[Seoul Autonomous District News] Dongdaemun-gu Installs 2 Smart Shade Sheds with Automatic Opening and Closing Based on Temperature and Wind Speed, Operating a Total of 161 Heatwave Shade Sheds... Gangbuk-gu Supports Signboard Replacement for Small Stores in Insu-dong Alley... Gangdong-gu Starts ‘Nowon Aipyeonhan Taxi’ Service for Pregnant Women and Infants... Gwanak-gu Shares 820 Parking Spaces in 45 Building-Attached Parking Lots and an Average of 882 Resident-Priority Parking Spaces per Month over 3 Years of the 7th Elected Term... Seocho-gu Opens Smart Library in Saessak Children’s Park, Seocho 4-dong
Dongdaemun-gu installs 2 smart shade shelters with automatic opening and closing based on temperature and wind speed; operates a total of 161 heatwave shade shelters
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) has installed additional 'heatwave shade shelters' to prevent heat-related illnesses and block intense sunlight and ultraviolet rays, and has piloted smart shade shelters.
Since 2017, the district has installed heatwave shade shelters at major crosswalks and traffic islands to prepare for heatwaves, gradually increasing their number. In 2021, as part of heatwave countermeasures, 10 additional shelters were installed, operating a total of 159 heatwave shade shelters.
Especially this year, smart shade shelters that automatically open and close according to temperature and wind speed were piloted at two locations: Dongdaemun Police Station Intersection and Dapsimni Station Intersection, bringing the total number of heatwave shade shelters to 161.
The smart shade shelters incorporate the Internet of Things (IoT) into the shelters, making them more convenient to use and less prone to malfunction than traditional foldable shelters. Equipped with external sensors to detect weather conditions, the shelters automatically open when the temperature rises above 15 degrees Celsius and automatically close when strong winds exceeding 7 m/s blow or when the sun sets.
Additionally, the district has enhanced the function of existing shade shelters by attaching 'foldable rest chairs' so that pregnant women, the elderly, and others can take a short rest while waiting at traffic signals on the road.
A total of 12 rest chairs have been installed under shade shelters at six locations: Jegidong, Jeonnong-dong, Dapsimni-dong, Jangan-dong, Cheongnyangni-dong, and Hwikyung-dong. The rest chairs are foldable to improve space efficiency and minimize inconvenience to pedestrians. They can be easily unfolded with little effort, providing comfortable seating for vulnerable pedestrians who find it difficult to stand in the heat.
Furthermore, the district is implementing comprehensive heatwave countermeasures, including operating heatwave shelters, patrolling and protecting street homeless people, and supporting cooling supplies for vulnerable housing groups.
Yoo Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, stated, "We will do our best to support local residents so they can safely get through the summer amid unprecedented heatwaves."
‘Nowon Comfortable Taxi for Children’ service begins for pregnant women and infants
Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) will operate the ‘Nowon Comfortable Taxi for Children’ from the 17th to enable pregnant women and infants to visit hospitals safely and comfortably.
The ‘Comfortable Taxi for Children’ is a service that provides dedicated vehicles for families with pregnant women and infants to visit hospitals and public health centers for medical purposes.
Pregnant women and infants require regular visits to hospitals for various checkups and vaccinations. However, they often face difficulties using public transportation due to physical discomfort and carrying items like strollers. Moreover, with the recent spread of COVID-19, many have been reluctant to use public transport with infants who have weaker immune systems.
To alleviate these inconveniences, the district introduced the ‘Comfortable Taxi for Children.’ The dedicated vehicles supported by the district are equipped with child safety seats and droplet barriers for infant safety, and provide door service for transporting items such as strollers.
Dedicated drivers are selected through the ‘Nowon Senior Happiness Corporation’ and receive continuous training before deployment. The vehicles are disinfected internally after each trip to ensure user safety and convenience.
The service is available to households registered in Nowon-gu with pregnant women or infants under 24 months. They can receive free usage vouchers for two rides per day and ten rides per year; since the service started in August this year, five free ride vouchers are provided. The vouchers are valid while residing in Nowon-gu and will be discontinued if the user moves to another area.
The Comfortable Taxi for Children operates on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for visits to hospitals, oriental medicine clinics, and public health centers located in Nowon-gu. After use, users must submit proof such as medical certificates or hospital receipts.
Residents wishing to use the service can apply through the Nowon-gu website. For initial registration, an ID and pregnancy certificate or infant’s resident registration copy must be submitted. To ensure smooth dispatch and use, reservations must be made by midnight three days before the desired date, and if the user does not board within 10 minutes of the dispatch time, the reservation is automatically canceled.
As of last year, there were approximately 1,820 registered pregnant women and 4,660 infants under 24 months in Nowon-gu. The district expects about 4,000 annual service uses. Although the service starts with two vehicles, the district plans to increase the number of vehicles and diversify operating hours based on usage and satisfaction.
Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, “Although various support projects exist for pregnant women and infants, even the ‘trip to the hospital’ can be a hurdle for them. We will carefully examine and prepare diverse support measures to ensure raising children in Nowon is convenient.”
Seocho-gu opens smart library in Saessak Children's Park, Seocho 4-dong
Seocho-gu (Mayor Cho Eun-hee) has opened a smart library in a park to provide residents with more convenient and safe access to books during the COVID-19 era.
The newly installed smart library is located within Saessak Children's Park near apartment complexes in Seocho 4-dong. This is the fourth smart library opened by the district, following those at Yangjae Station and Naebang Station in 2018 and Gubanpo Station in June this year.
Notably, the smart libraries at Naebang Station and Yangjae Station have received great responses, with annual users nearing 10,000 each.
The district decided to install the smart library in a park to move away from the previous model of placing them inside subway stations, aiming to create a non-face-to-face, community-based library where apartment residents can borrow books and enjoy reading comfortably on benches in the park.
The smart library stocks about 600 new and bestselling books and offers 24/7 unmanned borrowing and returning of books, including reserved titles.
Residents wishing to use the service can borrow books using a mobile membership card via the ‘Seocho Library’ app or borrow and return books from other public libraries in the district. The smart library also provides library news and recommended book content alongside book searches.
To strengthen non-face-to-face services and handle the increasing interlibrary loan requests promptly, the district has installed and operates a large-capacity ‘Book Sorting Machine’ that automates the sorting of about 1,500 books returned daily to Banpo Library, enabling fast 24-hour contactless book returns.
Cho Eun-hee, Mayor of Seocho-gu, said, “We plan to continuously expand non-face-to-face library services so that residents can relieve depression through reading and enjoy a safe reading culture during the COVID-19 era.”
Gangbuk-gu supports signboard replacement for small stores in Insu-dong alleys
Gangbuk-gu (Mayor Park Kyum-soo) has launched a signboard improvement project to revitalize the alley commercial district in Insu-dong.
The signboard improvement project aims to replace old and haphazardly installed signboards with unified designs. The district plans to renovate the signboards to reflect the historical and cultural characteristics of the area and businesses, focusing on creating a pleasant and distinctive street.
Store owners participating in the project will receive full coverage of signboard replacement costs. However, 20% of the total support amount must be self-funded and used for interior and exterior improvements of the store. To maintain a clean street environment, no items should be left on the road at any time.
The target area is around Samyang-ro 87-gil, where small stores are densely located. Participants can choose one of two signboard types: one with an awning with external lighting, and the other a wall-mounted type with internal LED lighting.
Those interested must submit a signboard replacement consent form by the 20th of this month via email (bty86@gangbuk.go.kr), visit the Urban Regeneration Division at the district office, or apply by mail. Related documents can be downloaded from the district website (under ‘About Our District’ - ‘Notices’ - ‘Public Announcements’). For details, refer to the announcement on the website or contact the Urban Regeneration Division.
Park Kyum-soo, Mayor of Gangbuk-gu, said, “Once the themed Insu-dong signboard alley is created, many residents and consumers will visit this area. We will continue to increase support to enhance the competitiveness of the local commercial district, which has been depressed due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.”
Gwanak-gu shares 820 parking spaces in 45 building-attached parking lots and an average of 882 resident-priority parking spaces monthly over 3 years of the 7th local government
Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) is solving chronic parking shortages in densely populated residential areas by creating shared benefits through public-private cooperation with a ‘sharing, not owning’ approach via building-attached parking lots and resident-priority parking lot sharing projects.
The ‘building-attached parking lots’ open unused parking spaces at religious facilities, large buildings, and general buildings with low nighttime usage to neighboring residents, totaling 45 locations with 820 spaces.
The district provides up to 20 million KRW in parking facility improvement subsidies to building owners who open at least five unused parking spaces for more than two years, and up to 5 million KRW for maintenance costs when extending the opening for more than two years.
Additionally, ‘Thankful Sharing Parking Lot’ signs are attached to raise owners’ pride and awareness of sharing culture.
Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “The activation of the building-attached parking lot sharing project has improved parking convenience for residents, contributed to spreading a culture of sharing, and significantly reduced public parking construction costs. We appreciate the enthusiastic participation of building owners willing to share with neighbors.”
The resident-priority parking lot sharing service also stands out by utilizing unused times to alleviate parking shortages in residential areas.
In the ‘Resident-Priority Parking Lot Sharing Project,’ sharers provide parking spaces during their unused times and receive incentives, while users can park at a discounted rate of 600 KRW per 30 minutes using a smartphone app.
Incentives received by sharers can be exchanged for mobile gift certificates within the app and used to pay parking fees at other affiliated urban parking lots via the app’s charging function.
The district encourages sharing activation through multiple apps such as ‘Everyone’s Parking,’ ‘Parking Together,’ and ‘Parking Friends’ to make it easier for residents to use the resident-priority parking lot sharing service.
Notably, the ‘Resident-Priority Parking Lot Sharing Project’ combines public-private cooperation with profit-sharing and public interest projects, with both the contracted company and the district office sharing revenues.
Over the three years of the 7th local government, the average monthly shared resident-priority parking spaces reached 882, and usage increased by over 30% from 8,377 cases in 2019 to 10,858 in 2020, contributing to alleviating parking shortages in residential areas and significantly reducing illegal parking.
Furthermore, Gwanak-gu is focusing on solving local parking shortages through public parking lot construction and complex facility projects.
With the expansion of the 2nd Samsung-dong public parking lot, Gwanak Elementary School facility complex, Bongnim Middle School idle land parking lot, and completion of Nangok Madang public parking lot projects, a total of 243 parking spaces have been secured. The district plans to create more than 200 new spaces in five locations by 2022, focusing on areas with low parking supply rates to resolve chronic parking shortages.
Mayor Park Jun-hee expressed, “The parking lot sharing project is a meaningful initiative where public and private sectors join forces to solve the shortage of parking spaces in the area and experience the value of sharing. We will continue to promote shared parking to improve residents’ convenience and create a neighborhood where everyone prospers together.”
Dongjak-gu opens Sadang 2-dong Public Pureun Daycare Center
Dongjak-gu (Mayor Lee Chang-woo) will open the ‘Public Pureun Daycare Center (46, Dongjak-daero 35-gil)’ within the Isu Prugio The Pretium complex on September 1.
The daycare center is a national and public facility created by leasing the management building free of charge for 20 years from the Sadang 3 Housing Redevelopment Association.
The district is currently investing about 200 million KRW in remodeling work. The facility is a one-story building with a total floor area of 250.38㎡, consisting of a childcare room, teacher’s room, kitchen, and restrooms.
Before opening, a director was appointed and assigned as of August 1, and preparations such as purchasing equipment, teaching materials, and recruiting children are underway.
With this opening, the district secures 69 national and public daycare centers, achieving a utilization rate of 55%, higher than Seoul’s average of 47%. The district plans to expand six more centers by next year.
The Public Pureun Daycare Center consists of three classes for infants aged 0, and two classes each for ages 1 and 2, with a total capacity of 33 children. The district is accepting applications for admission from the 5th to midnight (24:00) on the 18th.
Residents wishing to enroll can apply via the comprehensive pregnancy and childcare portal ‘i-Sarang.’ Admission confirmation will be individually notified by the daycare center after the deadline.
For more details, contact the Childcare Division of Dongjak-gu Office.
Kim Kyung-ok, Head of the Childcare Division, said, “We will do our best to build childcare infrastructure and create a happy childcare environment for both children and parents. Following the elevation to social distancing level 4 on the 12th of last month, we are strictly implementing emergency childcare for limited groups such as working families and stocking quarantine supplies to ensure the safety of infants and young children.”
Gangdong-gu presents fantasy pansori performance depicting the history of the ‘Sangil-ri Manse Movement’
Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Jung-hoon) will present the historical fantasy pansori performance ‘Joseon 9th Grade Civil Servant Superhero Manse Singer Kim Kyung-bae’ and the ‘Gangdong Humanities Concert with Historian Shim Yong-hwan’ on the same stage at Gangdong Arts Center over two days, the 14th and 15th.
This pansori performance is a premiere adaptation of the 1919 Sangil-ri (currently Sangil-dong) March 1st Manse Movement history with a modern sensibility, written and directed by pansori singer Choi Yong-seok.
Choi Yong-seok, holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 5 and former representative of ‘Pansori Factory Badak Sori,’ is recognized not only as a pansori singer but also as a playwright who warmly and delicately interprets the world and people.
Following the performance, a humanities concert by historian Shim Yong-hwan, known for appearances on various history-themed broadcasts such as ‘Crossing the Line Guys,’ will be held. The concert will easily and entertainingly reveal hidden stories of the March 1st Manse Movement, providing an opportunity to revisit and empathize with the history of Korea’s independence movement.
This performance is supported by the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s ‘March 1st Movement Commemoration Project’ and will be free of charge. Reservations can be made through the Gangdong-gu website until the 12th.
For more information about the performance, contact the Culture and Arts Division of Gangdong-gu.
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