Fruits of modernization projects at Baeknyeon Market and beyond
"People who come back after a long time are amazed. We are seeing more young merchants and young customers, and many of them say, 'Has the market really changed this much?'"
On the afternoon of February 10, at Baeknyeon Market in Suyu-dong, Gangbuk District, Seoul. Ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, Gangbuk District Mayor Lee Sunhee visited the market, and snack bar owner Cho Youngmin (52) greeted her warmly and took her hand. From February 5 to 12, Mayor Lee has been touring 16 locations, including Baeknyeon Market, Suyu Traditional Market, Suyu Market, and Ui Market, as well as the Solsaem Market alley-type shopping district, meeting merchants and residents.
Lee Sunhee, mayor of Gangbuk District (photo), is visiting local traditional markets ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday to meet merchants and residents. Provided by Gangbuk District.
Baeknyeon Market, established in 1970, was once such a key distribution hub that it was called the "Garak Market of northern Seoul," but it declined rapidly after the arrival of large discount stores. However, a market modernization project that began four years ago has completely transformed the atmosphere.
The most striking change is the 230-meter-long arcade completed in 2024. The facility, built at a cost of 4.4 billion won, is 12 to 15 meters high, allowing people to shop even when it rains. This year, 30 evaporative cooling units will be added to resolve the greenhouse effect during the summer.
Market alleys bustling even on weekday afternoons
The arcade is not just a shelter from the rain. Yoo Seunghoon, head of the District Office's Market Support Team, said, "We did not focus only on the arcade; we provided comprehensive support and improvements for facilities such as signs and stalls," adding, "By comprehensively applying various revitalization programs such as the Beer Festival and Baeknyeon Night, the stagnant traditional market has been revived and merchants have regained their energy."
The change is also visible in the numbers. Baeknyeon Night, a night market launched by Baeknyeon Market in September last year, attracted 28,800 visitors over four days and generated 119 million won in sales. Participating stores experienced an average sales increase of 200% compared to usual. The Gangbuk Beer and Makgeolli Festival, which has been held every fall since 2023 at Baeknyeon Market and along the banks of the Ui Stream, drew more than 44,900 visitors last year and generated over 200 million won in sales.
"At first, we did not even know what a night market was. But once we tried it, we saw that so many young customers came," said Merchants' Association President Lee Haeryong, laughing as he added, "Thanks to a 2.7-meter-diameter mirror ball and LED lighting, it went viral as a 'hot place' on social media (SNS)."
Suyu Traditional Market has also been developing online sales channels since 2024 through the "Digital Traditional Market" project. Jangmiwon Alley Market and Baeknyeon Market have been designated as "cultural and tourism-oriented markets" and are running programs linked to local tourism resources such as the Ui Stream.
Baeknyeon Market merchants, Gangbuk-gu office officials, and Gangbuk District Mayor Lee Sunhee are cheering "Fighting!" Front row, right: Lee Haeryong, chairman of the Baeknyeon Market Merchants' Association; second from the right: Lee Sunhee, Gangbuk District Mayor. Provided by Gangbuk-gu.
Priming the pump for the local economy, with awards pouring in
The district has not stopped at facility investment. In the case of Baeknyeon Market, it held more than 30 merchant education sessions and workshops, with 50 out of 61 stores (82%) participating. It ran a DJ club seven times so that "merchant DJs" could play music themselves, and also carried out the "Baeknyeon Food 31" project to develop 13 new menu items.
To raise the market's profile, 10 supporters created 144 pieces of social media content, and the number of KakaoTalk channel friends has grown to nearly 3,000. Last year, Baeknyeon Market received the highest rating in a specialized market performance evaluation conducted by the Korea Small Enterprise and Market Service, in which only two markets nationwide were selected, securing an additional 100 million won in project funding. It also received a Prime Minister's Citation for contributions to revitalizing traditional markets and shopping districts.
Mayor Lee said, "A traditional market is not just a shopping space but the center of the local community," adding, "We will pursue facility modernization and business innovation in parallel to turn it into a complex cultural space that attracts even younger generations."
This year, the district is also pushing ahead with the construction of a customer support center at Suyu Traditional Market, with a budget of 4.2 billion won. It plans to apply the successful examples seen so far to other markets in the district. Mayor Lee emphasized, "We will inject vitality into stagnant traditional markets and create a virtuous cycle in which both local small business owners and residents benefit."
Gangbuk-gu is injecting new life into its markets through modernization of traditional market facilities and management innovation. The atmosphere at Suyu-dong Baeknyeon Market has changed dramatically after the completion of the arcade. Provided by Gangbuk-gu.
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