Incheon City to Allow Terrace-Type Outdoor Operations in 16 Districts from July

【Financial News Incheon=Han Gapsu Reporter】 Incheon City will allow outdoor operations in the front public spaces of 16 district unit planning zones, including Wolmi District, from July.
Incheon City announced on the 27th that it will revise the district unit plan to allow outdoor operations of general restaurants, rest restaurants, and bakeries in the front public spaces of 16 district unit planning zones, including Wolmi District, from July.
In the case of front public spaces within district unit planning zones, the installation of buildings and all facilities has been prohibited from the perspective of urban planning to utilize pedestrian spaces, so outdoor operations have been restricted in principle. However, outdoor operations have been allowed only in limited places such as tourist special zones and hotels.
However, with the revision of the Food Sanitation Act Enforcement Rules in 2020 (effective January 1, 2021), outdoor operations became possible for general restaurants, rest restaurants, and bakeries after going through the reporting procedure.
The city has decided to allow terrace-type outdoor operations in front public spaces to recover the livelihood economy of self-employed and small business owners suffering from the prolonged domestic economic downturn after COVID-19 and to revitalize local commercial areas.
The city initially selected 16 areas as pilot districts, including tourist attractions and specialized streets that need activation and areas where business is likely to be activated when designated as pilot projects.
For this purpose, the city has been conducting policy research with the Incheon Research Institute since last year to establish designation criteria for terrace-type front public spaces and regulations on facility installation. In April, the city and each district jointly selected target sites for outdoor operations within 16 district unit planning zones, including Wolmi District.
The city plans to make outdoor operations of restaurants and bakeries fully possible from July after going through the Urban and Architectural Joint Committee review and district unit plan change notice in June.
Lee Cheol, Director of Urban Planning Bureau, said, “By allowing outdoor operations within the scope that does not harm the urban landscape and citizens' pedestrian rights, we will inject vitality into the stagnant livelihood economy and create an open urban space that citizens can feel.”
kapsoo@fnnews.com Han Gapsu Reporter