Revitalizing Gwangmyeong New Town: The Alley Food Stamp Tour
[Reporter Kim Yeon-hong]
The Gyeonggi Province Business-Friendly Urban Development Project
×
New Town Alley Food Stamp Tour,
Bringing Life to Gwangmyeong Alleys
A charming view of the New Town alleys contrasting with the massive apartment complexes ⓒ Reporter Kim Yeon-hong
Amid rapid redevelopment, confirming the 'power of connection' between small business owners and residents
Every day, high-rise apartments are rising,
and the map of Gwangmyeong New Town is changing.
While the emergence of large, clean new complexes is welcome,
there are small restaurants and shops that have stood at the alley corners for decades.
In the wave of rapid urban redevelopment,
a meaningful attempt was made to revive and promote these shops,
which are at risk of being neglected.
The 'Gwangmyeong New Town Alley Food Stamp Tour',
held from March 27 to 31,
was born from this concern.
This event was organized as part of the
‘Gyeonggi Province Business-Friendly Urban Development Project’.
This project aims to improve the environment and enhance the self-sustainability of local businesses
to ensure small business owners and local residents can thrive together,
even amid rapid urban changes.
During the five-day enjoyable journey, the 'Gwangmyeong New Town Alley Food Stamp Tour' guide ⓒ Reporter Kim Yeon-hong
More important than facility repairs is raising awareness of the 'existence of alleys'
This project boldly departed from the existing one-sided
budget support model.
Instead of merely providing hardware-focused support by fixing facilities,
it focused on creating experiences and content
that encourage residents to open the doors of the shops
they usually pass by without a second thought.
The 'Gwangmyeong New Town Alley Food Stamp Tour' offered
great enjoyment through practical benefits.
Participants who visited three out of five designated alley restaurants
received a '30,000 won dining coupon'
that can be used immediately at one of the participating restaurants.
Going beyond simple promotion,
it provided diners with a delightful dining opportunity,
while giving vendors a chance to increase sales
and secure new regular customers.
In this process, the Aramedia Social Cooperative
played a bridging role, analyzing the characteristics of the business district
and weaving them into the playful element of the 'Stamp Tour'.
Thanks to this, Gyeonggi Province's business-friendly policies,
which could feel rigid, became a delightful event in the daily lives of residents.
Alley themes reborn with murals evoking nostalgia from the 70s and 80s ⓒ Reporter Kim Yeon-hong
The alley theme blossoming with murals and retro vibes... the attitude of merchants facing change
The physical environment of the alleys is also undergoing careful changes.
The New Town Alley Merchant Association has continued to promote
signboard maintenance and the creation of light streets,
and recently added vibrancy to the streets through an alley mural project.
Once a dangerous area with few people at night,
it is now transforming into a '7080 retro' themed street that evokes nostalgia.
Instead of waiting passively for customers with the arrival of large complexes,
merchants are sharing the sense of urgency that
"we must change first to avoid being left behind"
and have sown the seeds of voluntary change.
Alley restaurants welcoming residents with sincere taste and service ⓒ Reporter Kim Yeon-hong
The process is more important than the results, laying the foundation for coexistence
In reality, it is difficult for all businesses to feel immediate sales increases
within the short span of five days.
The temperature felt on-site can vary depending on the type or location of the business.
However, the true achievement of this project does not lie in short-term figures.
In the massive flow of change represented by the New Town,
the fact that the alley business district has not been neglected
and that the merchants have worked together to lay the foundation of the community
is the most significant gain.
This process also restored an 'emotional connection'
between local residents and merchants, beyond merely experiencing dining at restaurants.
Vibrant hub of the New Town Alley Merchant Association, now adorned with character murals ⓒ Reporter Kim Yeon-hong
Things that can easily disappear if not recorded, a bridge that preserves their value
This stamp tour is a process of tackling the homework of modernizing and protecting the alley business district.
It aims to modernize and protect the alley business district,
which could be overshadowed by large franchises or shopping malls, into a 'business-friendly' environment.
Although short-term sales changes may vary by business,
this project has left true achievements in securing the 'visibility of alleys'
and forming a 'merchant community'.
Stories of alleys that can easily disappear if not recorded.
This journey, made possible through the 'Gyeonggi Province Business-Friendly Urban Development Project',
carefully established a place for the alley business district in the new daily life of Gwangmyeong New Town
and confirmed the possibility of a 'city that lives together'.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/gyeonggi_gov/224239456604
No comments yet.
