shops

Feb. 5 (Asia Today) — Merchants in Seoul’s Hyoja-dong neighborhood say the long-anticipated economic boost from President Lee Jae-myung’s return to the Blue House has failed to materialize, while commercial areas around the former presidential office in Yongsan continue to struggle.

Restaurants near the Blue House, once hopeful that an influx of staff and visitors would revive lunchtime demand, report thinning crowds and declining sales.

“Business is slow these days,” said Kim Kwang-jae, 64, who runs a Korean restaurant in Hyoja-dong, Jongno District. Despite offering discounted meals to Blue House staff and police officers, Kim said daily customer numbers hover around 70, far below expectations.

When the Blue House was open to the public, his restaurant served about 150 customers a day, providing a brief lifeline to nearby eateries and market stalls. That traffic evaporated after public access was suspended last August, merchants said.

Hope briefly returned after President Lee announced plans to resume work at the Blue House. On Jan. 29, he instructed staff to eat outside the compound every Wednesday in an effort to support local businesses. Wednesday marked the first day after the directive took effect.

The scene on the ground, however, told a different story.

Jeon Sun-myeong, owner of a dumpling shop in nearby Tongin Market, said customer numbers have fallen since the return to the Blue House. “I can’t even prepare dumplings in advance anymore,” she said, noting that the impact is especially severe for low-margin, high-volume businesses.

An official from the Tongin Market Merchants’ Association said frequent protests near the Blue House have further reduced foot traffic. Demonstrators occupying roads near market entrances have discouraged visitors, the official said, adding that declining orders are also hurting suppliers who provide ingredients to nearby restaurants.

A similar downturn is unfolding in Yongsan, which had benefited from increased activity after the presidential office moved there in 2022.

Around lunchtime in the Hangang-ro area, restaurant-lined alleys stood largely empty, with rows of mourning wreaths protesting the government’s Jan. 29 housing supply measures adding to the somber atmosphere.

“Our customers were mostly office workers,” said Jin Seon-il, 64, who has operated a knife-cut noodle restaurant in the area for 23 years. “Since the office moved back to the Blue House, the drop in lunchtime customers has been immediate.”

While nearby Yongridan-gil remains popular with younger crowds, Jin said most visitors favor cafes and bars over traditional eateries. “Rents rose during the presidential office era, but customers are gone,” he said.

Shin Deok-soon, 67, who runs a gamjatang restaurant, said she relocated to Yongsan three years ago to capture lunchtime demand tied to the presidential office. After Lee’s return announcement, she said sales steadily declined, forcing her to lay off all employees at the start of this year and raise menu prices.

A local real estate agent said commercial rents in Yongsan surged two to three times following the presidential office relocation and have yet to come down. “With rents staying high and sales falling, more shops are closing,” he said.

Office worker Kim Min-gyu, 27, said several once-popular eateries have already shut down. “A year ago, you had to line up at lunch,” he said. “Now you can walk right in.”

The Yongsan Small Business Association has urged lawmakers to adopt measures to revive the area. An association official said rising rents and falling foot traffic are placing severe strain on merchants and called for practical steps to ease rent burdens and draw customers back.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260205010002050

YOU can barely explore the Cotswolds without bumping into a famous face or two.

While not strictly true – the region stretches 800 square miles after all – it is certainly the spot outside of London which has the highest proportions of A-Listers.

The most popular place is Chipping Norton, with everyone from David Cameron to Jamie Oliver living nearby.

Yet many of them have chosen to live in the smaller villages to get away from any overzealous tourists wanting to catch them.

So here are some of the lesser-known villages which have welcomed famous faces over the years, as well as what to do in each destination.

Coates

Liam Gallagher is the latest celebrity to move to the Cotswolds, choosing Coates for his home.

The tiny village doesn’t have any pubs or shops, but there is the nearby Coates Roundhouse, one of the few remaining on the River Thames, as well as the Sapperton Canal Tunnel.

Otherwise you will have to head to the the nearest pub just down the road, the Thames Head Wharf, or to Cirencester which is a 10 minute drive.

Great Tew

The Beckham’s famously live near Chipping Norton, but they are in the village of Great Tew.

Here you’ll find the 16th century Falkland Arms pub, which also is a four-star hotel.

And next door is the thatched roof Quince and Clover at Great Tew, for a tea and cake.

For other activities, just outside the village is everything from celeb-loved Soho Farmhouse, to clay pigeon shooting and flying schools.

Chadlington

Another member of the Chippy Crew, Jeremy Clarkson famously lives near Chipping Norton and the village of Chadlington.

It has the cosy Cafe de la Post, run by an Australian couple with freshly made pastries and breads, or The Tite Inn pub with a popular beer garden in the summer.

Pick up some bits from the local Chadlington Quality Foods deli, or hop down the road to Clarkson’s Diddly Squat.

Little Farringdon

Near Lechlade is the tiny village of Little Farringon – where model Kate Moss is said to love.

Due to its size, you won’t find much to do here. However, it is right by Horseshoe Lake, a massive water activity centre with everything from kayaking and sailing to swimming and paddleboarding.

For pubs, cafes and hotels, the town of Lechlade is a three minute drive – make sure to pop into the aptly named The Riverside pub for a pint and place to stay right by the water.

Bisley

Home of the former Rivals author Jilly Cooper until her death last year, Bisley is another small village off the beaten track.

The only thing to do in the village is head to the 17th century The Bear Inn pub, which has been praised for its old world vibes.

Time is right and you might stumble into their annual flower show, or annual music festival in the summer.

Chalford

The home of actor Jamie Dornan, the larger village of Chalford is to the west of the even bigger Cirencester.

Bizarrely, it has previously been compared to Switzerland due to its steep hills and alpine feel.

Otherwise there is RMC Retro, a technology museum with vintage consoles and arcades, as well as a number of art galleries.

Grab some fresh produce at the local Chalford Village Shop, before stopping for lunch at the Lavender Bakehouse & Coffee Shop.

Eclectic and cozy define the spirit of this North Hollywood coffee shop owned by Jennifer Jackson and Libby Ward. The name (and whale logo) is a playful twist on corporate giant Starbucks (with “Starbuck” being a character in “Moby Dick”), and the satire extends to the names of the drink sizes: guppy (small), trout (medium) and whaley (large).

Inside, the whimsical nautical vibe continues in the front room with a floor mural, resembling the deep blue sea and various colorful sea creatures, done by local illustrator Tak Sparks.

Three back rooms with bold colored walls — green, blue, yellow and orange — feel like living rooms with wooden stools, desks, chairs and tables, area rugs, upholstered armchairs and worn leather seats. Out back, a shaded patio strung with Edison bulbs extends the seating.

The walls recently featured art by local comic artist/illustrator Josh Maikis, as well as art by two of the shop’s employees’ parents, J.H. Smith’s ink and intaglio prints and Carolyn Root’s wildlife paintings.

In the front space, bags of free coffee grounds are available for customers to take home for composting. There’s also a propagation station where you can leave or take plant clippings.

Beyond seasonal drinks and espresso-based drinks, try unusual signature offerings like the Shiny Squirrel, a blended espresso with caramel, whipped cream, white and dark chocolate, and sprinkles on top. Or, if coffee isn’t your thing, there are smoothies, hot chocolate and Italian sodas, and a wide array of teas. Jackson is also an herbalist and makes some of them, including Good Night Moon and Frankie Goes to Hollywood, with her own herbs.

Here, the coffee doesn’t stop at the beverages. Even a caprese sandwich has coffee in the balsamic vinegar.