Junggu District in Seoul Significantly Eases Criteria for Designating Alley-Type Shopping Districts

Lowering Store Requirements to Open Doors for Small Business Owners

Junggu District in Seoul (District Mayor Kim Gilseong) announced on July 18 that it has significantly eased the criteria for designating 'alley-type shopping districts' to revitalize local alley businesses. The district promulgated the revised ordinance on 'Support for the Revitalization of Alley-Type Shopping Districts in Junggu' on July 17.

Sindangdong Alley Shopping District Event. Courtesy of Junggu.

The key point of this revision is the lowering of the required number of stores per area. Previously, to be designated as an alley-type shopping district, at least 30 stores within 2,000 square meters were required, but this has now been reduced to 15 stores. For areas over 3,000 square meters, the requirement has been reduced from 45 to 23 stores, and for areas over 4,000 square meters, from 60 to 30 stores. The calculation of the shopping district area excludes roads, public spaces, and public facility areas.

Once designated as an alley-type shopping district, various benefits are provided, including eligibility to join the Onnuri Gift Certificate program (with some business types excluded), the opportunity to apply for government and local government business revitalization support projects, and support measures from the district. In addition, in collaboration with organizations such as the Seoul Junggu Traditional Market Business Development Center, support is also provided for merchant training and business consulting.

Currently, there are nine designated alley-type shopping districts in Junggu: Sindang Mirae Heritage Food Shopping District, Donghwa-dong Alley-Type Shopping District, Pildong Alley-Type Shopping District, Chungmuro Alley-Type Shopping District, Yaksu Market Alley-Type Shopping District, Jangchung Namsoyeong-gil Alley-Type Shopping District, Chungjeongno 56 Exit Alley-Type Shopping District, Myeongdong Namsangol Alley-Type Shopping District, and Sindang 5-gil Alley-Type Shopping District.

Kim Gilseong, Mayor of Junggu District, stated, "I hope that easing the criteria for designating alley-type shopping districts will provide practical help to small business owners and serve as an opportunity to invigorate the local economy," adding, "We will prepare support measures so that the unique characteristics of Junggu's various alley businesses can become even more attractive."