Dobong-gu, Seoul's First Small Business Manager System Launched

Dobong-gu Operates Seoul’s ‘First’ Small Business Manager System to Provide Practical Support Needed On-site

Customized Consulting Support for Small Business (Store) Owners, Expanded to All Areas of Dobong-gu This Year

Connection to Experts in Specific Fields (Smart Innovation Support Group) When Necessary

Dobong-gu (Mayor Oh Eon-seok) is expanding the ‘Small Business Manager Operation Project’ to strengthen the self-reliance and management support of small business owners in the area.

This project is one of the pledges of the 8th municipal government and aims to revitalize the local commercial economy by listening to the difficulties and opinions of the people on the ground and providing practical support. It was piloted in Chang 5-dong from October 31 last year until the end of the year and has been expanded to the entire district since March.

Through this project, small business managers will visit stores in each area of Dobong-gu (Ssangmun area, Banghak area, Changdong area, Dobong area) and help immediately resolve issues that can be solved on-site. For areas requiring support projects, they will review suitability and guide on application methods.

Additionally, management difficulties requiring professional and detailed diagnosis will be referred to the ‘Dobong-gu Smart Innovation Support Group,’ composed of experts in various fields, to conduct in-depth diagnosis of issues and provide customized consulting.

Meanwhile, to focus on consulting by field and follow-up management, the district signed a business agreement with the Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation on December 16 last year and plans to conduct consulting in parallel through professional consultants (industry doctors) from related organizations.

An official from the district said, “The Dobong-gu Small Business Manager system is differentiated from traditional market managers and small business managers implemented for organizations such as alleyway merchant associations and small business federations, as it is Seoul’s ‘first’ system supporting individual small business owners.”

Oh Eon-seok, Mayor of Dobong-gu, said, “While piloting the system in Chang 5-dong last year, we received positive feedback on the operation of the small business manager system and were able to hear the difficulties of small business owners on-site. From this year, we will expand the system to all areas of Dobong-gu so that small business owners can always seek help and establish it as a communication channel.”

Cheongnyong-dong Alleyway Commercial Area ‘Purumireu-gil’ in Gwanak-gu Selected as Seoul’s ‘2023 Regional Commercial Area Revitalization Support Project’ Site

Secured the Highest Seoul City Funding of 61 Million KRW Among Four Selected Autonomous Districts

Support Projects Including Promotion, Merchant Capacity Building, and Various Events to Revitalize Alleyway Commercial Area

Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) secured 61 million KRW in project funds as the alleyway commercial area ‘Purumireu-gil’ around Cheongnyong-gil and Cheongnyong 1-gil was selected for the Seoul City-led ‘2023 Regional Commercial Area Revitalization Support Project.’

The project funds secured by the district are the largest budget among the four autonomous districts selected by Seoul City. The district plans to promote the commercial area, strengthen merchant capabilities, and carry out various commercial revitalization projects such as events in ‘Purumireu-gil.’

First, ‘Blog Experience Marketing’ will be conducted to promote the commercial area. Through a blog experience group, internet promotion of stores, production of leaflets including commercial area goods and discount coupons will be carried out to increase awareness and familiarity of the commercial area.

Merchant capabilities will also be strengthened. Together with local commercial area experts, a ‘Alleyway Commercial Area Merchant Workshop’ will be held to nurture leaders of the alleyway commercial area and support benchmarking of excellent local commercial areas.

Additionally, programs to attract customers such as busking performances and various events like receipt prize giveaways are planned.

Meanwhile, the district is pushing forward the ‘2023 Comprehensive Support Plan for Small Businesses’ with a total investment of 10.9 billion KRW in 17 projects across three areas: small business recovery support, alleyway commercial area competitiveness enhancement, and local economy consumption promotion, focusing all efforts on supporting small businesses.

Furthermore, last year the district was selected for the ‘Ministry of the Interior and Safety Alley Economy Recovery Support Project’ and the ‘Seoul City Garment Manufacturing Work Environment Improvement Support Project,’ securing special grants of 470 million KRW and city funds of 260 million KRW respectively, striving to attract external resources for more small business support.

An official from the district said, “This selection in the competition will be a good opportunity to inject vitality into the alleyway commercial area revitalization that the district has been focusing on. We will do our best to help small business owners who are struggling due to recent high prices.”

Geumcheon-gu to Operate ‘Housing Lease Dispute Counseling Center’ Starting March

Reservation Counseling Available Every Second and Fourth Thursday (10:00~12:00) from March

Complex and Diverse Lease Legal Disputes Can Be Consulted for Free by Experts

Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yoo Seong-hoon) announced that starting in March, it will operate the ‘Geumcheon-gu Housing Lease Dispute Counseling Center’ twice a month to ensure residential stability and welfare for residents.

For residents troubled by complex and diverse legal issues related to housing leases, free legal counseling and related information will be provided by lawyers and certified real estate agents at the ‘Expert Counseling Room’ located on the first floor of the district office’s integrated civil service center.

Counseling topics include various lease contract-related matters such as ▲right to request contract renewal ▲limit on monthly rent ▲housing defect repairs ▲lease contract period ▲disputes over deposit returns.

Residents wishing to receive counseling can make a reservation by phone with the Real Estate Information Division and receive counseling every second and fourth Thursday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Reservation applications will also be accepted through the Geumcheon-gu Office website in March.

Yoo Seong-hoon, Mayor of Geumcheon-gu, said, “Through the Housing Lease Dispute Counseling Center, we hope residents facing difficulties related to lease contracts can resolve their issues without financial burden. We will continue to strive to protect residents’ property rights and residential stability.”

Seongdong-gu’s A to Z Prevention of Jeonse Fraud: From Counseling Center Opening to Expert Lectures

New Legal and Housing Welfare Counseling Centers Starting March Provide Tailored Solutions for Various Situations

‘Jeonse Fraud Prevention Special Lecture’ by Former Judge and Lawyer Shin Jung-kwon on the 18th at 11 a.m.

Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) announced its commitment to fully prevent the rapidly increasing jeonse fraud and alleviate tenants’ anxiety.

Starting in March, the district will newly operate legal counseling related to housing leases and a housing welfare counseling center for vulnerable groups, offering tailored solutions for different situations. The legal counseling center is open to any tenant of housing located in Seongdong-gu and provides consultations on housing lease issues such as ‘empty jeonse’ and jeonse fraud. Counseling is conducted by phone for up to 10 people on a first-come, first-served basis each month.

Additionally, the district signed an agreement with Seoul Housing & Communities Corporation (SH) in January to newly operate a housing welfare counseling center where SH housing counselors provide direct consultations. Counseling topics include ▲housing upgrade (housing ladder) projects ▲customized counseling for public rental housing ▲information on other Seoul City housing support projects. The first consultation starts on the 9th of this month. The center will provide comprehensive customized housing welfare services for vulnerable groups. It operates on the first floor of Seongdong-gu Office every second Thursday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Those wishing to consult should contact the Housing Policy Division.

Amid growing concerns about ‘empty jeonse,’ where the jeonse deposit exceeds the housing price due to recent real estate price declines, Seongdong-gu will also conduct focused inspections of real estate agencies in high-risk areas such as newly built villas and areas where jeonse prices are higher than sale prices, as well as areas with many complaints.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “Jeonse fraud threatens the basic housing rights and property of residents. We hope the newly operated counseling centers and expert lectures will provide knowledge about real estate contracts during the moving season and help prevent jeonse fraud damage.”