Seongdong-gu Geumnam Market 'Crime-Free Safe Zone' Design

Geumnam Market Selected as Target Site for 'Safe Living Design Project,' Transformed into a Safe Village... Emergency Bell Customized Safety Facility Design Plan Resident Briefing Held

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] “While running a business, I really hoped there would be an emergency bell, and now that the market will have one for the first time, I think I can run my business with peace of mind.”

On the 15th, a residents' briefing session on the design plan for the ‘Geumnam Market Safety Village Creation Project’ was held at Geumnam Market with about 40 market merchants and officials gathered.

Merchants expressed their expectations for the transformed market and continuously came up with new ideas.

Geumnam Market was selected last November as a target site for the ‘2019 Seoul City Life Safety (Crime Prevention) Design Project.’ The selection reflected the market’s characteristics, where 120 small-scale business operators live in a mixed residential-commercial area within a narrow space, and the region has a high rate of minor and daily crimes that often go unreported due to the market’s nature.

First, the district conducted a joint field survey with market merchants to understand the actual conditions and issues of Geumnam Market. A design governance was established, consisting of Seoul City, related field experts, and the Geumnam Market Management Committee, to devise public design safety facilities suitable for alley-type markets, such as improving the dark and maze-like market alleys and reorganizing safety facilities.

To improve the pedestrian environment within the market, the project will install ▲main market entrance gates ▲integrated guide signs with convex mirrors ▲graphics signs to strengthen management information, and to increase predictability of crime, it will install ▲entrance sensor alarms ▲emergency safety bells ▲monitoring control systems ▲safety maps, among others.

To improve the dark and cold atmosphere of the market alleys, plans include painting market shutters, installing decorative lighting, and leasing popup stores in vacant shops.

Mr. Park, a market merchant who attended the briefing, said, “I am very grateful and happy that our Geumnam Market is being developed into a safety village,” adding, “Along with safety, I hope there will be spaces where market advertisements can be placed to revitalize the market so that many residents can visit as before.”

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong District, said, “The various opinions raised by residents at this briefing will be actively reflected in the future development project,” and added, “Since Geumnam Market has a long tradition starting in 1949, we will make it a safe and vibrant market to restore its former glory.”