[Seoul District News] Park Seong-su, Mayor of Songpa-gu, "Walking pleasure and fun will increase with 'Songpa Dullegil Season 2'" ... Gangdong-gu 'Godeok Eoullim Swimming Pool' Officially Opens ... Dongdaemun-gu Dapsimni Neighborhood Park Trail Reborn Bright and Fresh ... 'Light: Tate Britain Special Exhibition' from the 21st at Seoul Museum of Art Buk-Seoul ... Gangbuk-gu Installs Cultural Heritage Signboards at Bonghwanggak and Graves of Shin Ik-hee, Lee Si-young, Kim Chang-sook, Yeo Un-hyung, Son Byeong-hee, and Patriotic Martyrs' Graves ... Dobong-dong Youth Culture House Opens ... Guro-gu, Daycare 'Smart Fine Dust
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Seong-su) is accelerating the 'Songpa Dullegil Season 2' project by creating specialized spaces for residents along the Tancheon section of the Songpa Dullegil, which opened last July.
Through this, it offers various fun experiences including unique activities like trick art seen in art museums, along with ecological rest.
Mayor Park Seong-su stated, “The Tancheon section is a waterfront path with beautiful natural scenery and various rare birds to observe, but as it is a long walking course of 7.4 km, taking about 2 hours, there was a need for diverse experiences along with the joy of walking. Therefore, we created specialized spaces so that residents can enjoy more pleasant walks in the Tancheon section, which has returned to the residents after 50 years.”
To this end, since July, the district conducted resident surveys and interviews to understand demands, and designed specialized spaces with the cooperation of the Seoul Design Foundation’s design consulting. In particular, to avoid damaging the nature of the Tancheon section, which is an ecological landscape preservation area, eco-friendly spaces were created based on advice from ecological experts to harmonize with residents.
At two points along the straight walking paths, trick art paintings of birds inhabiting Tancheon, such as kingfishers and white-cheeked ducks, were added to enhance the walking experience. Also, photo zones using the initial consonants of 'Tancheon-gil' (‘ㅌ’, ‘ㅊ’, ‘ㄱ’) were installed at the Tancheon detention basin observatory and Jamsil detention basin observatory, creating spaces where visitors can capture memories with nature.
Mayor Park Seong-su said, “Songpa Dullegil, where you can meet nature’s blessings in the city, gains meaning when shared with residents. We will proceed steadily with the 'Songpa Dullegil Season 2' project, which connects landmarks and resources throughout Songpa, so that Songpa Dullegil becomes loved by more residents and visitors and establishes itself as a representative walking tourism course not only in Seoul but across Korea.”
The district is developing 'Songpa Dullegil' as a core project of the 7th local government administration. Songpa Dullegil is a 21 km waterfront walking path connecting Seongnaecheon, Jangjicheon, Tancheon, and the Han River surrounding Songpa-gu. On July 1, the Tancheon section, which had been disconnected for 50 years, was opened, completing Season 1, and Season 2 is underway. 'Songpa Dullegil Season 2' connects the Dullegil with local attractions such as Seokchon Lake, Olympic Park, Namhansanseong Fortress, traditional markets, and green spaces.
Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Jeong-hoon) announced that on the afternoon of the 10th, it officially opened the 'Godeok Eoullim Swimming Pool,' a sports facility contributed as a public facility at the former Seoul bus garage site.
Godeok Eoullim Swimming Pool is located at 399 Godeok-ro, Basement 1 of Building 104, Godeok Central Prugio, with a total floor area of 3,912㎡, equipped with 4 adult lanes and 2 infant lanes. It offers various popular programs such as yoga and Pilates in addition to swimming, providing a space for many residents to exercise together.
However, the swimming pool had been in pilot operation since November 9, 2020, following COVID-19 social distancing guidelines.
The name 'Godeok Eoullim Swimming Pool' means 'a sports facility enjoyed together by residents' and was selected as the best among 341 entries submitted during a resident participation naming contest in August 2020.
Additionally, the district is installing a swimming pool within the Amsa 1-dong Public and Cultural Integrated Center, aiming for completion in 2024, and is promoting various sports facility projects such as building a second community sports center in the area of 301 Gangil-dong and acquiring a swimming pool within the Cheonho 1 Urban Environment Improvement Project site.
Mayor Lee Jeong-hoon of Gangdong-gu said, “The name of Godeok Eoullim Swimming Pool was chosen by residents’ suggestions, making it even more meaningful. The district will continue to provide various programs to meet residents’ needs for sports activities and do its best to create a healthier Gangdong-gu.”
Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) completed the landscape project for the Dapsimni Neighborhood Park walking path area along Hancheon-ro 37-gil on the 8th for nearby residents.
The project site along Hancheon-ro 37-gil in Dongdaemun-gu is a walking path between Jeonnong Woosung Apartment and Raemian Elpine Apartment, where the high retaining walls on both sides created a bleak atmosphere, raising the need for maintenance.
Selected as a resident participation budget project in 2020, the construction proceeded with the design chosen by a majority of residents through voting at a resident briefing session held last October.
Also, to harmonize with the plant mural project implemented in the first half of this year, plant murals were installed on the retaining walls to blend with other walking paths, and gobos (patterned lights) were used to give a bright and fresh feeling to residents of various ages using the path.
The installed plant murals combine paint murals with artificial turf to express parts of the images, creating a diverse and naturalistic effect with excellent three-dimensionality compared to simple paint murals. The murals are themed on forest animals that harmonize with nature, considering the walking path’s characteristics.
Gobo lighting was installed on the previously somewhat dark walking path, enabling safe nighttime walks. The gobos, designed with flowers and warm encouraging messages, aim to provide safety and hope to residents walking after sunset.
Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol of Dongdaemun-gu said, “Through the Dapsimni Neighborhood Park walking path landscape project, we aimed to provide a safer and more enjoyable walking path for our residents. We will continue to promote projects that residents can feel in their daily lives.”
Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that a 'special exhibition' featuring collections from the Tate Museum in the UK will open on the 21st at the Seoul Museum of Art, Bukseoul.
This is the second overseas collection masterpiece exhibition at Bukseoul Museum of Art, held two years after the 2019 'David Hockney' exhibition.
The district expects this exhibition, which allows visitors to see works by artists who attract global audiences by name alone in one place despite difficulties in overseas travel due to COVID-19, to provide a special experience that stimulates artistic inspiration.
□ Tate Museum, holding the finest modern and contemporary art collections
The Tate Museum, named after its founder Henry Tate, began with Tate Britain in 1897. Serving as the UK’s national art museum, it later established Tate Liverpool in 1988, Tate St Ives in 1993, and Tate Modern in 2000, currently operating four museums.
The Tate Museum is famous for its vast collection spanning periods and genres, especially known for holding world-class collections in modern and contemporary art.
This exhibition was newly planned by the Tate Museum in 2021 and is exclusively introduced at the Seoul Museum of Art, Bukseoul, before touring overseas.
□ ‘World Artists Who Stole Fleeting Light’ ? Enjoy works by 43 artists across eras in one place
The theme of this special exhibition is ‘light.’ It features over 110 works by 43 artists across painting, photography, video, and installation art, covering 18th-century landscapes, 19th-century Impressionism, and 20th-century photography and installations.
Notably, the exhibition moves away from focusing on specific artists or movements, instead exploring diverse perspectives and artistic worlds over 200 years under the single theme of ‘light’ in one space.
Adding to the uniqueness, Nam June Paik’s 'Candle TV' from the Nam June Paik Art Center collection, not originally planned, was included. As a representative Korean artist and the ‘founder of video art,’ this work symbolizing the beginning of human civilization is placed at the start of the exhibition, encompassing the theme.
Key artists and works include: ▲ William Blake’s ‘God Judging Adam,’ known for his unique interpretation of religious narratives as a poet and painter; ▲ William Turner’s ‘Light and Color,’ representing British Romanticism with delicate light and color changes; ▲ John Constable’s ‘Herne Lighthouse,’ an outdoor landscape observing light and color changes influencing Impressionism, among 17th-18th century works.
For the 19th century: ▲ Claude Monet’s ‘Poplars on the Epte River,’ expressing how the same object or landscape changes with light; ▲ John Brett’s ‘English Channel Seen from Dorsetshire Cliffs,’ realistically depicting impressions of landscapes reacting to atmospheric light.
For 20th-21st century works: ▲ Wassily Kandinsky’s ‘Swing,’ a pioneer of abstract painting from Russia; ▲ Bridget Riley’s ‘Nataraja,’ a master of Op Art expressing colors perceived through light; ▲ Olafur Eliasson’s ‘Cosmic Dust Particles,’ using light movement, optical illusions, and color to present new perceptions and experiences, breaking traditional and natural concepts of light.
□ 119-day journey... Discounts for advance reservations until the 20th
The exhibition runs for 119 days from December 21 this year to May 8, 2022, at Seoul Museum of Art, Bukseoul, Exhibition Halls 1 and 2, and Project Galleries 1 and 2.
Viewing hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sundays and holidays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (March to October), and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (November to February). Closed every Monday and January 1. On the last Wednesday of each month, the museum extends hours until 10 p.m. for Night Museum.
Guided tours with docents are held twice daily at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. from Tuesday to Friday, recommended for those who want in-depth appreciation with expert explanations.
Admission fees are 15,000 KRW for adults, 12,000 KRW for youth, and 9,000 KRW for children. Early bird discounts apply for reservations before December 20, 2021. Tickets can be purchased via Interpark.
For more details on viewing and the exhibition, contact Nowon-gu Cultural and Sports Division or Bukseoul Museum of Art.
Mayor Oh Seung-rok of Nowon-gu said, “Viewing art is the privilege of the artist, the artwork, and the viewer who fully observes it. No matter how advanced internet images are, the imaginative experience is only possible in museums, so I hope this will be an enjoyable viewing opportunity.”
Gangbuk-gu (Mayor Park Gyeom-su) erected new cultural heritage information boards at modern and contemporary historical sites located on the slopes of Bukhansan Mountain.
The information boards can be seen at six locations around the Patriotic Martyrs’ Cemetery, which laid the foundation for Korea’s independence movement during the Japanese colonial period and the establishment of the Republic of Korea. They introduce figures such as Haegong Shin Ik-hee, the first and second Speaker of the Constituent National Assembly; the first Vice President Seongjae Lee Si-young; Simsan Kim Chang-suk, who led the petition movement sending independence petitions to Paris; Mongyang Yeo Un-hyung, founder of the anti-Japanese group Shinhan Youth Party; and Uiam Son Byeong-hui, a key figure among the 33 national representatives who planned the March 1st Movement.
The Bonghwanggak information board next to Uiam Son Byeong-hui’s grave was also renovated. Bonghwanggak, regarded as the birthplace of the March 1st Movement, was an educational facility established in 1912 by Son Byeong-hui to train leaders of Cheondogyo. It played a role as a cradle nurturing independence fighters, producing 15 of the 33 national representatives. Bonghwanggak is a Seoul City Tangible Cultural Property, and the Patriotic Martyrs’ Cemetery is a registered national cultural heritage site.
The information boards provide explanations in Korean and English. Especially at Bonghwanggak and Yeo Un-hyung’s grave, integrated boards combining explanations and maps help visitors conveniently explore the cultural heritage. The district wrote the content in easy-to-understand language after Korean proofreading by an expert advisory group.
Mayor Park Gyeom-su of Gangbuk-gu said, “The slopes of Bukhansan reveal the footsteps of Korea’s modern and contemporary history from anti-Japanese independence movements to liberation and democratization. I hope people visit these historical and cultural sites to remember the patriots who led the country’s independence and foundation.”
Dobong-gu (Mayor Lee Dong-jin) opened the Dobong-dong Youth Culture House (58-2 Dobong-dong) on the 11th.
The Dobong-dong Youth Culture House is a four-story building with a total floor area of 1,601㎡, operated by the YES21 Youth Foundation (Chairman Kim Young-sung). It is equipped with facilities for autonomous and creative youth activities, including a caf? and lounge on the first floor, an outdoor basketball court, a makerspace on the second floor (cooking class, design room, making room), a project room and choreography room on the third floor, and a multipurpose hall and studio on the fourth floor.
Starting full operation in January 2022, the Dobong-dong Youth Culture House plans to specialize in ‘process-centered maker education’ reflecting youth needs in the 4th industrial era under the slogan ‘Dream.Base, the starting point where youth dream diverse dreams.’
Additionally, it will plan and execute various youth projects such as youth operation committees, youth clubs, school-linked projects, and the Social Change Maker project.
Operating hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. It is closed on Mondays and legal holidays.
Dobong-gu operates four youth facilities, and with this opening, youth culture houses are now balanced across Ssangmun-dong, Chang-dong, and Dobong-dong.
The district aims to make the Dobong-dong Youth Culture House a youth-exclusive space embodying values such as ‘a space to immerse in the process rather than results,’ ‘a space to plan and explore independently,’ ‘a creative and autonomous space,’ and ‘a space where youth are the main actors,’ where youth can be accepted as they are.
Mayor Lee Dong-jin of Dobong-gu said, “We will nurture the Dobong-dong Youth Culture House as a starting point for youth pursuing diverse dreams with various programs tailored to their needs and as Dobong-gu’s smart maker platform for youth.”
Guro-gu (Mayor Lee Seong) installed ‘Smart Fine Dust Information Notifiers’ at 27 daycare centers in the district.
The district stated on the 13th, “Children are more vulnerable to pollutants like fine dust, so it is necessary to create a comfortable childcare environment. Therefore, we established a fine dust information notifier system so that daycare centers can check fine dust information and respond quickly.”
Selected in August for the daycare center smart fine dust continuous notifier support project, Guro-gu invested about 59 million KRW from city and district funds to install the fine dust notifiers.
The installation targets were 27 daycare centers selected in order of size among those with a total floor area of 430㎡ or more in the district, based on statistics from the integrated childcare information system.
The ‘Smart Fine Dust Information Notifier’ is a device that informs real-time air pollution status using colors and characters. It classifies fine dust concentration into four levels: good, moderate, bad, and very bad, displaying results through changes in character expressions and background colors.
It also provides information on response guidelines according to fine dust levels, weather conditions, infectious disease prevention rules, daycare center notices, and schedules.
A Guro-gu official said, “Through this project, we expect to accurately check daycare air quality information and respond promptly. We will continue to do our best to make Guro a place where children can grow up healthily.”
Guro-gu previously installed IoT-based indoor air quality monitors at 39 daycare centers over October and November and radon detectors at 98 public and national daycare centers last year to create a safe and comfortable childcare environment.
Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) is recruiting volunteers to participate in the park volunteer platform ‘Friends of the Park’ training program starting this month.
‘Friends of the Park’ is a volunteer training program by Yangcheon-gu aimed at increasing residents’ interest in urban parks, nurturing professional volunteers through education, encouraging residents to participate in the operation of Yangcheon-gu’s park cultural facilities, fostering pride, and creating a diverse park culture with regional characteristics.
‘Friends of the Park’ consists of activity groups such as Park Friends, Eco Friends, Garden Friends, and Play Friends. This recruitment is for selecting and training ‘Park Friends.’
Selected ‘Park Friends’ will perform volunteer roles in overall operation and management of the ‘Book Resting Place’ cultural facility within Yangcheon Park, planning programs and encouraging resident participation. They will also be active in Neomeundeul Park and other locations in the future.
Residents wishing to participate can apply through the integrated reservation portal on the Yangcheon-gu website. Recruitment is on a first-come, first-served basis until the 17th.
Participation in education is free, and certificates are awarded to those who attend at least six out of eight sessions.
Mayor Kim Soo-young said, “To spread an active and dynamic park culture, we will continue diverse resident participation programs like ‘Friends of the Park.’ We ask for residents’ support to build a ‘Green Park City Yangcheon’ together.” For more information, contact Yangcheon-gu Parks and Greenery Division.
Jung-gu, Seoul (Mayor Seo Yang-ho) has installed the city’s first ‘Children’s IoT Monitoring System’ at daycare centers, creating a new platform environment.
The Children’s IoT Monitoring System is an IoT-based infection prevention system with temperature management and indoor air quality control functions introduced to create a healthy childcare environment.
The system includes a thermal imaging camera enabling automatic temperature measurement, reducing waiting times and easing teachers’ workload. When children measure their temperature upon arrival and departure, the results are sent via an app to the daycare center director and teachers.
It also measures indoor air quality in real time and automatically notifies teachers via the app if fine dust or carbon dioxide levels rise, helping improve the daycare indoor environment.
The district was selected in March for Seoul’s ‘Daycare Infection Prevention Environment Construction’ contest, receiving a subsidy of 160 million KRW to build the Children’s IoT Monitoring System. Currently, the system is installed in 33 daycare centers, with plans to expand to all daycare centers in the district by the first half of next year.
The ‘Safe Pinky’ monitoring system product is recognized as a ‘Win-Win Cooperation Product’ by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and an ‘Innovative Product’ by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, verifying its excellence.
Later, a ‘mobile alarm app’ service will be implemented to notify parents in real time of temperature measurement results and arrival/departure times.
The district has actively sought external contest projects for daycare environment improvement, securing budgets for projects such as the Namsan Forest Daycare Center renovation and public building green remodeling. The district’s own budget has also been significantly increased since the 7th local government administration to create safe and comfortable daycare environments.
Mayor Seo Yang-ho of Jung-gu said, “The introduction of the Children’s IoT Monitoring System will create a safe and comfortable childcare environment where parents can send their children with peace of mind and reduce teachers’ workload, improving the quality of childcare.”
Dongjak-gu (Mayor Lee Chang-woo) Sangdo 1-dong Community Service Center announced on the 13th that it installed a non-face-to-face ‘Sharing Space (Photo Zone)’ in the first-floor civil service office as part of the ‘2022 Warm Winter Project.’
Due to the recent resurgence of COVID-19, events involving resident participation such as daily tea houses cannot be held, so local resident organizations including the Sangdo 1-dong Functional Group Council, the Neighborhood Association Council, and the Community Security Council took the lead in promoting this.
The Sharing Space includes a voluntary donation reception desk, a photo zone, and a guestbook corner for warm messages comforting those weary from COVID-19, and will operate until February next year.
Through this, it aims to give hope and courage to low-income residents in difficulty and encourage interest and participation in the culture of donation and sharing among residents.
An anonymous donor, who requested to remain unnamed, donated five 10kg bags of rice to the sharing space, saying, “I was lonely because going out or socializing was difficult due to the COVID-19 resurgence, but I am glad that a space was created in the community service office where I can share my heart with those in need. I hope this small donation helps even a little.”
Hong Kyung-hwa, head of Sangdo 1-dong, said, “Although these are difficult times for everyone, it is a time when warm interest and compassion for neighbors in need are more necessary than ever. I ask many residents to participate in the Warm Winter Project.”
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