Gwangju Dong-gu Accelerates Revitalization with Remodeling of Vacant Stores on Chungjang-ro

Dong-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City recently announced that various businesses, including food service, beauty-related industries, and nightclubs, are undergoing tenant construction in vacant stores around Chungjang-ro, accelerating efforts to inject new vitality into the Chungjang-ro commercial district.

Through this, the Chungjang-ro commercial district, once renowned as the 'largest commercial district in Honam' and 'Myeongdong of Gwangju' for leading shopping and culture, is expected to revive after a long period of stagnation through extensive remodeling work carried out in close public-private cooperation.

The former Wise Park building, a representative landmark of Chungjang-ro, is currently being remodeled by Synergy Tower Co., Ltd., a commercial facility specialist developer, aiming to open in 2025. Earlier, on the 1st, Dong-gu signed a business agreement with Synergy Tower Co., Ltd. to revitalize the Chungjang-ro commercial district, promising collaboration in areas such as ▲forming a public-private cooperation task force (TF) ▲attracting key stores ▲consulting Chungjang merchants ▲joint marketing. The plan is to introduce the successful know-how of 'Cheomdan District Siridang-gil' in design, entry, leasing, and management to lay the foundation for the commercial district's resurgence.

Pop-up stores and popular brand companies favored by people in their teens and twenties are preparing to open throughout Chungjang-ro, and a nightclub is also preparing to open around the Golden-dong Kolbox intersection, signaling the commercial district's revival.

In particular, the former Yusaengchon building in the old Student Hall alley, which had been vacant for a long time, recently completed remodeling for new tenants and has opened a rapidly rising Chinese-style restaurant that is currently thriving. The representative beauty brand Olive Young is also undergoing interior renovations to open an additional store within the commercial district.

A representative from the Chungjang-ro 1~3-ga Merchants Association said, "The steady communication between Dong-gu and the merchants' association has allowed us to analyze current issues and establish alternatives, and the efforts to strengthen the commercial district's competitiveness are now reflected in the remodeling construction of new stores." They added, "We will continue to achieve visible results in the revival of the Chungjang-ro commercial district through the active cooperation of the merchants' association and Dong-gu's systematic project implementation."

Im Taek, Mayor of Dong-gu, said, "The effects of the Chungjang Commercial District Renaissance project, which has been promoted over the past two years, are gradually bearing fruit." He added, "We will actively utilize the current winds of change and restore Chungjang-ro's former glory through innovative attempts and strategic execution such as attracting key stores, creating a village department store, alley tours, and shared space projects over the remaining three years."

Meanwhile, since 2022, Dong-gu has been driving the Chungjang Commercial District Renaissance project with the goal of creating an 'ACE commercial district where culture breathes,' focusing on ▲creating specialized streets such as Dokkaebi Alley ▲improving public facilities including installing large media art zones ▲hosting the Chungjang Raon Festa ▲offering downtown alley tours, and other cultural and artistic programs that differentiate it from other commercial districts, thereby supporting groundbreaking changes in the Chungjang-ro area.