Sejong City to Revitalize Vacant Commercial Spaces with Pop-up Stores

Shops Selling Local Specialty Products to Operate for Five Days Starting June 15

Concerns over vacant commercial properties in Sejong have long become a reality due to the unreasonable consumption structure planned for the construction of Sejong City. While local politicians and municipal authorities are working together to address these issues, economic experts believe that normalizing the distorted consumption culture remains a significant challenge. This is because the development and establishment of the city were carried out solely by the government, rather than through coordination with local governments and municipalities.

Commercial spaces in Sejong that have remained vacant for extended periods will be transformed into pop-up stores featuring a variety of themes. From June 15 to 19, four vacant units in the commercial area of Narijae Village Complex 2, located in the central administrative district of Naseong-dong, will host the "Pop-up Store Filling Vacant Stores" event.

This initiative was selected for implementation through the "Community Co-Prosperity Support Project" contest, organized by the Committee for Shared Growth. The project, proposed by the city, received high marks for not only improving the outward appearance of vacant stores in the new downtown area, where the vacancy problem is intensifying, but also for aiming to revitalize the local commercial district by operating pop-up stores.

The pop-up stores will temporarily lease vacant commercial spaces in Narijae Village Complex 2, with a focus on social economy enterprises. These stores and promotional spaces will reflect local characteristics such as specialty products, the environment, and Hangeul. The event will be held alongside various nighttime activities in Sejong this month, including the KoCACA Art Festival, the Vacant Store Night Light Live, and Urban Nine-Sejong, further enriching the local festivities.

The city plans to actively consider expanding the project in the future by analyzing feedback from participating companies and sales figures based on the results of this pilot operation.

Kwon Osu, Head of the Business Support Division, stated, "We hope that the pop-up store project will not only provide a temporary solution to the vacancy rate but also serve as a catalyst for revitalizing the local commercial district. We will continue to promote various support measures to expand market opportunities for social economy enterprises and restore vitality to the local economy."