On the 18th, Ulsan Nam-gu (Mayor Dong-wook Seo) announced that it will hold a contest for “Targeted Support Programs for Local Small Businesses” to promote the charm of alleyway stores and strengthen the independence of small businesses.

The project, which will undergo its third iteration this year, targets two commercial districts and six alleyway business districts. Alleyway businesses, which have been relatively excluded compared to traditional markets, will be supported through events designed to facilitate customer influx, led by merchants. These events will include promotions, cultural activities, and other initiatives.

Stores that wish to participate in the project just need to submit a business proposal that contains a unique business of the commercial district from Apr. 21 to May 12.

Nam-gu is planning to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the willingness to participate, the potential business benefits, and the level of detail in the event plan, among other factors, in order to select and support one finalist.

Additionally, in line with last year’s specialized support project for alleyway stores, Nam-gu selected the fish retail block in the Ulsan Wholesale Agricultural and Fish Market―then marking its 1st anniversary of designation―and held the “Let’s Go and Meet Fall Gizzard Shad!” festival, which received a warm response from both local merchants and residents.

A Nam-gu official stated that “Through this contest, we will increase the independence and competitiveness of small businesses, and hope to increase the vitality of local businesses through boosting consumption”, and “We will continue to unfold various support programs based on consistent communication with small businesses.”