Giving Back to the Community by Sharing the Benefits of Alleyway Shopping District Designation
Myungho Ryu, CEO of Kkotmareum, joined the high-value donor group 'Seogu Honors' as a new member on the 15th. Provided by Seogu District Office
"The kind-hearted citizens of Seogu have revived our local merchants and the alleyway economy, so now it is our turn to repay the community."
Seogu District in Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on September 15 that a special new member has joined the high-value donor group, 'Seogu Honors'.
The new member is Myungho Ryu, president of the Dongcheon-dong Alleyway Merchants Association and operator of the Kkotmareum Gwangju Dongnim branch.
Ryu explained that he decided to participate in spreading the culture of sharing, stating, "I received great support from Seogu's Alleyway Economy 119 Project, so now it is time to give back the benefits I received to the community."
In June, Seogu became the first district in the country to designate its entire administrative area as 119 alleyway shopping districts and declared itself the "number one hub for Korea's alleyway economy."
As a result, residents can now use Onnuri gift certificates at over 11,000 stores in Seogu and enjoy discounts of up to 20% on daily purchases. With the revitalization of alleyway businesses, small merchants have experienced a tangible increase in sales, with some reporting growth of up to 20-30%.
As president of the Dongcheon-dong Alleyway Merchants Association, Ryu has been at the forefront of experiencing the positive outcomes of the Alleyway Economy 119 policy.
Ryu said, "After a long period of economic downturn, smiles are finally returning to the faces of merchants. Thanks to the kind-hearted citizens of Seogu, the alleyways have regained their vibrancy, and I want to support my neighbors through my activities with Seogu Honors."
'Seogu Honors' is a high-value donor group launched in November last year, leading efforts to address welfare blind spots that public services cannot fully reach. In just ten months, the group surpassed 90 members who pledged to donate more than 30 million won each, with the total pledged amount exceeding 3.1 billion won.
Kim Ikang, Mayor of Seogu District, stated, "Revitalizing the alleyway economy and filling welfare gaps are both possible through solidarity and cooperation. I hope the positive influence of CEO Myungho Ryu, who has returned policy benefits to society through sharing, will spread throughout every alleyway and become a driving force in realizing 'Kind-Hearted Seogu, a Happy Community.'"
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