The district took home the Minister of Interior and Safety Award in the livelihood economy category for its alley commerce revitalization and local branding initiative, following a prime minister commendation last year.
Gwanak-gu has won the Minister of Interior and Safety Award in the livelihood stability category at the 22nd Korea Local Government Management Competition for its alley commerce revitalization and local branding project.
The Korea Local Government Management Competition, co-hosted by the Ministry of Interior and Safety, recognizes and honors outstanding policies and projects carried out by local governments across the country.
The district has pursued a range of initiatives to strengthen the growth of alley commercial districts through careful, systematic support — including an art interior program to redesign aging storefronts, a merchant academy to build business management skills among shop owners, and an integrated local branding effort at the commercial district level.
These efforts earned the district a prime minister commendation last year for its social economy development policy, and the latest award marks the second consecutive year Gwanak-gu has been recognized for innovation in livelihood economic policy.
The art interior program, launched in 2019, has improved the signage, exteriors and interior spaces of aging shops to suit the characteristics of each business type. More than 2,500 stores have received support to date — roughly 14 percent of all small-business storefronts in the district.
Even after a Seoul Metropolitan Government grant program ended, Gwanak-gu became the first autonomous district to allocate its own budget to continue the initiative, committing 5.7 billion won ($4.2 million) in district funds over eight years to sustain financial backing for alley commerce revitalization.
The district also expanded its support beyond individual storefront improvements to encompass integrated branding for entire alleyways, developing it into a competitive commercial district revitalization model.
A unified purple design scheme was applied to the shopping alley around the former Danggok Market, and a district brand identity along with a Boramae character mascot were developed to give "Boravit Street" a distinctive identity. The initiative prompted merchants to voluntarily form a merchants' association, and the alley was subsequently designated as an alley-type shopping street.
Gwanak-gu now has 22 designated alley-type shopping streets — the most of any autonomous district in Seoul.
The district has also worked to strengthen institutional and administrative support for alley commerce. A July 2025 revision to local ordinances lowered the designation threshold for alley-type shopping streets from 25 or more stores per 2,000 square meters to 15 or more. Through the Gwanak Merchant Academy, the district has also provided practical training in online marketing, menu development and taxation, along with one-on-one consulting, to raise the management capabilities of small-business owners and foster networking among merchants.
"It is especially meaningful that the alley commerce revitalization policies we have developed together with small-business owners have received such high recognition, earning us this honor for two consecutive years," District Mayor Park Jun-hee said. "We will continue to listen to merchants' voices and work hand in hand with them to strengthen the competitiveness of small businesses and drive the sustained growth of alley commercial districts."
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