Cafe Streets Frequently Searched by Tmap Users
Cultural Arts Events and Short-Form Contest Added
District Mayor Jeon Seongsu: "We Will Breathe More Life Into It"
A small concert called 'Bangbaedong Nangmanpresso,' directly created by merchants. Provided by Seocho District Office.
The revitalization project for the Bangbae Cafe Street commercial district in Seocho-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Jeon Seong-su) is gaining momentum. By diversifying food, sights, and entertainment to add vitality to the street, efforts to strengthen merchant capabilities and improve urban aesthetics are showing results.
The 800-meter stretch of Bangbae Cafe Street, from Dwitbeol Park to Isu Intersection, was a representative youth street in the 1970s and 1980s. In those days, young people known as the "Orange Tribe" gathered to enjoy a drink and music.
In 2024, the "MZ generation" visits popular restaurants on Bangbae Cafe Street, eats food, uploads short-form videos on social networking services (SNS), and enjoys the alley through performances and singing.
The lively activity on Bangbae Cafe Street is also confirmed by data. According to a recent survey by TDI, a big data specialist company, it was ranked 5th among "cafe streets most visited by users of the car navigation app Tmap." Additionally, according to Seoul City's commercial district analysis service, the survival rate of new businesses in this commercial area increased by 19% compared to the same quarter last year.
Seocho-gu plans to continue focusing on enhancing the appeal of Bangbae Cafe Street. This year, they will improve the streetscape on the main commercial road with designs that highlight the unique characteristics of the cafe street, and continue the "Seoripul Artterior" project, which renovates the interiors of old shops in collaboration with local artists, targeting 100 locations as they did last year.
Last year, the district strengthened capacity-building education so that merchants, centered around the Bangbae Cafe Street Merchants' Association, could market the street's popular restaurants themselves, and also increased price competitiveness through discount coupon events.
They are also dedicated to creating a street where people want to linger by adding cultural and artistic content. Merchants themselves operated 12 sessions of a small concert called "Bangbae-dong Romantic Presso," allowing people to enjoy evening busking on the street and naturally enjoy food in the alley. Last month, the "Spring Night Classical Festival" was held at Dwitbeol Park, continuing that atmosphere.
In particular, the event that attracted the most interest from the MZ generation was last year's "Short-form Video Contest." Many unique videos infused with youthful sensibility and stories about Bangbae Cafe Street were submitted. At the "Singing Contest," where merchants and residents participated together, contestants freely expressed their individuality and enjoyed themselves. Merchants reported that new shops reflecting the special charm of young owners are increasing on the street.
One merchant expressed satisfaction, saying, "Recently, as Bangbae Cafe Street shops have appeared frequently on SNS and entertainment programs, visits by young people have increased. With more visitors, merchants are excited and actively promoting, bringing vitality to the commercial district."
District Mayor Jeon Seong-su said, "Many people are returning to Bangbae Cafe Street, and residents and small business owners are working together to revitalize the local economy. We will do our best to bring a second heyday to Bangbae Cafe Street."
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