Gyeonggi-do, Uijeongbu Heungseon-dong Gyeonggi The Dream Regeneration Project Completed in March

Establishment of Resident Council and Merchants' Association
Building the Foundation for Urban Regeneration, Including Increased Resident Satisfaction
A Representative Case of Urban Regeneration Achieved Through Public-Private-Academic Cooperation,
Including Alleyway Commercial Districts and Kyungmin University

Gyeonggi Province announced on the 16th that the Gyeonggi The Dream Regeneration Project, currently underway in Heungseon-dong, Uijeongbu City, is scheduled to be completed within this month.

Gyeonggi Province's Gyeonggi The Dream Regeneration Project, underway in Heungseon-dong, Uijeongbu-si, is expected to be completed within this month. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

The Gyeonggi The Dream Regeneration Project is a Gyeonggi Province-style urban regeneration initiative under the 8th local government administration, led by resident communities who propose various ideas tailored to local conditions, with a focus on revitalizing old downtown areas.

The Heungseon-dong area in Uijeongbu City had pursued a New Town project in 2018, but it was canceled in 2012. In 2020, the largest local US military base, Camp Red Cloud, was relocated and returned, which deepened the local economic downturn. Consequently, a new urban regeneration strategy utilizing local resources such as Kyungmin University and alleyway shops was needed.

Against this backdrop, Heungseon-dong in Uijeongbu was selected as the target site for the ‘Infrastructure Building Phase’ of the 2023 Gyeonggi The Dream Regeneration Public Contest Project. The ‘Infrastructure Building Phase’ is a stage for preparing urban regeneration projects by discovering participating entities and strengthening their capabilities through small-scale initiatives.

Key project activities included leasing vacant stores to create a youth experimental market hub, and based on this, operating various experimental programs such as campaigns, startups, and cultural events centered on residents and young people. Additionally, efforts to enhance the self-sustainability of alleyway commercial districts were made through managing the Kyungmin University Road Alley Market and providing business support consulting for stores. Furthermore, improvements to Kyungmin Square and pedestrian environments provided a cultural hub space on University Road, increasing accessibility and safety for visitors.

Notably, approximately 3,000 people visited the Kyungmin University Road Alley Market, held 13 times since April last year, and along with the increase in foot traffic, resident surveys showed a high satisfaction rate of over 94%, receiving positive evaluations.

During the project implementation, a resident council and merchants’ association for Kyungmin University Road were also established, laying the foundation for sustainable urban regeneration. Through this, voluntary events and activities will be held in the future to transform Kyungmin University Road into a more vibrant street, preparing for a new leap forward.

Kim Tae-su, Director of the Urban Regeneration Division of Gyeonggi Province, said, “Heungseon-dong in Uijeongbu is the first completed area of the Gyeonggi The Dream Regeneration Project and a representative success case of urban regeneration achieved through cooperation among the public, private, and academic sectors.” He added, “I am confident that more people will stay on Kyungmin University Road, making it a space where all generations come together and vitality is enhanced.”

Meanwhile, the Gyeonggi The Dream Regeneration Project has actively promoted 18 projects in 15 cities and counties up to last year. It has also achieved the highest number nationwide, with 71 sites selected in the government’s urban regeneration public contest projects, continuing to advance the initiative.