Gwanak-gu Small Business Owners' 240 Stores Get Artterior Makeover

Recruiting Over 240 Small Business Stores Until the 24th... Up to 2 Million KRW Support for Interior and Exterior Artterior
This Year, Business Integration Through General Environment Improvement ▲Expansion of Environment Improvement Areas ▲Simplified Construction Procedures ▲Provision of Post-Support for Facilities

"Although it took a long time to paint, I am very grateful that the manager and everyone working together communicated so pleasantly and completed the work thoroughly. I feel good as the business place seems brighter."

The owner of Store A, who participated in the Artterior project last year, expressed great satisfaction with the renovated store.

Gwanak-gu (District Mayor Park Junhee) is stepping up this year with an even newer Artterior project to breathe new life into small business owners.

Artterior is a compound word of Art and Interior, a project where artists and small business owners collaborate to improve store environments and support competitiveness. It provides customized consulting for small business stores, from improving interior and exterior spaces such as ▲signboards ▲awnings ▲menus to branding including ▲logos ▲store names ▲product packaging.

Since 2019, the district has supported a total of 1,833 small business stores. According to a satisfaction survey of small business owners who participated in the Artterior project last year, over 90% responded that they were satisfied, and more than 98% expressed willingness to participate again, confirming strong support from merchants.

Thus, the 'Artterior project' has become a beacon of hope for small business owners seeking to overcome difficulties such as sales decline after COVID-19 and management challenges caused by typhoons and floods, aiming to revitalize their store atmospheres.

This year, the Artterior project has been further improved. To expand the number of beneficiaries and support scale, all Artterior projects will be unified under general environment improvement. Previously, the project was divided into general environment improvement and artist matching to provide demand-tailored designs, but reflecting the reality that most demands are for store environment improvement, the district expects higher satisfaction among merchants.

First, the environment improvement areas such as ▲signboards ▲awnings ▲window films, which have had high demand and satisfaction from small business owners, will be further expanded, and the construction procedures will be simplified.

Additionally, a 'defect repair standard' for improved facilities will be established to provide after-support for a certain period even after the project ends.

Finally, a more robust 'safety management plan' will be established to prevent accidents among on-site workers and ensure safer completion of construction.

The support target is approximately 240 small business stores in Gwanak-gu with fewer than five regular employees, wishing to improve interior and exterior design and environment (stores where customers visit to purchase goods and services). However, ▲entertainment bars ▲franchises (chain stores) ▲stores participating in the same or similar projects are excluded from support.

The support amount per store is up to 2 million KRW, which is 350,000 KRW more than last year to assist small business stores struggling due to the ongoing economic downturn.

Those wishing to apply can visit the Gwanak-gu Office 4th floor Regional Commercial Revitalization Division or the local community service center of the store location by the 24th.

For more details, check the announcement posted on the Gwanak-gu Office website (News → Notices) or contact the Regional Commercial Revitalization Division of Gwanak-gu Office.

District Mayor Park Junhee said, "I hope that the newly changed Artterior project this year will benefit more small business owners and revitalize the local economy," adding, "We will continue to actively strive to make this a key project that enhances store competitiveness and revitalizes neighborhood commercial districts."