[Interview] Kim Su-young, Yangcheon District Mayor, "Implementing Electric Charging System Using Streetlights to Practice Carbon Neutrality"

First Domestic Installation of Electric Charging System Using Streetlights, 72 Electric Vehicles Can Be Charged Simultaneously in Yangcheon-gu... Selected as One of the 100 Government Innovation Cases in 2020, Expected to Expand to Seoul and Nationwide

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] “It was not easy to secure a minimum space of one pyeong or more that could simultaneously satisfy parking and charging in the city center. Accordingly, the idea started with utilizing streetlights, which are found everywhere on the streets.”

Kim Su-young, Mayor of Yangcheon District Office, emphasized in an interview with Asia Economy, “Yangcheon District developed the streetlight-utilizing electric charging system, which was the first of its kind nationwide last year and received much attention,” adding, “The power of innovation that touches residents’ lives is the greatest strength of local governments.”

Mayor Kim’s meticulousness in realizing the district administration vision of ‘communication, empathy, and participation’ to make Yangcheon a happy district has already subtly permeated various aspects of daily life, resulting in multiple achievements. This was the outcome of long-term engagement with residents and staff.

The Yangcheon District streetlight-utilizing electric charging system is also one of the resident-centered achievements that residents can feel in their daily lives, well reflecting Yangcheon’s policy direction toward an ecological and smart city.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, as of September this year, the number of registered eco-friendly vehicles such as electric and hydrogen cars surpassed one million. Interest continues to grow steadily due to the government’s efforts to expand eco-friendly vehicle distribution and the launch of various new models, leading to a rapid increase in people choosing eco-friendly vehicles.

In particular, electric vehicles are eco-friendly and have many advantages such as subsidies and fuel cost savings, but the lack of sufficient charging infrastructure remains the biggest issue. With the global carbon neutrality movement expected to increase electric vehicle demand further, establishing adequate charging infrastructure is an urgent priority.

Mayor Kim explained the planning background, saying, “The result of over two years of efforts, including technical advice from the Korea Automotive Technology Institute and patent applications since 2019, is the streetlight-utilizing electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Yangcheon District.”

In fact, one streetlight-utilizing electric charger in Yangcheon District occupies just about 0.3 pyeong of space. It can charge not only electric vehicles but also smart mobility devices (electric bicycles, kickboards, etc.), which have seen a recent surge in demand. One charger can simultaneously charge up to four units: two electric vehicles and two smart mobility devices. A total of 36 chargers are installed in seven locations across Mok-dong, Sinwol-dong, and Sinjeong-dong, securing two parking spaces per charger, allowing up to 72 electric vehicles to be charged simultaneously.

The residents’ response was very enthusiastic. The charging system was completed at the end of last year, and from January to October this year, more than 18,000 electric vehicles passed through the charging stations. The number of users is continuously increasing.

Mayor Kim said, “Charging stations installed within residents’ living radius are easily accessible, and various payment methods such as credit cards and transportation cards make usage convenient. Drivers also commented that being combined with streetlights makes it safe and convenient to use even at night.” He added, “One resident left an impressive review, saying the light shining down on the car being charged felt like stage lighting just for them.”

Recently, Seoul City also announced plans to introduce streetlight-type chargers and bollard-type chargers, which can be installed in narrow spaces, in densely populated residential areas to enhance charging convenience. He introduced that Yangcheon District was selected last year as one of the ‘Top 100 Government Innovation Cases’ and for the ‘Resident Life Innovation Case Expansion Support Project,’ and that local governments nationwide are visiting Yangcheon to benchmark the system. This is a great achievement where Yangcheon’s innovation, achieved through communication and collaboration with residents in their daily lives, is expanding to Seoul and nationwide.

Mayor Kim emphasized the infinite potential of local governments, saying, “Cases where local governments lead solutions to national and global challenges such as the climate crisis and job policies are gradually increasing. Local governments, which know their regions well and communicate closely with residents, can provide the most creative and practical solutions.”

Kim Su-young, who continues to research policies that can change residents’ lives closest to them, describes himself as a “life politician.” Instead of grand narratives or political ideological debates, he aims to practice life politics that change residents’ daily lives and improve inconveniences to enhance the quality of life in the community.

He said that true life politics is to make residents feel proud that “in Yangcheon District, charging electric vehicles is as easy as charging a cellphone, and carbon neutrality can be easily practiced in daily life.”

Mayor Kim also mentioned the full revision of the Local Autonomy Act passed last year, stating, “Since the true grassroots democracy where residents directly participate in administration has begun, the importance and potential of local administration through resident autonomy and cooperation have grown even more.”