Leading Commercial Revitalization with Red Road, Sky Road, and Kkirikkiri-gil
Creating Honorary Roads such as Kim Dae-jung-gil and Choi Gyu-ha-gil to Preserve Historical Value
Mapo-gu (Mayor Park Gang-su) has been working since 2023 to create various specialized streets, focusing on the safety of residents, revitalization of local alleyway businesses, and preservation of historical value.
This initiative stems from Mapo-gu’s belief that “a city lives when its streets live, and the economy thrives,” as well as its efforts to protect and widely promote historical sites within the district.
The first project, “Red Road,” is a representative tourist attraction in Mapo-gu and is recognized nationwide as an exemplary case for benchmarking.
To revive the commercial district affected by COVID-19 and prevent crowd-related accidents, Mapo-gu expanded the sidewalks of Hongdae Street and painted them with highly visible, anti-slip paint to create the “Red Road.”
AI crowd density analysis systems and disaster message electronic signboards were installed on the “Red Road,” and focused safety management was conducted during Halloween and year-end holidays, resulting in zero safety incidents.
Another attractive area, “Sky Road,” is a sky-blue street extending from Exit 7 of Hapjeong Station, lined with unique cafes, popular restaurants, and independent bookstores, and rich in historical and cultural resources such as Yanghwajin History Park, Mapo Saebit Cultural Forest, and Jamdubong Historic Site.
Mapo-gu connected these sites naturally by renovating alleyways and painting them sky blue to build the “Sky Road” infrastructure.
The effect was reflected in sales. Among Seoul’s local brand commercial districts in 2023, the Sky Road district recorded sales of 4.2 billion KRW in the fourth quarter, a more than 10% increase from 3.7 billion KRW in the third quarter, achieving the highest sales growth.
Additionally, Mapo-gu revitalized alleyway businesses by renovating sidewalks in Yeonnam-dong’s “Kkirikkiri-gil” and “Dohwa Galmaegi Alley,” creating a pedestrian-centered environment.
Recently, the district has focused on projects to raise awareness of the value of historical spaces and honor notable figures.
Leveraging the concentration of presidential memorial facilities, Mapo-gu created the honorary road “Kim Dae-jung-gil” near the late former President Kim Dae-jung’s Donggyo-dong residence last year, and recently established the honorary road “Choi Gyu-ha-gil” in front of the “Seoul Seogyo-dong Choi Gyu-ha House.”
In addition, in October 2024, to commemorate the late Seo Yun-bok, who first carried the Taegeukgi flag and set a world record at the Boston Marathon, the first international marathon after liberation, the area near his alma mater, Sungmoon High School, was named “Seo Yun-bok-gil.”
Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, “Well-maintained streets attract people, and when people gather, local businesses naturally become vibrant. Beyond mere transportation convenience, streets are a crucial element that enhances the safety, economy, environment, culture, and quality of life of the entire community. We will continue to monitor and maintain them.”
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