Daegu City to Revitalize Two Local Markets near Kyungpook National University North Gate and Bullo Flower Complex... 200 Million KRW Invested in Each

The Bukmun commercial district of Kyungpook National University and the Bullo Flower Complex, which suffered considerable damage due to the COVID-19 pandemic, are expected to emerge as representative specialized streets of the region through participation in Daegu City's Alley Project this year.

Two locations, the Bukmun alley commercial district of Kyungpook National University and the flower-specialized street Bullo Flower Complex, were finally selected for the 2024 Alley Economic Zone Creation Project's Phase 2 (Stabilization) project, the "Alley Commercial District Vitality Support Contest Project."

Staircase design at the North Gate street of Kyungpook National University.

Since 2021, Daegu City's Alley Economic Zone Creation Project has been discovering alley commercial districts with growth potential and fostering Daegu's representative alley commercial districts through customized support according to their growth stages.

The selected Bukmun commercial district of Kyungpook National University and Bullo Flower Complex will each receive 200 million KRW in project funds to promote software projects for revitalizing the commercial districts tailored to their characteristics and demands, hardware improvements such as facilities and infrastructure, and strengthening the alley community's capabilities.

The Bukmun commercial district of Kyungpook National University is a representative youth commercial district in the region. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the university area streets were empty, causing the commercial district to stagnate temporarily. However, recently, the alley commercial district community led by the merchants' association has been making various attempts to revitalize the district, gradually restoring its vitality.

In this year's project, the Bukmun commercial district plans to create a differentiated street atmosphere by installing guide signs at the main alley entrances to provide visitors with information about the district and applying design graphics to aging staircases.

Additionally, a cultural and artistic space will be created using vacant stores to exhibit works by students and local artists, and a busking zone will be operated in the alley park, transforming the district into a place offering not only food but also sights and experiences.

In particular, a cooperative governance structure will be established with young people who graduated from Kyungpook National University to promote various experimental projects for revitalizing the commercial district led by youth.

Bullo Flower Complex in Dong-gu, Daegu City, plans to further strengthen its flower-specialized street brand. A new joint brand unique to Bullo Flower Complex will be developed, and online promotions such as SNS (social networking services) will be enhanced to inject new vitality into the commercial district, including attracting the younger generation.

Moreover, sustainable ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management will be practiced through developing upcycled products using discarded plastic flowerpots, recycling wreaths, and conducting flower donation campaigns.

With the alley commercial district community at the center, efforts to revitalize the commercial district through branding, online and offline promotions, and alley environment improvements are underway, drawing attention to how the alley commercial districts will regain vitality and develop unique characteristics.

An Jung-gon, Director of the City Economic Bureau, said, "I hope the concerns and efforts of the alley commercial district communities will lead to achievements such as revitalizing the commercial districts and improving small business management, and that they will grow into specialized alleys representing the region."