Interview Icheon Mayor Kim Kyung-hee: "Icheon Commercial District Revitalization Center Expected to Be 'Control Tower for People's Livelihoods'"

[News S=Reporter Eom In-yong] Icheon City has opened the 'Icheon Commercial District Revitalization Center' to provide professional and systematic support to small business owners facing difficulties in a rapidly changing retail environment and to revitalize the local economy, and has begun full-scale operations.

On February 20, Icheon City held the 'Icheon Commercial District Revitalization Center Opening Ceremony' with great success at the Education Cooperation Support Center within Seolbong Park, attended by approximately 30 people including Icheon Mayor Kim Kyung-hee, National Assemblyman Song Seok-jun, Icheon City Council Chairman Park Myung-seo, city and provincial council members, related government officials, small business owner organizations and commercial district leaders.

We met with Icheon Mayor Kim Kyung-hee to learn about the role of the 'Icheon Commercial District Revitalization Center,' which will serve as a 'control tower for people's livelihoods' to provide close-contact support to small business owners, and future plans to support small business owners.

The following is a Q&A.

▲ What is the newly opened 'Icheon Commercial District Revitalization Center'?

- The Icheon Commercial District Revitalization Center was established after Icheon City was selected for the 'Gyeonggi Province Commercial District-Friendly City Development Project' in August of last year, with a total project budget of 395 million won (50% provincial funding, 50% city funding).

The center was established on the first floor of the Education Cooperation Support Center in Seolbong Park, spanning 105㎡, and is equipped with optimal facilities for small business owner communication and capacity building, including an office, multipurpose room, educational space, promotional bulletin boards, and electronic signage.

Going forward, the center will operate a one-stop support system that enhances the competitiveness of small business owners through △customized education and professional consulting for small business owners △commercial district promotion and marketing support △development and operation of specialized projects featuring local characteristics.

▲ What measures are in place to revitalize Icheon's commercial districts?

- The currently ongoing 'Icheon Commercial District Actual Conditions Survey and Comprehensive Activation Plan Development Project' is a good representation. By June, we will complete a 'comprehensive master plan for commercial district revitalization' that includes Icheon's distinctive representative festival, local currency activation strategies, and strategies to secure self-reliance of merchants.

Additionally, simultaneously with the opening of the 'Icheon Commercial District Revitalization Center,' we plan to intensively promote various software projects that can be immediately felt in the field, such as website development and advanced case workshops.

▲ What are your plans for supporting small business owners?

- The commercial district revitalization center opening today will become a historic hub that alleviates the hardships of small business owners, who are the roots of our Icheon economy, and breathes new vitality into them.

In particular, this year marks a meaningful time as it coincides with the 30th anniversary of city status and the growth of SK Hynix, the representative company of the region. In connection with the 'Icheon Economic Revitalization Festa' to be operated year-round starting in April, we will spare no effort in providing substantial support to small business owners.

For Icheon's economy to thrive, smiles must bloom in every shop. The commercial district revitalization center will serve as a catalyst so that it can lead to increased sales for merchants, and we will concentrate all our capabilities toward this goal.