Gumi Station Transformed into a Youth Regional Hub with a Complex Cultural Space
Romantic Cultural Geumridan-gil and Munhwaro Established as Popular Spots for the MZ Generation
Gumi City in Gyeongbuk is witnessing the revitalization of its old downtown area as ongoing projects since last year?such as the remodeling of Gumi Station, improvement of residential environments, activation of downtown commercial districts, and creation of a romantic cultural city?are showing positive effects, restoring the area's former vitality.
The old downtown area around Gumi Station once symbolized the prosperity of Gumi City, known as a mecca of the electronics industry. However, the concentration of large corporations in the Seoul metropolitan area and their overseas relocation led to economic difficulties and stagnation in the region.
This year, with Gumi City designated as a defense industry innovation cluster and a semiconductor specialized complex, along with a series of large-scale investment announcements, new changes are being sensed in the old downtown area.
▲ Gumi Station reborn as a regional hub by creating a complex cultural space
The area around Gumi Station, serving as the focal point of the old downtown, is undergoing transformation in line with the times.
The underground parking lot at the rear plaza of Gumi Station was reorganized and reopened in June after 10 years (266 spaces), and the tower parking lot was expanded by 43 spaces (total 362 spaces) along with facility upgrades, resolving chronic parking issues.
The city has recently been selected for the government's population vitality projects and is creating a youth hub space within Gumi Station. The first floor of Gumi Station is being developed into ‘Ground 9,’ a complex cultural hub space featuring remote work (workation) offices and community areas, while the second floor will be transformed into a ‘Wedding Story Cultural Space’ with a wedding-themed book caf? and a comprehensive support platform for youth life cycles.
Furthermore, with the opening of the Daegu Metropolitan Railroad by the end of 2024, connectivity with neighboring cities will be greatly enhanced, increasing the influx of residents. The old downtown, linked with local resources such as Geumridan-gil, Munhwa-ro, and Geumo Stream, is expected to become even more vibrant.
▲ Revitalizing the old downtown by improving residential environments and expanding population inflow
The city is reorganizing the old downtown and improving residential environments to establish a foundation for settling the living population and prepare for population inflow.
In the old downtown area of Wonpyeong-dong, a redevelopment project is underway to sequentially supply a total of 4,450 households. About 1,600 households in Wonpyeong District 1 are scheduled to move in by the end of the year, expected to restore the aging urban functions and significantly contribute to revitalizing the local commercial district.
Gumi Elementary School, which once faced the risk of closure, is preparing to start new construction next year in response to a rapid increase in student numbers. By 2026, 30 billion KRW will be invested to install childcare facilities, sports facilities, and other community convenience facilities.
Additionally, the ‘Gumi Life Culture Center,’ equipped with soundproof practice rooms, art workshops, and a library, is set to begin full operation next year. The city will also establish a ‘Coexistence Center’ to attract youth and revitalize commercial districts, and a ‘Village Center’ to strengthen social welfare functions in residential areas and support women's independence.
▲ Enhancing traditional market competitiveness and revitalizing downtown commercial districts
Efforts continue to enhance the competitiveness of traditional markets and revive downtown commercial districts.
Saemaeul Central Market, a representative traditional market in Gumi, has improved its aging facilities through modernization projects and added 25 parking spaces to greatly enhance user convenience. Starting next year, a romantic night market is ambitiously planned, raising expectations for a splendid revival of the traditional market.
The area around Geumo Market, which suffered slum-like decline due to commercial stagnation, is also undergoing transformation. A creative space for young artists has been established to turn Geumo Market into a cultural-centered entertainment area. Through urban regeneration projects, specialized commercial and cultural streets will be created, and deficient infrastructure such as streetscape and pedestrian paths will be improved.
Moreover, in September, the city designated ‘Jungang-ro Dongmun Shopping Street’ near Gumi Station as Gyeongbuk’s first alley-type shopping street, implementing various support measures such as facility modernization, environmental improvements, education, promotion, and festivals to revitalize the alley commercial district.
The ramen festival, which received great response last year, has moved its venue from Nakdong River Sports Park to the downtown area around Gumi Station and will be held as a large-scale urban festival (from the 17th to the 19th), signaling the revival of the downtown commercial district.
▲ Creating a downtown street culture flowing with culture and romance
Gumi City’s various efforts to create a city where culture and romance flow in the downtown area are gradually bearing fruit.
Since May this year, a busking stage has been regularly held every Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Nonghyup Plaza on Munhwa-ro, receiving enthusiastic responses from citizens. The program features powerful dance performances for younger audiences, mime and bubble shows for family viewers, and a street karaoke open to all, attracting wide participation.
In September, the alley festival held on Geumridan-gil, which has become a street for young people, attracted about 1,500 visitors, showcasing Geumridan-gil’s emergence as a local attraction. The city is dramatically improving the pedestrian environment through undergrounding KEPCO power lines, installing landscape lighting, and establishing public Wi-Fi. The ‘Coexistence Factory,’ a cultural hub facility for local residents, is scheduled for completion next year, aiming to make Geumridan-gil a new representative tourist destination.
The Geumo Stream walking trail was illuminated at night during the cherry blossom season this spring, providing a wonderful experience for tourists visiting Gumi. In October, the Gumi Video Media Center opened, offering citizens opportunities for social participation, communication, and diverse cultural enjoyment through new media. Next year, a media art wall providing outdoor 3D video art will be created to offer citizens even more varied cultural attractions.
Recently, local residents and visitors have been feeling these changes in Gumi’s old downtown.
Mr. Shin (39), a resident of Daegu, said, “I visited Gumi after a year on the weekend, and walking along the charmingly decorated Geumridan-gil and Geumo Stream, I felt the atmosphere had changed a lot and the streets became livelier. I’m also really looking forward to this week’s ramen festival.”
Mr. Lim (64), a merchant at Saemaeul Central Market, expressed expectations, saying, “The market environment is improving, and new facilities are being built nearby. The ramen festival will soon be held, and with the news of large-scale apartment move-ins at the end of the year, merchants around here are growing hopeful.”
Mayor Kim Jang-ho said, “Various efforts to add new vitality to Gumi’s old downtown are gradually yielding results. We will do our best to support the revival of the old downtown by improving deficient infrastructure and cultural infrastructure centered on Gumi Station and strengthening policies to attract young populations.”
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