Ilsandong-gu 'Local Commercial Area Revitalization Project'... Street Performances Activated After Renovation
Improvement of Fountain Plaza Stage Environment & Creation of La Festa Street Garden... 145 Performances This Year
Exhibitions at Dong-gu Office Wall & Gaon Gallery Continue... Unique Street Created at Government Office Plaza
Ilsandong-gu, Goyang Special City in Gyeonggi Province, is regaining vitality through revitalizing local commercial districts and promoting performances and exhibitions. La Festa and Western Dom have renovated their stages and surrounding environments, and street performances are held in the plaza. Various exhibitions continue seasonally on the walls of the district office and galleries, and the plaza in front of the government building is preparing to welcome visitors anew.
The outdoor stage at Western Dom in Ilsandong-gu, renovated last year. Provided by Goyang Special City
Ilsandong-gu is implementing a project to revitalize the local economy by supporting local commercial districts. La Festa and Western Dom were once called the "Street of Youth" in the early 2000s and were considered representative commercial areas of Ilsan, but they have experienced decline due to economic downturn, commercial district shifts, and aging facilities. Last year, the district held business meetings with merchant associations to gather opinions and established plans with a collaborative approach to enhance merchants' interest and proactive roles.
Subsequently, the district secured a project budget of 45 million KRW to remodel the outdoor stage within Western Dom. In November last year, a roof measuring 5 meters in height and 13 meters in width was installed on the Western Dom outdoor stage to allow performances even during rain or strong sunlight.
On the renovated stage, in collaboration with the Goyang Cultural Foundation, the official street arts group of Goyang City, "Goyang Buskers," has been performing regularly. Goyang Buskers, which includes over 150 teams from various genres, mainly performed during weekday lunch hours and weekend evenings when visitor numbers peak. The merchant association installed a screen behind the stage and hung informational banners. To ensure citizens can comfortably enjoy the performances, chairs and tables were arranged around the stage in the plaza, providing visitor convenience facilities.
In addition, in February, a business agreement was signed with the Western Dom and Tower management groups to establish a cooperative system for activating street performances. The district is responsible for policy support, promotion, and building cooperative networks with local organizations and educational institutions, while the Western Dom and Tower management groups handle outdoor stage rental applications and facility maintenance.
Environmental improvements to secure commercial competitiveness are steadily progressing around La Festa as well. Last year, three street gardens were created along La Festa’s central street. To improve the aged pavement landscape, spring, summer, and autumn themes were set for each block, and seasonal trees and plants were planted. Next year, resting spaces such as sitting walls will be created, and streetlight replacements and landscape lighting installations will improve the stay environment.
This year, skilled performers from "Goyang Buskers" held 145 street performances at Western Dom and La Festa. Thanks to efforts to activate performances and improve the environment, visitors continue to frequent La Festa and Western Dom. During the winter break when street performances pause, the district plans to strengthen the capacity of the merchant management group at the Western Dom fountain plaza and gradually expand their roles to enhance self-sustainability.
'Ilsandong-gu Wall, Text Panel_Art Exhibition' Utilizing the Outer Wall of Dong-gu Office. Provided by Goyang Special City
The area around Ilsandong-gu Office, adjacent to Jeongbalsan Station, is being reborn as a regional revitalization hub connecting commerce, transportation, tourism, and culture. In 2022, Ilsandong-gu Office secured a total of 463 parking spaces by expanding the hub parking lot. The expansion improved accessibility and increased the flow of people moving between Ilsan Culture Plaza, La Festa, and Western Dom.
Two wall bulletin boards measuring 15 meters wide and 3 meters high, created during the parking lot construction, are being used as exhibition spaces for local artists. One side features short messages designed to inspire hope and emotion for citizens, inspired by the Gwanghwamun Kyobo Building’s slogan board. The other side introduces artworks by artists such as Jung Young-mo of the Goyang Art Association and Choi Eun-cheol of Gosan. The district plans to showcase new works quarterly in collaboration with local art groups including the Goyang Writers Association and Goyang Art Association.
On the second floor of the main building of the district office, the small exhibition hall "Gaon Gallery" is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Remodeled last year for greater comfort, Gaon Gallery offers free rental to citizens wishing to exhibit, allowing visitors to enjoy new themed exhibitions every month.
Meanwhile, the district plans to carry out a street creation project next year to make the plaza in front of the government building a comfortable and safe street reflecting the city’s characteristics. The old pavement blocks will be replaced, and green spaces will be created on both sides of the central plaza to form an open plaza that can be used for rest areas, cultural and artistic spaces, and various other purposes.
Kim Young-nam, head of Ilsandong-gu Office, said, “Ilsandong-gu is working hard to improve commercial facilities and activate street performances in cooperation with merchant associations, local art groups, and the Goyang Cultural Foundation for a vibrant local economy. In addition to the local commercial revitalization project and utilizing wall bulletin boards, we will consider and implement various special policies that citizens need, such as operating the public officials’ donation group ‘Ilcheon Power.’”
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