Up to 2 billion won secured for Sadang Station's Exit 5 district, bringing 'five pleasures' to the neighborhood
From the art-lined 'Namhyeon Art Street' to retro pojangmacha — a rich lineup of experiences is in store
The Namhyeon-dong commercial district in Gwanak-gu has been selected as the final recipient of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's "Dalbit Yajang" (moonlit night market) development project, a program designed to connect neighborhood eateries and cultural assets.
With the selection, the district will receive up to 2 billion won ($1.49 million) in project funding. The money will go toward environmental improvements, the development of district-specific content, and the establishment of a cooperative framework between residents and merchants. Regulatory reforms covering road use permits and outdoor business operations needed to run the night market are also planned.
Namhyeon-dong benefits from heavy foot traffic thanks to its proximity to Sadang Station and a large bus transfer hub, drawing an average of about 130,000 passersby daily. Through this project, the district aims to draw that flow deeper into the alley-based commercial zone and encourage visitors to linger longer.
The project's name, "Sadang Orak," means "five pleasures at Exit 5 of Sadang Station." Built around five core values — food, scenery, performance, digital experience, and community well-being — the initiative aims to transform the area into a vibrant new nighttime destination.
The district will develop the night market in two distinct zones tailored to their surroundings. Zone A, "Namhyeon Art Street," will draw on the cultural resources of the Nam Seoul Museum of Art and the Namhyeon-dong artists' village, adding landscape lighting and media art by emerging artists to create an arts corridor. Zone B, the "Chive Samgyeopsal Alley," will become a car-free street styled as a retro-flavored local pojangmacha strip.
Alongside the physical development, five signature content experiences will be on offer: a dedicated mobile platform called "Orak Pass" with stamp-tour and reservation features; a discount program linking Nam Seoul Museum of Art visitors to night market vendors; "Sadang Radio," a segment featuring listener stories and song requests; a short-form video challenge and a blind restaurant tour; and a Gwanaksan summit photo certification event.
To foster a night market culture built around residents and merchants alike, vehicle access will be periodically restricted and a large-scale "community night market" will be held with participation from shops on the second and third floors of surrounding buildings. A 360-degree compact stage at the center of the market will host busking performances, and eco-friendly reusable tableware will be provided.
To ensure the commercial district remains self-sustaining after the funding period ends, a cooperative council involving the merchants' association and residents' self-governance body will be established to carry out voluntary inspections and build a community fund.
Gwanak-gu now operates more alley-type shopping streets than any other autonomous district in Seoul, following the designation of the Seorim Dabok-gil alley shopping street in August. The district plans to continue identifying new commercial zones and supporting merchant organization so that more alley-based businesses can access the support they need.
"I hope the Sadang Orak Dalbit Yajang becomes a beloved nighttime landmark in Namhyeon-dong — a place that office workers, hikers and young people will want to come back to," Gwanak-gu District Mayor Park Jun-hee said. "We will push this project forward without a hitch so it can become a lively alley commercial district built by residents and merchants together."
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