Muan-gun Selected for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups 'Neighborhood Commercial Area Development Support Project' Competition

Mokpo University Back Gate Commercial Area 'Noisy Neighborhood Project' Begins

Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Kim San) announced on the 15th that it has been finally selected for the ‘2024 Neighborhood Commercial District Development Support Project’ organized by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.

The Neighborhood Commercial District Development Support Project is a program where local creators, merchants, and residents voluntarily collaborate to solve problems in the local commercial district and establish sustainable commercial district development strategies. It provides up to 100 million KRW over one year (50% national funding, 50% local government funding).

Exterior view of Muan-gun Office Building

The county designated the back gate area of Mokpo National University in Cheonggye-myeon as a preliminary commercial district and established differentiated commercial district strategies under the theme ‘Noisy Neighborhood People.’ These include operating a pop-up bookstore by hosting famous independent bookstore operators nationwide, seasonal camps utilizing university dormitories and one-room apartments, and sports skill development programs such as golf and hiking using natural resources (Seungdalsan Mountain, Muan Country Club). Various experiential events using vacant stores are also planned.

The commercial district near the back gate of Mokpo National University was also selected last month for the Jeonnam-style Alley Commercial District First Step Support Project, newly implemented by Jeollanam-do this year. Plans include branding the commercial district, alley festival events, promotion through digital pamphlets and coupon books, and merchant capacity-building activities, expected to create a synergistic effect that revitalizes the stagnant alley commercial district.

Lee Hye-hyang, head of the Regional Economy Division, said, “The Neighborhood Commercial District Development Support Project is a meaningful program where commercial district members creatively establish development strategies. Through this project, we will focus on revitalizing the Cheonggye-myeon Mokpo National University back gate commercial district by leveraging the university’s unique characteristics and discovering new specialized commercial districts utilizing Cheonggye-myeon’s unique resources.”

Muan = Oh Hwan-joo, Honam Reporting Headquarters, Asia Economy just8440@asiae.co.kr