To regain the vitality of the Hayang KKumbow ‘Dream Rock’ Market, college students have joined together!

Professors and students of Kyungil University (President Jung, Hyun-Tae) make use of their major knowledge and skills in order to provide design services to merchants at Hayang KKumbow Market, which is attracting attention. The youthful and sensational designs of college students are helping to vitalize the local traditional market and secure competitiveness.

Since May last year, 10 students of the “Signer Design Group” of the Department of Digital Media Design at Kyungil University, as well as the Advisor Professor Kim, Dae-Sung Kim and the Researcher Lee, Ga-Ryang have endeavored to revive the traditional market in Hayang, Gyeongsan, where Kyungil University is located. Over the past year, they have made every effort to go over from brand design and logo development to menu board and packaging package production, and this year they are preparing even cultural events to increase sales.

The logo they developed, “Jang Bogo,” has a dual meaning to inform that Hayang KKumbow Market is the first mart-type market in the country, and that there are plenty of things to see and enjoy there at the market. It is the very message that encourages visitors to shop at Hayang KKumbow Market and enjoy various things there as well.

They went one step further in developing the brand design and logo of the Hayang KKumbow market. Menu boards using the developed logo design, eco-friendly material packaging packages, masks, etc., were directly produced by them, and then more than 15,000 copies of them were distributed to merchants free of charge. Designed products were made available to merchants to use, which received great responses.

In particular, it was taken into account that packaging and delivery-oriented sales increased due to COVID-19, thus causing serious environmental problems. Consequently, packaging packages using eco-friendly materials were produced. In addition, masks for merchants and visitors were also delivered, invigorating market merchants who had been depressed by COVID-19.

Students used every minute of their free time for design development and product production. In particular, on weekends and on the 4th and 9th market-days, they met with merchants to talk and reflect their opinions.

Hayang KKumbow Market Merchants Association said, “The market atmosphere has been rejuvenated with the influx of young people, and the uniform design has been a great help in a variety of fields, such as creating a clean aesthetic and increasing sales.” It also added, “With high expectations for the future activities, we will do our best in every area possible in order to develop it into a market where the local community and young people can cooperate each other.”

Lee, Je-Yoon (senior, Industrial Design major) who participated in the activity said, “I tried to add the youthful sense of young people with the aim of popularizing and revitalizing the local traditional market, and I am so proud to see the merchants satisfied. As we have planned cultural events such as flea markets for our customers this year, we will actively promote it to secure diverse customer bases.”

On the other hand, the 'Signer Design Group' of the Department of Digital Media Design at Kyungil University is scheduled to continue its activities, as it had been selected for the TOBE Innovation support project of the Link Plus (LINC+) project team this year, following last year. It is planning to carry out activities that will be helpful to the market, such as establishing an online sales system at Hayang KKumbow Market, building a youth design office, and planning flea markets.