Yongsan-gu designates Itaewon antique furniture street as alley shopping district

Seoul's Yongsan-gu announced Tuesday that it has newly designated the Itaewon Antique Furniture Street (around 87 Noksapyeong-daero 26-gil) as an alley shopping district and expanded the existing designation for Gyeongnidan-gil (around 24 Noksapyeong-daero 54-gil) to boost the competitiveness of small-business owners and revitalize local commercial areas.

The alley shopping district system designates and supports areas where small-business shops are concentrated enough to form a distinct commercial zone. Designated districts may accept Onnuri gift vouchers and participate in commercial area modernization projects and various grant programs.

The newly designated Itaewon Antique Furniture Street is home to shops dealing in antique furniture and decorative items. Known for Itaewon's distinctive atmosphere and eclectic merchandise, the area now has a foundation to participate in support programs aimed at boosting commercial activity.

The Gyeongnidan-gil alley shopping district sits near Noksapyeong Station and the main Itaewon commercial area and is home to restaurants, cafes and retail shops. With the zone expansion, shops newly included in the revised boundary will also become eligible for benefits under the alley shopping district system.

Yongsan-gu said it plans to continue supporting alley shopping districts with an eye to the characteristics and conditions of each neighborhood's commercial area, helping each zone grow by drawing on its own unique identity.

Yongsan-gu, which has been actively expanding small-business support, also newly designated three alley shopping districts in July: Jumbo Arcade (290 Ichon-ro), Ihwa-gil (around 22 Bogwang-ro 60-gil) and Yongmaru-gil (around 22 Saechang-ro 14-gil).

"This new designation and zone change lay the groundwork for distinctive local commercial areas to receive systematic support," Yongsan-gu District Mayor Kim Gyeong-dae said. "We will listen closely to the diverse voices of local businesses and work to provide practical help to small-business owners and the local economy."