Designation of 119 Alleyway Shopping Districts Completed Across 18 Neighborhoods
Seo-gu in Gwangju City (headed by District Mayor Kim Ikang) has set a new milestone for local government-led alleyway economy recovery models by becoming the first in the nation to designate its entire area as a region where Onnuri gift certificates can be used, aiming to revitalize alleyway markets and restore the local economy.
Seo-gu, Gwangju City, has become the first in the nation to designate the entire area as a region where Onnuri gift certificates can be used, aiming to revitalize alleyway markets and restore the local economy. Provided by Seo-gu
Seo-gu recently completed the designation of a total of 119 alleyway shopping districts across all 18 neighborhoods within its jurisdiction. To commemorate this achievement, Seo-gu will hold the "Korea's No. 1 Alleyway Economy Proclamation Ceremony" on the morning of June 30 at the Seobitmaru Arts Center.
Through this initiative, Seo-gu has expanded the use of Onnuri gift certificates, previously limited to traditional markets, to a wide range of everyday businesses, including restaurants, clinics and hospitals, opticians, pharmacies, beauty salons, laundries, and cafes. As a result, Onnuri gift certificates can now be used at over 11,400 locations out of approximately 17,000 stores in the district, excluding restricted industries and stores that are closed or out of business.
The core of Seo-gu's strategy is to maximize the use of the Onnuri gift certificate infrastructure, which is operated with national funds, instead of introducing a separate local currency. This approach is attracting attention as a highly effective alternative that can stimulate consumption without the annual budget burden of tens of billions of won required for establishing and operating a local currency system.
Of particular note is that Seo-gu designated an additional 115 alleyway shopping districts in just 100 days. The number of designated districts, which stood at four at the end of last year, expanded to 119 in a short period, thanks to the establishment of a neighborhood-centered local government system and a collaborative infrastructure with small business owners over the past three years.
In the first half of this year, Seo-gu focused on providing consulting and administrative support to merchant associations to help them meet the requirements for alleyway shopping district designation. This project is a strategic attempt not only to expand franchise membership but also to achieve both increased consumption and the recovery of the alleyway economy.
Jung Eunhwa, Director of the Culture and Economy Bureau, said, "In alleyways where Onnuri gift certificates are accepted, consumers can enjoy discounts of up to 20%, and there have been cases where participating merchants saw their sales increase by more than 10 to 20%. The positive effects of the policy are being felt throughout the region."
Kim Ikang, Mayor of Seo-gu, stated, "Onnuri gift certificates are a highly effective tool for quickly stimulating consumption without imposing a financial burden on local governments. Through this policy, we aim to lead the recovery of alleyway markets and build a virtuous economic ecosystem where residents and small business owners can thrive together."
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