SMEs Ministry to Globalize 8 Local Commercial Zones as 'Glocal Commercial Areas & Local Brands'

Korea's Alley Commercial Districts, Joining Hands with Local Creators, Leap onto the Global Stage! The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) is launching an ambitious project to transform Korea's charming alley commercial districts into global attractions sought by people worldwide. Specifically, it has selected the key players for the 'Glocal Commercial District Creation' and 'Local Brand Creation' projects. A total of 8 teams, where the unique charm of the region meets the innovative ideas of local creators, have been finally selected to breathe new vitality into alleyways. This project was announced on April 23rd and focuses on creating business value based on the natural and cultural characteristics of each region. The selected teams, by leveraging the identity of their respective regions, have completed preparations to bring a fresh wind of change to the alley commercial districts. **Leaders of 'Glocal Commercial District Creation':** Two teams poised to capture the attention of people worldwide have been selected. * **Jongno-gu, Seoul (Represented by Urbanplay):** It will create a 'K-Creative Town' by weaving together Seochon's long history, cultural assets, and creative infrastructure. The plan is to develop Seochon's unique content and grow into a global content commercial district. * **Jung-gu, Daejeon (Represented by Wingwing):** Utilizing 'Sungsimdang Bread,' Daejeon's iconic content, it plans to consolidate Daejeon's identity as a 'world-class bakery city' by organizing diverse events such as bakery competitions and pop-up stores. These teams will receive robust support of up to 15.5 billion won from the MSS and local governments over five years. **'Local Brand Creation' to Imbue Alleys with Personality:** Six teams that will brand alleyways with local identity through cooperation with local small business owners and also support youth startups are gaining attention. * **Seocho-gu, Seoul (Represented by Move Culture):** It will present special content such as 'Taste Walks' and 'Cultural Sharing' connecting Yangjaecheon Stream, the cafe street, local universities, and office workers. * **Buyeo-gun, Chungcheongnam-do (Represented by Segan):** It will establish a growth roadmap for Buyeo Jaon-gil and breathe historical life into it. * **Gimje-si, Jeollabuk-do (Represented by Celesta):** It aims to succeed with unique content called 'Rice Paddy Campground,' utilizing the environment of the vast Gimje Plain. * **Naju-si, Jeollanam-do (Represented by Naju Cooperative Store):** It will create a sophisticated local brand utilizing local culture and the special product 'pear.' * **Yeongdeok-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do (Represented by Chobless):** It will create an experiential complex cultural space combining Yeonghae's local specialties and modern cultural heritage. * **Jeju City, Jeju-do (Represented by Illowa):** Its goal is to transform Jeju's old downtown into a 'gastronomy-specialized commercial district' and build a sustainable brand ecosystem. These 6 local brand teams will receive up to 1 billion won over two years to foster distinctive alley commercial districts that leverage the unique identity of their regions. The MSS will support aspiring small business owners with startup assistance, education and consulting, joint branding, and product development, while local governments will contribute by planning festivals linked to commercial districts and building local infrastructure. This project goes beyond mere commercial district revitalization, aiming to establish an autonomous commercial district management model to prevent gentrification. The plan is to create a sustainable commercial ecosystem through fostering anchor stores and collaborating with various stakeholders such as local residents and building owners. Lee Dae-geon, Director-General for Small Business Policy at the MSS, stated, "This is a new commercial district revitalization policy where local creators take center stage, and merchants, residents, and the community collaborate to create global cities." He emphasized, "By transforming alley commercial districts into global attractions, we will prevent regional decline and expand the domestic market." Through this selection, Korea's alley commercial districts, combining local characteristics and the creativity of local creators, will reach a new turning point, leaping to become global attractions. To ensure successful project implementation, workshops and the operation of a professional mentor group will also be conducted concurrently.