Seocho-gu, Local Brand Business Briefing for Seocho-Gangnam Station Commercial Area on the 23rd

"Gangnam Station Exit 9 Gateway Glocal Commercial Area Development"

Busking performance scene at Gangnam Station Exit 9, the gateway to the Seocho-Gangnam Station commercial area. (Photo by Seocho District Office)

The Seocho-Gangnam Station commercial district is set to transform into a glocal (global + local) area where people stay, enjoy, and where foreigners return. Seocho-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jeon Seong-su) announced that on the 23rd at 3 PM, a business briefing session for the ‘2024 Seocho-Gangnam Station Local Brand Project’ will be held at Megabox Gangnam Branch, 9th floor, Theater 2.

The Seocho-Gangnam Station commercial district, which stretches northward from Gangnam Station exits 9 and 10 toward Sinnonhyeon Station, was selected last month in the ‘Seoul Local Brand Commercial District Development Project’ competition and will receive a budget of 3 billion KRW over three years until 2026 to revitalize the commercial area.

The Local Brand Commercial District Development Project is a flagship Seoul city initiative that fosters commercial districts where people want to stay by showcasing brands that reflect local characteristics, improving hardware such as facilities and infrastructure, discovering software like content and community, and supporting humanware including training small business owners who will transform the commercial district. Previously, in 2022, the Yangjaecheon-gil commercial district in the district was also selected for this project, establishing a branding foundation and successfully promoting commercial district revitalization.

Co-hosted with the Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation, this briefing session is designed to increase interest and understanding of the Seocho-Gangnam Station Local Brand Project by informing merchants and local residents about the current status of the commercial district, the achievements of the commercial district revitalization task force (TF), and future business plans ahead of full-scale project implementation. Any interested merchants, prospective entrepreneurs, or residents are welcome to attend.

In the first year of the Seocho-Gangnam Station Local Brand Project, Seocho-gu, Seoul City, and the Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation will collaborate to focus on discovering the commercial district’s story and brand. In particular, they plan to actively utilize the unique charms of the Seocho-Gangnam Station commercial district by highlighting ▲ the ‘taste’ of Seocho-daero 75-gil, known for its pork terrace restaurants such as samgyeopsal and makchang, ▲ the ‘style’ of Gangnam-daero, where pop-up spots and fashion brands like Samsung Gangnam are concentrated, and ▲ the ‘beauty’ of Seocho-daero 77-gil, filled with beauty shops and pubs that showcase the individuality of the MZ generation.

Additionally, the plan is to transform Gangnam Station Exit 9, the gateway to the commercial district, into a cultural performance and art market space, creating a landmark called ‘Rendezvous Nine’ that combines commerce with culture and the arts.

Mayor Jeon Seong-su stated, “We will develop the Seocho-Gangnam Station commercial district into a representative glocal commercial area of Seoul,” and expressed his determination by saying, “As a successful model for revitalizing urban commercial districts, the ripple effect will extend to the Nonhyeon, Sinsa, Gyodae, and Yangjae commercial districts, bringing vitality to the local economy as we continue to focus on commercial district development.”