Nowon-gu Launches Full-Scale Project to Revitalize Gongneung Alley Commercial District

Selected for the 2023 Local Brand Commercial District Development Project: Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail (alley commercial district near Exit 2 of Gongneung Station)... Up to 3 billion KRW budget to be invested over 3 years

Emotional, Coexisting, Walkable! Development of the 'Cheongchun Terrace' Brand

Connecting all visitors as ‘Cheongchun’ (Youth) in the relaxed atmosphere given by the railway, offering a full of sentiment rest

Promotion of merchant organization, anchor store selection and SNS marketing support, various local events, etc.

Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it will brand and support the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail commercial district in Gongneung-dong under the theme of ‘Cheongchun Terrace’.

The Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail is a place reborn as a park by renovating part of the old Gyeongchun Line railway, which was closed in 2010. Recently, it has been called ‘Gongridan-gil’ and ‘Gongtrel Park,’ attracting increasing visitors. Nearby, there are seven universities including Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Samyook University, and Seoul Women’s University, resulting in a large young floating population. It is characterized by unique branded stores such as cafes, workshops, and wine bars rather than large franchises.

Accordingly, the district applied for the 2023 Local Brand Commercial District Development Project led by Seoul City to foster this area, where old houses, traditional markets, and emotional cafes harmonize, into a representative commercial district of Seoul reflecting local characteristics, and was finally selected in January. Up to 3 billion KRW will be invested over three years in the alley commercial district near Exit 2 of Gongneung Station to support various infrastructure and content development, merchant capacity building, and other commercial district advancements.

To this end, the district has started commercial district branding together with the Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation (Chairman Joo Cheol-soo) and residents. Commercial district branding is the process of discovering the unique image that comes to mind about the commercial district and continuously delivering it to consumers to imprint it. As a result, the brand ‘Cheongchun Terrace’ was developed, deriving three core values: ‘Emotional,’ ‘Coexisting,’ and ‘Walkable.’

The plan is to create a commercial district that offers a sentiment-filled rest by connecting consumers enjoying food and beverages and non-consumers enjoying walks as ‘Cheongchun’ (Youth) in the relaxed atmosphere given by the railway.

In addition, the district plans to organize the scattered merchants into the ‘Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail Merchants Prosperity Association,’ share the derived alley commercial district brand ‘Cheongchun Terrace,’ and support them to maintain self-sustainability even after the project ends. Later, to strengthen the bonds among commercial district members and improve the environment, a plogging (jogging while picking up trash) event is also planned.

Moreover, the district will select an ‘anchor store’ to represent the alley commercial district and attract consumers, produce marketing content that captures the charm of the commercial district, and actively support SNS promotion.

Also, in connection with various local festivals, popup stores will be operated, and in October, a ‘Coffee Festival’ will be held to showcase the warm and fragrant coffee unique to the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail, presenting various local events.

This project, conducted over three years in three phases, will be executed in the first year by the Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation (Chairman Joo Cheol-soo), including ▲establishing and managing consumer-centered business plans ▲commercial district branding ▲creating community spaces and operating local events ▲discovering local content and supporting marketing ▲promotions using online platforms ▲merchant organization and environmental improvement consulting support ▲discovering prospective entrepreneurs and educating existing small business owners.

From the second phase next year, the district will take over execution to accelerate the development of the alley commercial district. The discovered local brand will strengthen self-sustainability, and to prevent gentrification, a win-win agreement between landlords and tenants, such as rent freezes, will be promoted. Continuous feedback will be used to address shortcomings, and the merchant organization will be strengthened.

Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “The new brand ‘Cheongchun Terrace’ of the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail will be a space that offers young sensibility and rest to everyone,” adding, “We will spare no support at the district level so that the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail can be reborn as a representative commercial district of Seoul and contribute to revitalizing the local economy.”