Chuncheon City honored for revitalizing traditional markets and shopping districts; lowers barriers for alley businesses

【Financial News Chuncheon=Kim Gi-seop】Chuncheon City, which lowered the threshold for designating alley-type shopping districts from 25 to 15 stores, bringing even small alley commercial districts within the scope of support, has been recognized by the government for its contribution to revitalizing traditional markets.
According to Chuncheon City on the 28th, Mayor Yuk Dong-han received the Ministry of SMEs and Startups Minister’s Commendation in the local government category for contributions to revitalizing traditional markets and shopping districts at the city hall’s reception room that day. Seo Jong-pil, head of the Gangwon Regional Office of SMEs and Startups, presented the commendation on behalf of the minister. Kang Seong-han, head of the Gangwon Regional Office of the Small Enterprise and Market Service, was also present to congratulate the city on the award.
The award is given to local governments selected for their contributions to revitalizing traditional markets and shopping districts. This year, 16 local governments nationwide were selected as recipients. Of these, 14, including Chuncheon City, received ministerial commendations.
The city has pursued initiatives tailored to the characteristics of each commercial district to bring life back to the old downtown area. Through its Old Downtown Commercial District Revitalization Project, it established a smart integrated system for commercial districts and pursued the development of themed streets and an integrated festival, preserving each district’s distinctive character while strengthening connections among them.
The city also carried out environmental improvements to make visits more convenient. It undertook projects to improve parking, including building a public parking lot on Eunhasu Street, and modernized aging facilities in traditional markets to create pleasant shopping spaces for merchants and residents alike.
Last April, the city revised its ordinance on promoting traditional markets and shopping districts in Chuncheon to ease the requirements for designating alley-type shopping districts. It lowered the threshold from at least 25 stores within an area of 2,000 square meters to at least 15 stores, enabling small commercial districts that had previously been excluded from support for not meeting the requirements to receive policy assistance as well. This laid the groundwork for strengthening the self-sufficiency of local commercial districts.
The city also strengthened market safety measures. It signed an agreement on fire prevention with the Chuncheon Fire Station and merchants’ organizations, supported the installation of automatic fire-suppression patches and fire alert systems, and bolstered fire prevention and early-response systems.
A Chuncheon City official said, "These results are thanks to the merchants who worked hard on the ground and the residents who showed their interest—from the smart commercial district system in the old downtown to the eased criteria for alley-type shopping districts and fire-prevention facilities." The official added, "We will continue providing support that even small alley commercial districts can feel is making a real difference, so that traditional markets can become a force sustaining the local economy."

[email protected] Kim Gi-seop Reporter