Nowon-gu, Developing Key Stores for Local Brand Commercial Area on Gyeongchun Line Gongneung Forest Trail

Selection of Stores with Creativity and Regional Characteristics for Support in Branding and Marketing
Support for Planning and Production of Unique Commercial District Products through Collaboration among Key Stores

Last Year's Gyeongchun Line Gongneung Forest Trail Coffee Festival

Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it will accelerate the development of key stores in the local brand commercial district along the Gyeongchun Line Gongneung Forest Trail.

'Local brand commercial district key stores' refer to stores that have the influence to attract external customers to the commercial district and possess local content. This includes stores within one year of opening based on 'regional value,' existing stores attempting a new leap through business type changes, and other stores with potential to be developed as key stores.

Currently, the district's local brand commercial area is established around Exit 2 of Gongneung Station and the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail. Being close to nearby universities such as Seoul National University of Science and Technology and Seoul Women's University, people in their 20s form the main customer base, resulting in cafes and restaurants being the primary business types in the commercial district.

As the local brand commercial district development project enters its third year this year, the district plans to focus on nurturing key stores with high customer attraction effects. Selected stores with creativity and regional characteristics will receive tailored consulting from commercial district experts, including ▲store branding ▲new product planning ▲product promotional material shooting and production, and based on the final results reflecting these, ▲product pop-up stores will also be operated.

Furthermore, through collaboration among key stores, planned products representing the commercial district will be produced and supported for sales and promotion via online platforms and SNS. To strengthen the external recognition of key stores, opportunities to participate in local festivals will be provided, and various events targeting commercial district visitors will be held.

Specific schedules for recruiting key stores will be announced at the end of April on the district office website.

This commercial district was selected for the 2023 Seoul City Local Brand Commercial District Development Project and is receiving a budget of up to 3 billion KRW over three years until 2025. The district is promoting various projects to highlight the characteristics and charm of the Gongneung Forest Trail commercial district and to build consensus among local residents and visitors.

Last year, to create a specialized commercial street, the old retaining walls along the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail were repaired and new mural artworks were installed. Additionally, the 'Gyeongchun Line Gongneung Forest Trail Welcome Center' was established as a hub space to introduce commercial district stores and operate events.

Also, to establish a commercial district branding system, projects such as BI (Brand Identity), character, and goods production were promoted, and online and offline marketing education and execution costs were supported to strengthen merchant capabilities. In particular, the 'Coffee Festival,' reflecting the characteristics of the commercial district densely populated with cafes, attracted about 43,000 visitors on the day and has become a representative festival of the district.

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, "We will strengthen self-sustainability through nurturing creative small business owners who will enhance the charm of the commercial district," and added, "We hope that the development of key stores representing the commercial district will lead to a chain of local brand creations."