From Ganjang Gejang Alley to Apartment Shopping Centers... The "Lifelines" Are Reviving

Gwangsan-gu Newly Designates 10 Locations Including Rural Areas
Expanding Onnuri Gift Certificate Affiliation for Alley Commercial Districts

Gwangsan-gu in Gwangju is accelerating its support for local alley commercial districts to help revive the local economy. On the 7th, Gwangsan-gu announced that it recently held its first Alley-type Shopping District Review Committee meeting of the year and newly designated 10 locations, including areas near apartment complexes and schools. As a result, the total number of alley-type shopping districts (including shopping districts) in Gwangsan-gu has increased to 33.

Gwangsan District Office in Gwangju.

The newly designated locations are as follows: Donggok-dong (around Kkotgejang Baekban Street), Unnam-dong Post Office (around Unnam Jugong Complex 4), Bitgoeul (near the entrance intersection of Singa District), Sinchang Jinheung (near Sinchang Elementary School), Wolgok Daeban (near Daeban Elementary School), Wolgok 2-dong (near Wolgok-dong Ilsin Apartment), Jangdeok-ro (around Supanae 2nd Apartment), Cheomdan Wolgye (near Cheomdan Moa Apartment), Cheomdan Jungang-ro (around Cheomdan Hoban Regencyville Apartment), and Hanam (around Hanam 2nd District). Notably, Donggok-dong has become the first rural alley-type shopping district in Gwangsan-gu.

An alley-type shopping district is a system in which a local government designates an area densely populated with small business stores within a certain area after review. Once designated, the area becomes eligible for Onnuri Gift Certificate affiliation and for applying to government and local government support programs.

In line with this designation, Gwangsan-gu will cooperate with the Gwangju Western Center of the Small Enterprise and Market Service to expand the use of Onnuri Gift Certificates and strengthen promotion of affiliated stores. In addition, through the "Alley Commercial District Vitalization Content Project Contest," the district will support merchant-led revitalization initiatives.

Park Byungkyu, the head of the district office, stated, "By expanding alley-type shopping districts, we will continue to implement distinctive revitalization policies so that alley commercial districts, the lifeblood of the local economy, can come alive again."