Buam-dong Jebi Road, Muak-dong, Myeongnyun-gil and Sungkyunkwan-ro join the district's network, bringing the total to 11 designated alley shopping zones; merchants gain access to Onnuri gift vouchers and government grant programs
Jongno-gu designated four new alley shopping districts this month — Buam-dong Jebi Road, Muak-dong, Myeongnyun-gil and Sungkyunkwan-ro — under a program aimed at strengthening the self-sufficiency of small businesses in the area.
The additions bring the total number of designated alley shopping districts in the borough to 11. The network began with the designation of Samcheong Jeongdok-gil in 2023 and has since grown to include Bukchon Gyedong-gil, Jongno Sinbaekje, Dongdaemun Station Exit 1, Jongno 5-ga Daero, Jongno 5-ga Exit 6 and Pyeongchang-dong, alongside the four newly added zones.
The alley shopping district system is established under a special act on fostering traditional markets and shopping districts. It designates neighborhood commercial areas that meet set criteria in order to support the business stability of small merchants. Shops within a designated zone may register as Onnuri gift voucher merchants, and they gain expanded opportunities to participate in grant projects run by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Jongno-gu — through which they can receive support for business and facility modernization. The district aims to use the system to sharpen the competitiveness of alley commercial areas and build the self-reliance of small-business owners.
Buam-dong Jebi Road, situated within a residential area, is a commercial strip of 37 shops covering everyday categories such as grocery stores, hair salons and restaurants.
The Muak-dong commercial area, near Exit 2 of Dongnimmun Station on subway Line 3, has 19 lifestyle businesses — including restaurants, cafes and retail shops — that serve the surrounding residential neighborhood.
The Myeongnyun-gil commercial area near Sungkyunkwan University, where a university district and residential neighborhoods coexist, is home to 94 shops — restaurants, cafes and daily convenience businesses — catering primarily to students and local residents.
The Sungkyunkwan-ro commercial area sits along the commuting and pedestrian route connecting Sungkyunkwan University and Hyehwa Station. Its 61 shops focus on food and beverage businesses that mainly serve students and university staff.
The district expects the new designations to expand the range of places where residents can use Onnuri gift vouchers, improving convenience while helping boost sales for small-business owners. Jongno-gu also plans to maintain consistent communication with each merchants' association to develop tailored revitalization strategies linked to support programs, so that each zone can grow into a commercial area with its own distinct character.
"I hope the alley shopping district designation becomes an opportunity to breathe new energy into small commercial areas throughout the neighborhood," District Mayor Yoo Chan-jong said. "We will continue to develop practical support measures that reflect the characteristics of each commercial area and the voices from the ground, and focus on stabilizing small-business operations and revitalizing the local economy."
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