Transforming Traditional Markets into Tourist Spots: Construction Begins on Seoul's First Design-Innovation Market, Sinjungang Market

Traditional markets in Seoul are evolving beyond spaces simply for buying and selling goods into global tourist markets where people can experience Seoul's daily life and culture.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it held a groundbreaking ceremony for the design-innovation traditional market project at Sinjungang Market in Jung-gu, officially kicking off the initiative.

This marks the first of Seoul's design-innovation traditional market projects to enter actual construction, with completion targeted for August next year.

The design-innovation traditional market project moves away from uniform arcades and convenience facilities, incorporating the market's history, locality, alley structure, and commercial district characteristics into its design.

The goal is to comprehensively improve spaces, landscapes, and contents to transform traditional markets from mere shopping venues into local hubs for experiencing lifestyle, culture, and tourism.

A total project cost of approximately 18.7 billion won will be invested.

Plans include building an eco-friendly wooden roof that allows natural sunlight and terraced rest areas, while enhancing connectivity between the market and 16 surrounding alleys. This will transform the market into a place where citizens and tourists can shop, rest, and enjoy nearby food and culture.

Specifically, the design applies "Loop Wave," a design proposal by Yoap Architects and TCA Architects.

The concept envisions the vitality of small alleys spreading out into the region along the market roof, focusing on naturally connecting the market with surrounding alleys.


In addition, Sinjungang Market will be fostered as a core hub of the Dongdaemun-Sindang Night Tourism and Commercial Belt, which connects to Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), Hipdang-dong, Sindang-dong Tteokbokki Alley, and Gwanghui-dong Central Asia Street.

The plan is to draw tourists visiting DDP into the market and surrounding alley commercial districts to increase their length of stay and spending, thereby driving the revitalization of Seoul-style night economy.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government explained, "By utilizing the newly created natural-light roof, terraced rest areas, and open alleys, we plan to establish it as a night economy hub where people can comfortably shop during the day and enjoy food and cultural contents together in the evening."

It added, "Moving forward, we will cooperate with merchant associations and related organizations to discover night food and cultural programs that leverage local characteristics, while also linking tourist routes and promotions."

Following Sinjungang Market in Jung-gu, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will sequentially pursue design-innovation projects for Tongin Market in Jongno-gu and Cheongnyangni Comprehensive Market in Dongdaemun-gu.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon attended the groundbreaking ceremony, visited shops in Sinjungang Market to encourage merchants, and listened to on-site opinions and difficulties.

Mayor Oh expressed his ambition, stating, "Sinjungang Market is Seoul's first design-innovation traditional market, serving as a starting point that re-imagines the future of markets beyond simple facility improvements. Based on the design capabilities Seoul has accumulated, we will make it a market where citizens and tourists stay longer and vitality spreads to surrounding commercial districts."

He added, "We will ensure it connects to surrounding food and attractions such as Sindang-dong, DDP, and Gwanghui-dong Central Asia Street, adding vitality to the market and the entire alley commercial district."

(Photo courtesy of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.