Songpa District Designates Gaeronggol General Street in Garak 2-dong as Alley-Type Shopping District

Support for Commercial Revitalization
Now Able to Accept Onnuri Gift Certificates

Songpa District in Seoul (District Mayor Seo Kangseok) announced on October 12 that Gaeronggol General Street in Garak 2-dong has been designated as the third alley-type shopping district.

Commemorative photo of the certificate presentation ceremony for the designation of Gaeronggol General Street Alley Shopping District last month. Provided by Songpa-gu.

With this designation, the Gaeronggol General Street shopping district will receive various revitalization support measures, including online marketing and management consulting, merchant training, and the installation of fire alert systems. In addition, it will be able to accept Onnuri gift certificates and will be eligible to apply for facility modernization projects, which are expected to bring tangible benefits such as increased sales and improved customer convenience.

An “alley-type shopping district” is designated for areas where more than 30 small business stores are clustered within 2,000 square meters, regardless of business type. Since 2022, Songpa District has operated this system through a review committee to ensure that alley commercial districts that do not meet the requirements for traditional markets or shopping districts are not excluded from support.

Following the designation of Garakgol, the food alley in Garakbon-dong in October 2022, and Garak Mall, the agricultural and marine product distribution-specialized shopping district in Garak 1-dong in 2023, Gaeronggol General Street has now become the third alley-type shopping district. Notably, the district revised the relevant ordinance in July to lower the institutional barriers. The revision allows certain sections to be excluded from the area calculation and eases the merchant consent requirement from three-fifths to one-half, thereby expanding participation from a wider range of commercial districts.

Gaeronggol General Street is a community-focused commercial area in Garak 2-dong, home to about 100 businesses including restaurants, traditional pubs, and cafes. It boasts excellent accessibility due to its proximity to Gaerong Station on Subway Line 5, and as a street rich in history-home to the legend of General Lim Gyeong-eop-it is considered a district with high growth potential.

Seo Kangseok, Mayor of Songpa District, stated, “The designation of alley-type shopping districts will serve as a solid foundation for revitalizing the local commercial sector. We will actively discover and nurture alley commercial districts where small business owners and residents can thrive together, thereby boosting the vitality of the local economy.”