[Interview] Park Junhee, Mayor of Gwanak-gu, "I Will Create a City Where Residents Are Happy"

Gwanak S-Valley's Rapid Growth, Revitalization of Alley Markets and Traditional Markets Leading to Development as a City of Economic Coexistence and Innovation... Opening of the Comprehensive Youth Activity Hub ‘Gwanak Youth Center’... Youth Operate It Themselves to Pursue Their Dreams... Expansion of Resident Demand Spaces Including Gwanak-gu Disabled Happiness Center, Public Parking Lots, and Starlight Naerincheon Specialized Projects... ‘2022 Seoul Commercial Lease Survey Results’ Show Gwanak District’s Commercial Area Ranked 1st with Average Monthly Sales of 437,000 KRW per ㎡

“Over the past year, Gwanak-gu has achieved remarkable results across various fields with ‘innovation, communication, and cooperation’ as its core principles. Gwanak S-Valley has experienced ultra-fast growth, and alley markets and traditional markets, including the Starlight Sinsari commercial area, have been revitalized, growing and developing into an economic city of coexistence and innovation.”

Park Jun-hee, Mayor of Gwanak-gu, evaluated the first year of the 8th local government administration in this way.

‘Gwanak S-Valley’ is a project that Mayor Park has prioritized during the 7th and 8th local government terms, branding himself as an ‘economic mayor.’ In an area that was once barren for startups, 16 startup infrastructure facilities have been established to date, and last year it was designated as a venture business promotion district, a remarkable achievement. Compared to the early stages, the number of resident companies has increased more than 12-fold, annual sales have grown more than 24-fold, and annual investment attraction has expanded more than 63-fold.

The alley markets and traditional markets, which are the capillaries of the local economy, are also transforming. Ten major alley markets have gained self-sustainability as distinctive themed alleys linked with local resources, and an additional 3.3 billion KRW has been invested over four years to strengthen competitiveness. This year, efforts are underway to expand consumption promotion events, previously focused on traditional markets, to the ten major alley markets to achieve tangible sales increases.

The ‘Starlight Sinsari Commercial Area Renaissance,’ with a total investment of 8 billion KRW over five years, has entered its fourth year of project stabilization. Policies supporting small business owners and traditional markets, such as designation and support reinforcement of alley-type shopping districts, modernization of traditional markets, and issuance of Gwanak Love Gift Certificates, have been steadily continued.

As a result of full efforts to revitalize the local commercial area, Gwanak-gu has received external acclaim, including the Grand Prize in the Local Government Category at the Korea Local Autonomy Policy Awards. The ‘Seorim Dabok-gil’ commercial area was selected in the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s alley economy recovery support project competition, securing a special grant of 470 million KRW for commercial area revitalization. Notably, according to the ‘2022 Seoul Commercial Lease Survey Results,’ monthly sales per 1㎡ ranked high with Sillim Station (4th) and Sharosugil (5th), and the average monthly sales per ㎡ was 437,000 KRW, placing Gwanak-gu’s commercial area first.

In April, the ‘Gwanak Youth Center’ opened its doors. With a total project cost of 13 billion KRW, a total floor area of 1,528.86㎡, and spanning from basement level 1 to the 7th floor, it is a comprehensive youth activity hub space consisting of a youth caf?, seminar rooms, counseling rooms, a multipurpose auditorium, shared offices, and startup incubation rooms.

The district government sought to reflect the actual needs and opinions of youth in policies through public-private governance from the planning stage of the Gwanak Youth Center, and the operation of the center has also been entrusted to the youth themselves. Mayor Park said, “Gwanak has the highest youth population ratio in the nation at 41%, making it the youth capital of Korea. We will work hard with young people to make it a role model for youth policies in local governments nationwide.”

Space welfare for realizing a warm, inclusive Gwanak community continues. In July, the ‘Gwanak-gu Disabled Happiness Center,’ a complex facility supporting the rights of persons with disabilities and stable living for their families, was opened. The ‘Senior Citizens’ Hall and 50 Plus Center,’ supporting welfare for the elderly and social participation activities for middle-aged people before and after retirement, is also being pushed forward with a goal of completion this year. The ‘District Senior Comprehensive Welfare Center’ and ‘Gwanak Cultural Welfare Town,’ aimed at resolving welfare infrastructure disparities between regions, are progressing smoothly.

The district’s representative healing space, ‘Starlight Naerincheon,’ is being developed into a distinctive space linked with major stations of the Sillim Line light rail, and 24 neighborhood parks at the foot of Gwanak Mountain are being specialized and developed by three zones to continue a pleasant and clean living environment where people and nature harmonize.

Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “I believe the most important value in life is ‘happiness.’ We will create a ‘Gwanak where residents are happy and prosperous’ by raising the quality of life and happiness index of residents through policies they can feel.”