A reimagined flea market blending culture and hands-on experiences debuts Tuesday, marking a fresh push under the 9th elected administration to revitalize the handmade shoe district — retro shoe pop-ups, brand special sales, and customizing workshops where visitors can craft their own shoes and keyrings
Seongdong-gu in Seoul will launch the "Seongsu Style Flea Market" on Tuesday to breathe new life into the handmade shoe street in Seongsu-dong.
Since the start of the 9th elected administration, the district has moved away from simply maintaining and managing existing handmade shoe facilities, pursuing a range of policy initiatives aimed at genuinely revitalizing the Seongsu-dong handmade shoe street and strengthening its competitiveness.
As part of that effort, the district is transforming the "Shu Shu Market" — previously run as a straightforward sales bazaar — into a new-format flea market infused with the distinct sensibility, culture and hands-on experiences unique to Seongsu-dong. The event also applies a "town management" model in which the public sector, academia and industry jointly oversee and develop the neighborhood. It is being organized as a pilot community-management project bringing together Seongdong-gu, Hanyang University and local shoe companies, each contributing their own resources and expertise.
The flea market will be held Tuesday in the open plaza in front of the Seongsu Handmade Shoe Hope Platform, running from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. On-site highlights include a "Seongsu Handmade Shoe Retro Shoes Pop-up" showcasing the tradition and style of Seongsu craftsmanship, along with brand special sales tied to DFD Group — featuring Soda footwear and brands from the online mall Sinz — offering a wide range of shoe products at accessible prices. A hands-on activity session in partnership with a developmental disability organization will be held to promote social value, and lifestyle cafe brand Nineblock will operate a permanent convenience cafe, providing entertainment, activities and a rest space all at once.
Alongside the flea market, a customizing workshop will let visitors make their own personalized shoes and keyrings. The first session ran from Sept. 8 through 10, and the second session runs Sept. 15 through 17, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. each day. No advance reservation is required — anyone can join by signing up on-site.
Through the flea market, the district plans to introduce the value and appeal of Seongsu handmade shoes to the public in a fresh way, while connecting local artisans, university creative resources and corporate expertise to pursue a range of revitalization initiatives that allow the community and the industry to grow together.
"This flea market will be a turning point that begins a new chapter for the Seongsu-dong handmade shoe street, made possible through collaboration among artisans, universities, businesses and residents," Seongdong-gu District Mayor Yoo Bo-hwa said. "We will continue to actively apply the town management model to build a vibrant handmade shoe street where people, culture and industry come together."
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