Beyond a One-Time Festival
Toward Sustainable Alleyways
The small alleyways of Yangsan have come alive with the arrival of a festival.
The 'Ongolmok Onggi Festival,' organized to revitalize the stagnant alleyway business districts, concluded successfully amid enthusiastic support from local residents.
In particular, this event is being credited for going beyond a simple festival to serve as a catalyst for the local economy, as it led to a tangible increase in sales for nearby businesses.
The 'Onggi Effect,' as demonstrated by data, was remarkable. On the day of the event, Yangsan Sarang Card payments in the Pyeongsan Food Alley soared by 63.7% compared to the previous week, while the commercial district near La Fiesta also saw a 38.2% increase.
Including credit card payments, the sales boost became even more evident, clearly showing that the excitement of the festival directly translated into increased revenue for nearby stores.
Mr. A, a restaurant owner, said, "It's been a long time since I've seen the alley bustling with people and full of energy. Festivals like this, which provide real vitality to merchants, should continue so that the warmth of the alley is maintained."
Yangsan City plans to build on this success and continue its efforts to invigorate the alleyway business districts without letting up.
A city official emphasized, "We will ensure that the warmth flowing through the alleyways becomes a major force in the local economy, not just a one-off event. To keep the festival's energy from fading, we will relentlessly pursue highly impactful support projects such as the '2025 Cheer Up Small Business Festival' and the 'Delivery Yangsan Ongolmok Onggi Coupon Event' to stimulate year-end and New Year consumption and boost the vitality of alleyway businesses, thereby fostering the self-sustainability of the local economy."
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