Despite the Highest Number of Alley-type Shopping Districts Nationwide, Support Remains Insufficient
Improvements Needed in Merchant Association Subsidy Projects and On-site Manpower
There have been calls for practical measures to be established for local alley-type shopping districts (areas densely populated with small business stores).
According to the Buk-gu District Council in Gwangju on the 6th, Councilor Son Hyejin (Progressive Party, Yongbong, Maegok, Ilgok, Samgak-dong) mentioned this point during a five-minute free speech at the 1st plenary session of the 300th temporary meeting held the previous day, stating, "The answer to small business support policies lies in the field."
Councilor Son pointed out, "Currently, Buk-gu operates 31 alley-type shopping districts, the most in the country, but in reality, practical support to secure the self-sufficiency of these commercial areas has been insufficient since their designation."
She further argued, "The 'Alley-type Shopping District Marketing Support Project' was pushed forward without prior training or briefing on subsidy execution or settlement procedures for merchant associations with no administrative experience," and asserted, "This only increased the merchant associations' resistance to the project."
She continued, "Although there are plans to operate nine market managers this year as dedicated administrative staff for the merchant associations, there are concerns about whether efficient support will be possible," emphasizing, "It is necessary to lay the foundation for merchant associations to take voluntary action, such as flexibly operating by selecting support personnel from among the association members."
Councilor Son urged, "In order for being 'number one in the nation' for alley-type shopping district designation to become a meaningful record, on-site, practical support measures that local small business owners can actually feel must be established."
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