Seongdong-gu Removes 60 Utility Poles from Elementary School Pathways

Nationwide First 'Utility Pole Maintenance Project' Through Public-Private Cooperation as a Model of Active Administration... Utility Pole Maintenance in Front of Dongmyeong Elementary School and Concurrent 'Walkable Street' Design Project Transforming the School Route

Pulling out the utility pole in front of Dongmyeong Elementary School

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) started relocating utility poles in front of Dongmyeong Elementary School last year and has removed or relocated a total of 60 utility poles along narrow passageways such as elementary school routes through this year.

Once installed, utility poles were often left unattended for decades even if placed in inappropriate locations such as the middle of roads or alleys. Positioned in the middle of narrow sidewalks, they caused inconvenience to pedestrians and were sometimes the cause of pedestrian traffic accidents and vehicle collisions.

In response, the district signed a business agreement last year through continuous consultations with Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), KT, and others, embarking on a full-scale utility pole maintenance project that was previously considered impossible due to the complex entanglement of interests such as relocation sites and cost burdens.

In collaboration with the local community center, the district selected maintenance targets, identified removable utility poles through maintenance of unused abandoned overhead lines and excessively installed spare lines, and maintained a total of 60 utility poles by completely removing 30 poles last year, removing 12 poles this year, and relocating 18 poles to walls as much as possible.

The district did not stop at utility pole maintenance. They also implemented a “Walkable Pedestrian Path Creation” project on the pedestrian paths where utility poles were relocated.

By September this year, the 150-meter section in front of the main gate of Dongmyeong Elementary School, where a total of 13 poles including utility and communication poles were maintained, transformed into a street filled with children’s imagination.

Facilities that could hinder children’s passage or safety, such as abandoned battery boxes, were maintained, safety fences that had been installed inside the road curbs were moved to the edge to secure the school route, and the entire 50-meter section of sidewalk blocks was replaced with new blocks featuring a bright design.

Additionally, by introducing the “Design Thinking” approach, a survey on the image of utility poles was conducted with 87 fourth and fifth graders of Dongmyeong Elementary School, and the design of the utility poles was newly applied.

With talent donation from the mural volunteer group “Geomidong,” design sheets visualizing images filled with children’s imagination and creativity were attached to the relocated utility poles.

Kang Junho (12), a fifth grader at Dongmyeong Elementary School, said, “The utility poles used to take up the whole path, so I sometimes walked on the road because the path was narrow. Now the narrow path has become wider, and the pictures we talked about with friends are beautifully drawn on the utility poles, making the way to school more fun.”

The school route maintenance in front of Dongmyeong Elementary School

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “Resolving inconveniences in residents’ daily lives is the foundation of administration and the beginning of proactive administration. Although all citizens are facing difficulties due to COVID-19, especially at times like this, we will continue to carry out Seongdong-gu’s unique, life-centered proactive administration that cares for and considers every aspect of residents’ lives.”