[Seoul District News] Songpa-gu Revamps Website to Consolidate Content from 13 Public Libraries... Responsive Web Design, AI-Recommended Books, Book Curation Services Enhance User Convenience... Dobong-gu Hosts Data-Driven Capacity Building Competition... Gangbuk-gu Starts Anew with Residents' Autonomy Committee Inauguration... Gwangjin-gu Recruits Participants for 2022 Senior Job Program... Yangcheon-gu Introduces First Digital Smart Bulletin Board... Dongdaemun-gu Issues 10 Billion Won Special Support Vouchers for Commercial Recovery... ‘2021 Seongbuk Family Festival’ Held...
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Seong-su) announced on the 9th that it will revamp and newly launch the ‘Songpa-gu Integrated Library’ website based on the latest technologies such as artificial intelligence and responsive web design.
Mayor Park Seong-su stated, “We expect that the more convenient ‘Songpa-gu Integrated Library’ website will activate residents’ use of libraries and reading activities.”
Currently, Songpa-gu operates 13 public libraries including ▲Songpa Geulmaru Library ▲Songpa Children’s Library ▲Songpa Wirye Library ▲Geoma Library ▲Songpa Children’s English Library ▲Dolmari Library ▲Sonamu Hill Libraries 1, 2, 3, and 4 ▲Sonamu Hill Jamsilbon-dong Library ▲Garak Mall Library ▲Songigol Small Library.
The integrated library website gathers all services provided by the 13 public libraries scattered throughout the district in one place.
In particular, the district explained that it actively reflected residents’ opinions who have high demand for non-face-to-face library services due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic for this revamp.
First, a sophisticated responsive web design was built to ensure stable access to the website not only on computers but also on smartphones, enhancing user convenience.
Additionally, by installing an artificial intelligence search engine, it became possible to introduce ‘AI Recommended Books’ tailored to age, interests, individual reading history, and preferences. Also, a new ‘Book Curation’ corner was created to introduce books related to themes and keywords selected monthly by each library, allowing users to enjoy diverse reading cultures.
Moreover, to enable residents to access various reading culture activities anytime and anywhere, the website provides reading content and new services such as ▲reading culture program information ▲online home-stay content ▲literacy post-reading activities by social groups operated by each public library.
The district plans to hold opening events in the future to listen to users’ opinions and actively reflect them in operations.
Mayor Park Seong-su of Songpa-gu said, “We will continue to do our best so that residents can get closer to books and reading culture.”
Dobong-gu (Mayor Lee Dong-jin) held the ‘2021 1st Employee Data-Based Competency Enhancement Competition’ for district office employees during the second half of 2021 to activate scientific administration and data-based administration.
This competition was prepared to permeate the processes of data collection, processing, and utilization throughout administration based on data-related laws and to create a more efficient and smart work atmosphere.
The competition was held for 270 Dobong-gu employees in areas such as ▲data opening and updating including DBDB Map ▲training on data literacy and big data analysis tools ▲use of GIS and STT systems ▲big data analysis requests and utilization of analysis results ▲submission of big data analysis results, and was evaluated based on criteria including ▲GIS data analysis system ▲voice-to-text conversion system ▲data-related employee training ▲big data analysis ▲data opening and updating.
The district selected 10 employees who scored high in the competition, and the results will be used as basic data for future data-based and smart city projects such as case sharing.
Meanwhile, Dobong-gu has introduced GIS data analysis and voice-to-text conversion systems since 2019 for data-based administration and has conducted annual employee training to activate system use.
Also, by applying for the Seoul-type New Deal Job Project (Youth), it trains four big data analysts annually, contributing to job creation, and operates a public data platform service (DBDB Map) on the official website to allow residents to easily utilize district data by opening various public data held by the district.
Mayor Lee Dong-jin of Dobong-gu said, “Beyond building data-based administration, we will continue to strengthen competencies to realize scientific administration in actual job performance and ensure it is reflected and linked to real-life administrative sites.”
Gangbuk-gu (Mayor Park Gyeom-su) awarded appointment letters and held a launch ceremony for 429 members of the residents’ autonomy committees from 9 districts from the 1st to the 7th.
The residents’ autonomy committee is a resident-led representative body where residents themselves discuss and decide on matters closely related to their lives. They decide and execute local issues and agendas together with residents through residents’ assemblies.
This appointment and launch ceremony was held to boost the pride of committee members and widely announce the new start before the residents’ autonomy committee begins full-scale activities, aiming to expand residents’ participation. Following COVID-19 phased daily recovery guidelines, the event was held over four days in a distributed manner, allowing entry only to those who completed the second vaccine dose.
The district started a pilot project for residents’ autonomy committees in 5 districts in 2019 and expanded to 9 districts by adding 4 more this year. Next year, it plans to increase the number of residents’ autonomy committees to cover all districts.
The event proceeded in the order of national ceremony, report on the progress of the residents’ autonomy committee, appointment letter awarding, and pledge recitation. Through reading the pledge, committee members resolved to strengthen autonomy capabilities, strive for democratic decision-making, guarantee residents’ participation in all activities, and take the lead in solving community problems as community volunteers.
Each district’s residents’ autonomy committee plans to promote resident autonomy activities tailored to the characteristics of each district, such as forming a residents’ autonomy committee transition committee, preparing internal regulations workshops, and electing executives for smooth settlement and stable operation.
Mayor Park Gyeom-su of Gangbuk-gu said, “As the residents’ autonomy committee is a practical representative body where residents participate as owners, I ask for active participation with pride and confidence. The district will also do its best for the successful settlement of the residents’ autonomy committee.”
Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) completed the installation of a smart bulletin board in front of the district office building this month to deliver district news digitally and introduced it to residents for the first time.
The smart bulletin board consists of four 55-inch screens and is a digital display promotional facility that shows district news and promotional materials such as notices, card news, and videos in digital image format.
Due to the significant increase in residents’ demand for transparent and prompt disclosure of various administrative information such as real-time disaster information and infectious disease alerts, as well as information on jobs, welfare, and events, the need for more effective bulletin board operation has emerged.
Accordingly, Yangcheon-gu established the ‘Our Neighborhood No.1 Smart Bulletin Board Installation Plan’ in April. After selecting the installation location and discovering resident-participated content, it went through a public-private consultation process to hear residents’ opinions on facility operation, completed installation in October, conducted a two-month pilot operation, and started full operation in December.
The smart bulletin board greatly improves convenience by allowing online uploading and management of materials, freeing from the hassle of posting and replacing paper documents and posters in the traditional way. Each post is automatically posted and deleted according to the promotion date and cycle, and the slide function allows posting regardless of the number of posts. It is also eco-friendly as it replaces paper documents and posters.
Especially, touching the notice screen enlarges it to full screen so that contents can be checked in large letters, and it has a voice guidance function, greatly enhancing access to district information for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and visually impaired.
Various posters and paper documents, which were previously inconsistent, are now managed according to the bulletin board specifications, greatly improving aesthetics and visibility. Posts are automatically deleted and posted according to the promotion date and cycle.
Mayor Kim Soo-young of Yangcheon-gu said, “With the operation of Yangcheon-gu’s first smart bulletin board, residents’ access to information and convenience will greatly improve. We will continue to strengthen communication with residents by actively establishing a future-oriented promotional environment suitable for the digital new deal era.”
Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) will issue special commercial district recovery support gift certificates worth 10 billion won at 2 p.m. on the 13th to support small business owners whose sales have been hit by the prolonged COVID-19 social distancing.
Consumers can purchase the gift certificates at a 10% discount, and to allow more people to benefit, the purchase limit per person is set at 500,000 won per month (actual payment 450,000 won).
Purchasing and using the gift certificates can be done through Zero Pay mobile applications such as Beeple Zero Pay, Kukon, Check Pay, and Money Tree, the same as existing local love gift certificates. After downloading the application on a smartphone, users authenticate themselves and link (register) the payment account for the gift certificate purchase.
The gift certificates must be used within six months from the purchase date. Unused gift certificates can be refunded in full except for the preservation fee if refunded within seven days after purchase. If more than 60% of the face value is used, the discount amount is deducted, and the remainder is refunded in full.
The gift certificates can be used at about 15,000 Zero Pay affiliated stores in Dongdaemun-gu, including supermarkets, small marts, beauty salons, kindergartens, and academies. However, large marts, department stores, general academies with annual sales over 1 billion won, foreign language and arts entrance exam academies, large corporation-affiliated cinemas, and direct franchise stores of large and medium-sized enterprises are excluded.
Dongdaemun-gu issued local currency worth 15 billion won in the first half of 2021, 5 billion won during the summer vacation in July, 6.6 billion won for the Chuseok holiday in September, and 10 billion won during the Korea Sale Festa in November to revitalize the local economy.
Also, on the 21st at noon, it will issue e-Seoul Love Gift Certificates worth 1.2 billion won at a 5% discount. The purchase limit per person is 300,000 won per month, and it can be used at the 11th Street small business Seoul Love Gift Certificate online marketplace exclusive store and Zero Delivery Union regardless of autonomous district.
Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol of Dongdaemun-gu said, “Special issuance of the commercial district recovery support gift certificates and e-Seoul Love Gift Certificates will encourage consumption at the year-end and New Year. We ask for active use to revitalize the local commercial district and will strive to strengthen management of affiliated stores and expand new affiliated stores to ensure no inconvenience in using the gift certificates.”
Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) held the ‘2021 Seongbuk All-Family Festival’ inviting diverse families in Seongbuk-gu to share culture, harmony, and communication.
The ‘2021 Seongbuk All-Family Festival’ was held online via ZOOM on the 4th, with 146 families and 400 participants including multicultural families, single-parent families, single-person households, Seongbuk Dad Group, child-rearing cooperative families, joint childcare sharing centers and families using childcare services, family volunteer groups, and counseling professional volunteers.
After reflecting on 2021 and exchanging gratitude among families, activities such as making Christmas trees and enjoying home parties cooking together as a family followed.
Kim ** (41, Gireum New Town), who participated with her 5th and 3rd-grade elementary school children, said, “In a somewhat gloomy year-end due to COVID-19, meeting various neighbors and generations lifted the year-end mood, increased family happiness, and relieved stress.”
Mayor Lee Seung-ro of Seongbuk-gu said, “Through this event, we will make various types of families communicate naturally and strive to spread a family-friendly culture.”
In 2022, Seongbuk-gu plans to continue the Seongbuk All-Family Happiness Support Program including ‘Seongbuk Latte Daddy,’ ‘Working Mom & Working Daddy,’ ‘Play at Our House in Seongbuk,’ ‘Pre-marriage Competency Enhancement Education,’ ‘Childcare Stress Relief Support,’ ‘Social Network Support for Single-Person Households,’ various family counseling, online parent coaching, the ‘Seongbuk All-Family Festival’ for diverse families and friendly neighbors, and leisure culture programs for single-parent families. Detailed information can be found on the Seongbuk-gu website and Seongbuk Family Center.
Dongjak-gu (Mayor Lee Chang-woo) has been recognized for its integrity for three consecutive years by achieving zero corruption incidents and zero experience of bribery or entertainment among work-related personnel as a result of improving a clean organizational culture every year.
Over the past year, the district diversified communication channels with residents through ▲integrity letters ▲sending integrity text messages at each work stage ▲integrity monitoring. It also worked to raise members’ awareness of integrity through ▲integrity remarks by senior officials ▲self-diagnosis of integrity ▲establishment of a comprehensive plan to eradicate power abuse.
As a result, the district received the highest grade of 2nd class among autonomous districts nationwide for three consecutive years in the ‘2021 Public Institution Integrity Evaluation’ conducted by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission.
It especially received high scores in the ‘Integrity Culture’ category, gaining nationwide recognition for its clean organizational culture.
Also, for three consecutive years, it proved its integrity by having zero corruption incidents and 0% bribery or entertainment experience among work-related personnel. The ‘Public Institution Integrity Evaluation’ conducted this time covered 592 central and local administrative agencies, reflecting survey results from civil petitioners (external integrity) and public officials (internal integrity) and corruption incident status to calculate comprehensive integrity.
Meanwhile, following the three consecutive years of highest grade in the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission’s integrity evaluation, the district also received the highest grade for three consecutive years in the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s autonomous internal control evaluation.
Additionally, it was the only institution among 667 nationwide to receive both the Best Award for Internal Audit Organization and the Excellence Award for Internal Audit at the ‘2021 Internal Audit Activity Review’ hosted by the Board of Audit and Inspection, establishing itself as the top institution in all integrity evaluations and earning the reputation of ‘Clean Dongjak.’
Going forward, the district plans to intensify efforts to improve integrity by conducting special education for subsidy and budget execution officers and strengthening special audits in subsidy and budget execution areas, which were rated somewhat lower than other fields in the integrity measurement.
Mayor Lee Chang-woo of Dongjak-gu said, “Achieving the highest grade in the integrity evaluation for three consecutive years is a meaningful result of all employees’ continuous efforts and consideration to establish an integrity culture. We will continue to be more honest and proactive to positively influence residents’ daily lives and become a trusted Dongjak-gu.”
Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Seong-su) renovated the ‘Songpa-gu Women’s Football Stadium,’ the district’s representative sports facility, to promote residents’ participation in sports activities.
Mayor Park said, “Amid the COVID-19 crisis, we are continuously improving sports facilities so that residents can live healthy and vibrant lives. We worked hard to improve the environment so that residents can safely enjoy various leisure activities at the Songpa-gu Women’s Football Stadium, which is also connected to the Songpa Dullegil Trail.”
Songpa-gu Women’s Football Stadium (474 Olympic-ro) boasts an open view harmonized with surrounding natural landscapes such as Songpa Dullegil Trail, Seongnae Stream, and Mongchontoseong. It opened in 1998 as a natural grass field and was converted to artificial turf in 2010.
However, the artificial turf’s durability is about 7 to 8 years, and the grass had become short and hard, raising concerns about user injuries, and the auxiliary facilities were aging, making environmental improvement urgent.
Accordingly, the district secured 1.06 billion won in external funds including special grants and special adjustment grants to improve the environment. Construction was carried out for three months from October this year, expanding the area from 5,100㎡ to 5,600㎡ and completely replacing the artificial turf. The stands were also refurbished so residents can use the sports facilities more comfortably and safely.
The Songpa-gu Women’s Football Stadium is the home stadium of the Songpa-gu Women’s Football Team, the district’s representative public sports team. Founded in 1998, the team is led by Director Park Young-ok and Coach Kim Doo-seon, with 30 members including coaches. They recently won the ‘2021 Seoul Citizens’ League for Recreational Sports’ and have recorded 47 championships and 18 runner-up titles in various competitions, including four consecutive wins in the ‘Presidential Cup National Football Festival’ since 2017, raising Songpa’s status through football.
Additionally, the district operates women’s football classes and children’s football classes at the stadium to promote sports activities.
The district held a completion ceremony at 2 p.m. on the 9th to commemorate the renovation of the Songpa-gu Women’s Football Stadium. The acapella group ‘Zenith’ and musical actress Park Hae-mi performed congratulatory stages for sports club members and residents.
Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) announced on the 9th that it will impose about 7.9 billion won in regular (second half) automobile tax for about 60,000 cases this year.
The second half automobile tax is a tax on the ownership period of vehicles from July 1 to December 31. It is imposed on owners of vehicles (including two-wheelers and construction machinery) registered in Eunpyeong-gu as of December 1.
The payment period is from the 16th to the 31st. If the annual tax has been paid in advance, automobile tax will not be imposed this month.
Payment methods include nationwide financial institutions (including CD/ATM), virtual accounts, credit cards, internet banking, the eTax website, STAX (Seoul mobile tax payment app), ARS, and local tax revenue account payments.
Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) achieved the highest grade of 2nd class among basic local governments in the 2021 Public Institution Integrity Evaluation conducted by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission. Considering that none of the 69 district-level local governments nationwide received the 1st grade, this is effectively the highest grade.
The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission conducts an annual survey of 592 public institutions including central administrative agencies, local governments, and public-related organizations by randomly selecting civil petitioners and internal public officials from each institution, and evaluates the results into five grades.
Seongbuk-gu scored above the national average in most indices. Especially, it received high evaluations in external integrity for construction and service management supervision and licensing work, and significantly improved evaluations in internal integrity for fairness in personnel affairs and budget execution compared to the previous year.
This achievement is understood as a result of implementing various integrity policies and focusing on securing integrity and transparency in work processing. Especially, despite the COVID-19 emergency situation this year, efforts to improve internal integrity included opening a personnel counseling hotline and conducting regular personnel satisfaction surveys to address employee complaints.
Mayor Lee Seung-ro of Seongbuk-gu expressed gratitude to employees and said, “The Public Institution Integrity Evaluation by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission is meaningful as it is evaluated by residents. We will promote not only prevention of corruption but also kind and proactive work processing and transparent administration. We will continue to lead efforts to make Seongbuk a clean and livable district with pride among employees.”
Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that the ‘Basic Facilities Support Project for Security Guards’ to improve the working environment of apartment security guards is nearing completion.
Since apartments account for 80% of all housing in Nowon-gu, there have been many demands to improve the working environment of security guards. First, in May this year, the district surveyed the working environment of old apartments over 20 years old, which account for 75% of all apartments.
Based on this, the ‘Basic Facilities Support Project for Security Guards’ started in June. It supports up to 10 million won per complex to induce improvements in security guards’ rest and basic working conditions.
The target apartments are finally selected through a review by the multi-family housing support review committee among applicant complexes, and agreements are signed with conditions to continuously prepare self-initiated measures to improve security guards’ working conditions with the residents’ representative meetings and to maintain and succeed employment of all security personnel for at least two years.
Improvement works such as restroom repairs, insulation installation, and air conditioning installation are carried out according to each complex’s situation and needs, and the working environment improvements for a total of 20 complexes are expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Going forward, the district plans to continuously check the degree of environmental improvement and project effectiveness and seek ways to expand support to cleaning personnel.
Additionally, the district actively mediated a security guard dismissal case. In June, during the change of apartment management companies, it facilitated an agreement between the management company and security guards to succeed employment for security guards who were notified of dismissal.
Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “The older the apartment, the poorer the basic working environment of the security office. We will continue to create a neighborhood atmosphere where everyone coexists through various projects to improve security guards’ treatment.”
Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon) announced that it will hire one part-time fixed-term public official (grade Ma) in the urban agriculture field for specialized urban agriculture public services.
The duties include ▲operation and administrative work of the urban agriculture community space (experience center) ▲planning and operation of urban agriculture programs ▲support for urban agriculture-related promotion.
The application period is from December 10 to 16. Applicants should submit application forms and required documents by visiting or mailing them to the Geumcheon-gu Office Park and Greenery Division.
Geumcheon-gu will finalize and individually notify successful candidates in December after the first document screening and second interview. The final successful candidate will start work from January 3, 2022.
Details regarding qualifications and recruitment can be found in the ‘Notices and Announcements’ section on the Geumcheon-gu Office website.
Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon of Geumcheon-gu said, “We are hiring an urban agriculture expert to conduct various ecological experiences and education, so we hope many will apply.”
For more information, contact the Park and Greenery Division of Geumcheon-gu Office.
Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Moon Seok-jin) announced on the 9th that it is recruiting tenant companies for the ‘Startup Support Center’ office space within the Seodaemun Women’s Room Center (39 Baekryeonsa-gil).
Located on the basement first floor of the Seodaemun Cultural and Sports Center, this center was remodeled from an old space into a place for employment and startup education and networking, newly opened in September this year, and has been actively operating regular courses and renting out spaces.
The interior consists of the Startup Support Center, shared kitchen, multipurpose hall, club room, and media production room.
Among these, the ‘Startup Support Center’ is a customized space for prospective and early-stage women entrepreneurs, consisting of individual offices, shared meeting rooms, multipurpose rooms, and rest areas.
The district is recruiting women entrepreneurs to occupy four office spaces here (two for one-person companies and two for two-person companies) from the 13th to the 31st of this month.
Applicants must be women prospective entrepreneurs residing in Seodaemun-gu or women entrepreneurs who have an office in Seodaemun-gu and have been in business for less than two years.
Applicants can download the application form and business plan from the Seodaemun-gu website notices, fill them out, and send them by mail or email (sdmwomen@sscmc.or.kr).
After the first document screening and second face-to-face interview next month, move-in is scheduled for February next year. The lease period is one year, with possible extension for another year through screening.
Tenant companies in the Startup Support Center use affordable office space and office furniture and receive support such as internet environment, employment and startup consulting, and community networking.
Among the six company spaces in the Startup Support Center, two have been occupied since October by ‘BB Care,’ which develops and sells capsule-type eco-friendly hand sanitizers, and ‘Gureumson,’ which produces educational content to improve pet adoption culture.
Mayor Moon Seok-jin of Seodaemun-gu said, “We hope many prospective and early-stage women entrepreneurs who want to nurture their startup dreams at the Seodaemun Women’s Room Center will show interest and apply.”
Jongno-gu achieved the honor of being selected as an excellent district in the ‘2021 Outdoor Advertising Improvement Evaluation’ conducted by Seoul City targeting 25 autonomous districts.
This recognizes the district’s efforts in continuously improving and maintaining outdoor advertisements and introducing new projects to create a pleasant and clean urban landscape.
The evaluation was based on related achievements promoted by each district from September 2020 to August 2021.
Jongno-gu has been making multifaceted efforts to improve the level of signs in the area, such as the ‘Beautiful Signboard Street Project,’ to prevent and remove illegal outdoor advertisements every year.
Projects undertaken include ▲removal of old and ownerless signs and illegal signs abandoned due to business closure or relocation ▲installation of anti-illegal floating advertisement sheets on urban facilities such as utility poles and communication poles ▲a collection reward system that compensates a certain amount and provides jobs to local residents for participating in illegal banner and poster cleanup ▲special task forces operating during blind spots such as holidays.
Additionally, various maintenance projects reflecting local characteristics are continuously promoted, such as ▲the ‘Beautiful Signboard Street Project’ focusing on Hangul ▲the ‘Good Signboard Contest’ encouraging harmonious and elegant sign installation.
New projects started this year include ▲removal of abandoned streetlight banner holders ▲cleanup of advertising residues such as banners and posters. The district plans to continue illegal advertisement crackdown and maintenance, good signboard contests and exhibitions to promote a high-quality advertising culture and create a pleasant and beautiful urban landscape.
A district official said, “Being selected as an excellent autonomous district in the 2021 Seoul Outdoor Advertising Improvement Evaluation is the result of efforts by not only employees but also residents. We will do our best to continuously promote outdoor advertisement maintenance and improvement projects to create a clean urban landscape.”
Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Seon-gap) is recruiting participants for the ‘2022 Senior Job and Social Activity Support Project’ until the 17th.
This project was prepared to help seniors achieve economic independence and support them to live active and healthy lives in the face of a super-aged society.
The total number of recruits is 2,327, divided into ▲1,870 for public-type projects involving volunteer activities for public interest ▲233 for social service-type jobs utilizing seniors’ activity capabilities ▲145 for market-type jobs supporting sales activities ▲79 for employment referral-type jobs for private companies.
Applicants must be seniors residing in Gwangjin-gu. However, for the public-type, seniors aged 65 or older receiving basic pension can participate. Some external institution projects allow those aged 60 or older.
The recruitment period is until December 17. Applicants should bring identification, resident registration copy, COVID-19 vaccination certificate, and other related documents to the local community service center or individual institutions. Final selection results will be notified individually by the applying institution.
Selected participants will work from January next year at the district office or external institutions such as senior welfare centers as ▲companion helpers ▲park managers ▲school route traffic volunteers ▲meal helpers ▲welfare helpers.
For detailed information on recruitment and selection, contact the 50 Plus Policy Team of the Senior Welfare Division in Gwangjin-gu.
Mayor Kim Seon-gap of Gwangjin-gu said, “We are promoting the ‘2022 Senior Job and Social Activity Support Project’ to support seniors who have become more vulnerable due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic to live healthy and active lives. We ask selected participants to complete the third COVID-19 vaccination for safe project operation.”
Gangnam-gu (Mayor Jung Soon-gyun) will hold an ‘Admission Information Session for Regular Admission’ online from the 13th to the 15th for examinees and parents who completed the 2022 College Scholastic Ability Test.
On the 13th, Lim Man-gi, head of Uway Education Evaluation Research Institute, will be invited for a ‘Live Regular Admission Strategy for Major Universities in the Metropolitan Area’ session broadcast live on the Gangnam Online CSAT (Gangnam Ingang) YouTube channel. On the 14th, Um Mi-kyung, head of Uway Strategy Team, and Lee Yong-eon, head of Everyone’s Admission Research Institute, will appear in ‘Medical, Dental, Oriental Medicine, and Regional Public University Regular Admission Strategies’ posted on the Gangnam Ingang YouTube channel.
On the 15th, a ‘Final Support Strategy Admission Information Session for Regular Admission’ featuring admission experts from the large Gangnam Daesung Academy will be released on the Gangnam-gu YouTube channel. Five admission experts including Lee Young-deok, head of Daesung Academic Development Research Institute, will present customized admission strategies by medical, natural sciences, humanities, and education fields.
Joo Myung-ae, head of the Education Support Division, said, “During the 7th elected term, Gangnam-gu has executed the largest education budget among the 25 autonomous districts in Seoul with the goal of ‘creating a happy educational environment for all.’ We will continue to strive to make Gangnam a ‘dignified education city.’”
Dongjak-gu (Mayor Lee Chang-woo) created an ecologically and visually healthy forest ecosystem by tending 35 forest plots in the district through afforestation maintenance and pest-infected tree management this year.
From April to November, the district conducted the ‘2021 Forest Maintenance’ project on 35 plots (50ha) including San 49-18, Sangdo-dong, implementing ▲large tree tending ▲young tree tending ▲afforestation (artificial forest) tending ▲forest fire prevention forest tending.
This project aims to promote the growth of growing trees such as oak, pine, nut pine, and cypress in the area, while removing hazardous trees such as acacia and nut pine that fell due to typhoons and heavy rain or pose a fire risk and spoil the landscape.
Forest tending triples the diameter growth of trees and produces high-quality wood without knots. Well-maintained forests improve water retention functions by 20-30%, enhancing flood control and drought mitigation. The district spent about 73 million won on this project this year.
First, ‘large tree tending’ was carried out in areas where tree density was high after 10 to 40 years of afforestation, hindering growth or causing dominance among trees.
For trees planted 5 to 10 years ago, diseased or poorly growing trees around them were cut to help them grow well.
For trees planted 3 to 5 years ago, factors hindering growth were removed through weeding and vine removal in ‘afforestation tending.’
To prevent forest fires, high-density coniferous forests vulnerable to fire were pruned and partially thinned to increase deciduous and mixed forests.
The cypress forest in the Hyeonchung Neighborhood Park area in Heukseok-dong is designated as a forest restoration project site by the Korea Forest Service and is being steadily managed.
A 52-year-old resident of Heukseok-dong said, “The trees on the walking path had grown too thick, causing inconvenience, but after proper trimming, it looks good and is comfortable to pass through.”
Kim Won-sik, head of the Park and Greenery Division, said, “Well-maintained forests are resistant to disasters such as landslides and forest fires and have improved carbon dioxide absorption capacity. We will continue forest maintenance to prevent disasters and contribute to carbon neutrality.”
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