Seungro Lee, Seongbuk-gu Mayor, Why Did He Attach Fluorescent Tape to Seniors' Canes?

Nighttime and Early Morning Outings Feared by Elderly, District Mayor Praised for On-Site Response and Detailed Administration... Seongbuk-gu Establishes 'Safety Living Bureau' in January 1 Organizational Reform Focused on 'Safe Living and Urban Management'

Seungro Lee, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu (first on the right), is attaching fluorescent tape to the cane of an elderly visitor to the market.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) is making strides to realize a safe Seongbuk by designating 2020 as the inaugural year for local government guaranteeing everyday safety.

On January 1, Seongbuk-gu reorganized its administration with the goal of “safe living and urban management-centered administration.” The original main office structure of 5 bureaus, 1 division, 2 deputy directors, 29 departments, and 135 teams was restructured into 6 bureaus, 1 deputy director, 31 departments, and 141 teams, reflecting residents’ high demand for everyday safety confirmed through the field mayor’s office. Among the changes was the establishment of the “Safe Living Bureau.”

The “Safe Living Bureau” includes the Urban Safety Division, Cleaning Administration Division, Job Economy Division, and Environment Division, and will oversee comprehensive safety and disaster management as well as policies closely related to residents’ daily lives in regional economy and environment sectors.

Since everyday safety depends heavily on residents’ interest and participation, on the 6th, Mayor Lee Seung-ro personally visited Donam Market, a place frequented by many residents, to conduct a campaign. On that day, Mayor Lee attached fluorescent tape to the canes and walkers of elderly visitors and requested careful attention to their walking conditions as well as drivers’ meticulous caution during nighttime or early morning hours.

An elderly person who met Mayor Lee while visiting the market said, “When I walk through alleys early in the morning to attend dawn worship, there have been many times when cars passed by with only a single perilla leaf’s width of space, making my heart race,” and added, “It is reassuring to know that if the cane glows in the dark alleys, drivers can see it well.”

Other elderly residents also expressed high concerns about traffic accidents at night or early morning and praised Mayor Lee for going out into the field, while also urging for more meticulous administration.

On the same day, merchants at Donam Market also joined the campaign. Kim Bong-su, chairman of the Donam Market Merchants Association, said, “There are many large vehicles coming and going to load or unload goods at the market every dawn, and since elderly people tend to go out early in the morning, there have been many concerns about safety accidents. This campaign has been a good opportunity to raise merchants’ awareness as well.”

A Seongbuk-gu official stated, “Since the start of the 7th elected term, the mayor has been operating a field mayor’s office that visits every alley to listen to residents’ opinions and seek solutions. Among the most frequently collected opinions through this office was safety,” and added, “We plan to implement more meticulous administration regarding safety, which can be considered the foundation of everyday life, to bring about changes that residents can feel.”

Mayor Lee Seung-ro said, “In 2020, Seongbuk-gu prioritized ‘safety,’ the foundation of residents’ daily lives, and established the Safe Living Bureau. It is especially important to create a safe walking environment for vulnerable groups such as the elderly,” and urged residents’ active interest and participation, saying, “If residents and administration unite their hearts, we can realize a safe Seongbuk where the elderly can walk with peace of mind and children can enjoy walking.”