Efforts to Revitalize Local Businesses: Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, and Park Jun-hee, Mayor of Gwanak-gu, Take Action

Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, Creates Red Road to Revive Hongdae Commercial Area Devastated by COVID-19
Park Jun-hee, Mayor of Gwanak-gu, Hosts Festivals to Revitalize Traditional Markets and Attract Crowds

Pockets are getting emptier day by day. As a result, the commercial districts around offices only brighten up during lunch hours. It is difficult to attract dinner customers except at major restaurants in the Gangnam area.

Because of this, business owners are sighing more deeply.

In this context, two district heads in Seoul who have taken steps to revive commercial districts are drawing attention.

Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo District Office, Breathes New Life into Hongdae Red Road Commercial District Devastated by COVID-19

The District Office Promotes Revitalization of 11 Major Commercial Districts Including Hongdae Red Road and Sky Road

Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, touring Hongdae Red Road

Since taking office, Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo District, has actively worked to revive local commercial districts. Especially after seeing the Hongdae commercial district dying during COVID-19, he devised ideas to save it by any means.

Hongdae was criticized for lacking cultural characteristics compared to its fame, failing to properly serve as a ‘landmark.’ In response, the district implemented the ‘Red Road Project,’ which combined a safety accident prevention project in crowded areas with the idea of tourism activation.

The approximately 2 km stretch from Gyeongui Line Forest Trail to Hongdae and Danginri Power Plant was transformed into Hongdae’s representative themed street, creating a unique cultural and tourism street in Mapo where nature, culture, tourism, and safety harmonize.

On the Red Road, traveler convenience facilities and infrastructure such as busking zones, which had been indiscriminately established without distinctiveness, were reorganized to expand the diversity and opportunities of cultural performances and to revitalize the commercial district. Additionally, facilities that obstructed safe walking and impaired aesthetics were refurbished to create spaces that enhance cultural exhibitions and tourist convenience.

Furthermore, the district divided Hongdae’s representative streets into dance streets, food streets, coffee streets, etc., and applied representative colors on the pavement for each street so that anyone can easily recognize the characteristics of each alley, adding Hongdae’s unique color.

Ahyeon Market

In this way, Mapo District has selected ‘Mapo’s 11 Major Commercial Districts,’ including the Hongdae Red Road, and is promoting revitalization policies reflecting the characteristics of each area.

The 11 major commercial districts in Mapo include four Gap districts: Ahyeon Market, Dohwa Flower Road, Yonggang Food Street, and Yeomni-Daehung Forest Road; and seven Eul districts: Red Road, Sky Road, Sangam Food Street, Yeonnam Kkirikkiri Road, Mangwon World Cup Market & Bangulnae Road, Mangwon Market & Mangridan-gil, and Seongsan Culture Road.

The district plans to gradually build a ‘RE-VISIT Commercial District’ that organically links tourism resources, local commercial districts, and merchant organizations, reflecting the characteristics of the 11 major commercial districts with the goal of creating a sustainable commercial ecosystem.

To strengthen commercial district competitiveness, the district will develop brands and content suitable for each district and hold various festivals that showcase the personality of each commercial district, such as the Red Road Festival, Sky Road Festa, and Alley Commercial District Boom Festival, to add vitality.

Also, for sustainable growth, the district is focusing on strengthening merchant capabilities through consulting and educational support and building networks among commercial districts.

To this end, the district is promoting infrastructure policies such as market modernization projects, operation of the Mapo Circular Train Bus, and parking environment improvements, centered on seven departments including the Economic Promotion Division, Tourism Policy Division, and Road Improvement Division.

Additionally, to prevent gentrification and protect tenant rights, the district spares no effort in providing various policy supports such as the Fair Trade Counseling Center for Commercial Rent and Special Guarantees for Small Business Financial Support.

These efforts by the district are gradually yielding results. According to data compiled by the Korea Tourism Organization, the number of foreign visitors to Seogyo-dong in the Red Road commercial district was only 30,000 in March 2023 but increased about fourfold to 130,000 in November.

Also, according to a survey by Shinhan Card Big Data Research Institute, the Hongdae commercial district in Mapo was selected as the dining area most frequently visited by people in their 20s on weekends, and the Sky Road commercial district achieved a sales increase of more than 10% in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the previous quarter.

Along with this, the district plans to operate the ‘Mapo Circular Train Bus’ connecting the 11 major commercial districts and key tourist attractions to actively promote commercial district revitalization.

Moreover, a mobile app that can revitalize alley commercial districts is under development. This app is designed to provide information on commercial facilities and major tourist spots in the area and includes a walking navigation function so that even small alley shops can benefit from commercial district revitalization.

Mayor Park is a local politician rich in ‘ideas,’ having succeeded in business at a young age and holding about 60 patents.

Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo District, said, “We will enhance the competitiveness of commercial districts through various customized support policies and programs,” adding, “We will further bring out the individuality and charm of Mapo’s 11 major commercial districts and build a sustainable commercial ecosystem.”

Gwanak District Fully Recharged with Vitality through a Local Festival Attended by 30,000 People

Local Festivals Held at 12 Locations Including Alley Commercial Districts and Traditional Markets…Creating a Place for Commercial Revitalization and Resident Harmony

Park Jun-hee, the mayor of Gwanak-gu, is having a conversation with a senior safety guardian.

Park Jun-hee, Mayor of Gwanak District, is a local politician who started as a merchant in a traditional market after moving to Seoul from his hometown Wando and served as a district council member and city council member. Because of this, he has more enthusiasm than anyone else for revitalizing commercial districts.

The ‘Alley Commercial District and Traditional Market Festival’ held across 21 neighborhoods in Gwanak District successfully concluded, spreading the charm of local commercial districts.

The district held various local festivals to revive the depressed local commercial districts and create a place for coexistence and harmony between merchants and residents.

Festivals held at four alley commercial districts?Shillim-dong Starlight Street, Seorim Dabok Road, Sinsa Food Street, Nakseongdae Star Road?and eight traditional markets and alley-type shopping streets including Sinsa Market and Bongridan-gil brought vitality to the daily lives of both merchants and residents.

This year, about 30,000 residents visited the local commercial district festivals, bringing significant ripple effects to the local economy. In fact, sales at Shillim-dong Starlight Street rose about 50% compared to before the festival, and general restaurant sales on Seorim Dabok Road increased by 32%. During the festival period, average sales at the eight traditional markets and alley-type shopping streets also rose by up to 20%.

This is the result of combined efforts by local merchants and the district. Merchants showcased representative local foods through ‘pop-up restaurants,’ allowing residents and visitors to easily enjoy various popular eateries.

The district provided diverse experiential programs and cultural performances tailored to the characteristics of each commercial district, offering a variety of sights and entertainment that both residents and merchants could enjoy.

This year, the district newly designated ‘Nokdu Alley-type Shopping Street’ as the 11th alley-type shopping street. Having the most alley-type shopping streets among Seoul’s autonomous districts, the district plans to strengthen small business competitiveness and revitalize local commercial districts through substantial local festivals.

Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “Local economy and commercial district revitalization are closely connected, making the role of local festivals even more important,” adding, “We will develop these festivals into ‘win-win festivals’ where livelihoods regain vitality and local commercial districts can revive, not just festivals for eating and entertainment.”

Along with this, since taking office, Mayor Park has shown great results by creating the S Venture Valley. Engineering graduates from Seoul National University have moved in and are achieving results in the global market.