area to ensure the safety of residents enjoying evening walks.
The district is implementing a ‘Five-Year Living Park Regeneration Project’ targeting 28 living parks and 90 children’s parks in the area. It plans to extensively repair 21 neighborhood parks and 77 children’s parks by 2023 after carefully examining park conditions and maintenance needs.
Park regeneration is carried out in a way that enhances individuality according to the park and surrounding area conditions, including circular walking trails, exercise spaces, lawn yards, resting areas, photo zones, reinforcement of children’s play facilities, and rest gardens. The project to create pleasant and safe healing parks for all generations from infants to the elderly started in 2019 and has already completed 70 parks.
Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, “Galul Park has been reborn as a space for communication with neighbors and a place of rest and healing that all residents can enjoy together,” adding, “We will continue to promote park regeneration to enhance the quality of rest even in nearby living parks.”
Gangseo-gu, Seoul (Mayor Noh Hyun-song) has joined hands with village buses to revitalize traditional markets.
The district announced that it signed a tripartite business agreement with traditional markets and village bus operators to promote the ‘Traditional Market Village Bus Boarding Support Project.’
The project aims to provide transportation convenience to market users, encourage visits to markets, revitalize traditional markets, and contribute to increasing merchants’ sales.
The Traditional Market Village Bus Boarding Support Project issues village bus boarding coupons to customers who purchase goods at traditional markets served by the village buses.
First introduced at Songhwa Mural Market in 2019, the project expanded to four markets in 2021, and this year one more market joined, making a total of five participating markets.
The participating traditional markets are Kkachisan Market, Nambu Alley Market, Hwagok Bon-dong Market, Songhwa Mural Market, and Bangsin Traditional Market. Customers who purchase goods worth 10,000 KRW or more at these markets receive one free boarding coupon.
Boarding coupons can be exchanged by presenting purchase receipts at customer centers (Kkachisan Market, Nambu Alley Market, Bangsin Traditional Market) and event venues within the markets (Hwagok Bon-dong Market, Songhwa Mural Market).
Kkachisan Market issues boarding coupons for Gangseo Bus No. 03, Nambu Alley Market for Gangseo Bus Nos. 02 and 03, Hwagok Bon-dong Market for Gangseo Bus No. 01, Songhwa Mural Market for Gangseo Bus Nos. 05 and 06, and Bangsin Traditional Market for Gangseo Bus No. 07.
Up to 10,000 coupons will be issued per traditional market until September, and the issued coupons can be used until November 30.
A district official said, “We are making great efforts with market merchants to help residents who find it inconvenient to use traditional markets due to poor accessibility,” adding, “We hope residents will use traditional markets more closely and frequently.”
Besides the boarding support project, the district is conducting various projects such as facility modernization and delivery service support to revitalize traditional markets.
Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Seon-gap) is actively working to improve the poor working conditions of local sewing companies.
The district is promoting the ‘2022 Garment Manufacturing Company Work Environment Improvement Support Project’ to create a safe working environment and help improve productivity.
The support targets garment manufacturing companies located in Gwangjin-gu with fewer than 10 regular employees, classified as small businesses. Priority is given to workplaces located underground or semi-underground with poor ventilation or those with dust, lighting, and noise levels below average standards.
Support items include ▲hazard removal such as installation of fire extinguishers and fire detectors ▲work environment improvement such as installation of ducts, LED lighting, and ventilators ▲work efficiency improvement such as cutting tables and work chairs, with support up to 8 million KRW per company.
The district prioritizes support for essential safety equipment directly related to worker safety, hazard elimination, and work environment improvement. Companies must bear 20% of the total support amount.
Companies wishing to apply should submit required documents to the Gwangjin-gu Regional Economy Division by visiting, mail, email, or fax by the 8th.
Selection results will be decided in May after on-site inspections and Seoul city evaluations, and selected companies will carry out work environment improvement projects until the end of this year.
For details, refer to the announcement on the district office website or contact the Regional Economy Division.
Previously, since 2019, the district has promoted the ‘Garment Manufacturing Company Work Environment Improvement Support Project,’ improving the environment of 65 sewing companies.
Additionally, to revitalize the sewing industry, since 2018, the district has promoted a garment manufacturing company collaboration project, achieving results such as ▲joint brand trademark application (Sherami) and prototype production ▲establishment of Gwangjin industry-academia-government fashion governance (Gwangjin Sewing Cooperative, Seoul Gwangjin Clothing Association, Konkuk University LINC+ Project Group).
This year, to support sewing companies struggling due to prolonged COVID-19, the district allocated supplementary budgets of 300 million KRW for sewing small business waste bag support, 800 million KRW for smart solution anchor projects, and 20 million KRW for sewing company status surveys.
Kim Seon-gap, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, said, “The garment manufacturing industry is the representative industry of the local economy with the largest share among manufacturing industries introduced by the district. We will continuously discover and implement various support policies to strengthen competitiveness.”
Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Gyeong-gi) is distributing 1,500 eco-friendly box garden sets to local residents.
Box gardens allow beginners to easily and simply grow seedlings at home by utilizing small spaces such as apartment balconies or rooftops with only a small personal cost, making them popular among residents every year.
Each set includes a cultivation container (65×45×50cm), 50L of potting soil, six seedlings (lettuce varieties, cherry tomatoes), and a cultivation manual, enabling easy vegetable growing without much difficulty.
Local residents can apply by paying only 20% of the 42,500 KRW cost per box garden set, i.e., 8,500 KRW. Up to two sets per household can be applied for.
The application period is until midnight on the 8th. Applications can be submitted via the Jungnang-gu website (Citizen Participation → Internet Application → Box Garden Application). Winners will be selected by random computer drawing and individually notified on the 20th of this month, with results also posted on the website.
Ryu Gyeong-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, said, “We hope residents enjoy the joy of harvesting by easily growing crops at home,” adding, “We will continue to do our best to enable residents to experience urban agriculture in various ways within the city.”
Meanwhile, following the distribution of 2,500 box gardens last year, the district plans to distribute 3,000 box garden sets this year.
Yeongdeungpo-gu (Mayor Chae Hyun-il) announced that it will provide 500,000 KRW disaster relief funds to small business owners who closed their businesses due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic to comfort and support their recovery.
The support targets small business owners in special damage industries who closed their businesses due to a sharp drop in sales caused by the spread of COVID-19 and social distancing measures. The purpose is to compensate for losses through cash support per store and provide a stepping stone for re-challenge.
The specific support targets are small business owners who closed businesses subject to gathering bans or business restrictions within Yeongdeungpo-gu, who closed between March 22, 2020, when social distancing was strengthened by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, and March 25 this year, and who operated the business for at least 90 days before closure.
The support amount is 500,000 KRW in total. If one representative closed multiple businesses, support will be provided for each business separately. If two or more people jointly operated a store and closed it, support will be paid to each joint representative. However, if joint representatives are direct lineal ascendants/descendants or spouses, only one representative can receive the support.
Eligible small business owners should visit the relevant department with ID, business closure certificate, small business confirmation (or documents verifying sales and regular employees), and bankbook copy by May 31.
They can also download the ‘Closed Small Business Owner Civil Petition Form’ posted on the Yeongdeungpo-gu website, fill it out, and submit it via email to the person in charge.
After submission, verification of documents and eligibility will be conducted, and approved small business owners will receive the support within 14 days from the application date.
For details, refer to the announcement in the ‘Notices/Announcements’ section on the Yeongdeungpo-gu website or contact the relevant department or the Job and Economy Division of the district office.
Chae Hyun-il, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, said, “We hope this disaster relief fund will comfort small business owners and self-employed people who had to close their businesses due to the prolonged COVID-19 and give them strength to leap forward again,” adding, “We will continue to do our best to prepare effective support measures and boost the local economy and neighborhood commercial districts.”
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