Seongdong-gu 'Wangsimni 2-dong New Office Building' Construction... Yangcheon-gu 'Sinjeong Intersection Public Parking Lot' Completion

[Seoul District News] Wangsimni 3-dong New Office Small Library, Dream Start Center, Gym Available for All Ages; Expected to Serve as Administrative, Welfare, and Cultural One-Stop Resident Communication Space for Direct Feedback... Yangcheon-gu Opens 51st Public Parking Lot, Sinjeong Intersection Public Parking Lot Completed, Pilot Operation Starting April 1; Lowest Local Rates to Ease Burden on Nearby Residents and Businesses... Jongno-gu Opens Ok-in Childcare Harmony Center for Toy Lending and Parenting Consultation

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongdong-gu (District Mayor Jung Won-oh) has completed the construction of the Wangsimni 2-dong Public Complex Building and held an opening ceremony on the 30th.

The newly constructed building is located on a site adjacent to the existing community center, with a land area of 771㎡, a total floor area of 1616㎡, and consists of one basement floor and five above-ground floors. The project cost a total of 9.6 billion KRW and took about 1 year and 3 months to complete.

Main facilities include the Dong Community Center for administrative services for residents, a small library, Dream Start Center, gym, and a complex cultural space accessible to all age groups from children to seniors. Additionally, it houses the Residents' Autonomy Committee office, shared kitchen, and multipurpose room, creating spaces that can further activate resident autonomy.

The basement floor 1 features a 10-space parking lot, expanding the previously insufficient parking spaces and greatly enhancing convenience for visitors to the building.

The Wangsimni 2-dong Community Center, completed in 1977, was the oldest building in Seongdong-gu. It has been a place for various administrative and welfare policies, sharing joys and sorrows with residents for 46 years. However, as Hwangwangsimni-dong (legal dong) is a highland redevelopment area and a transportation hub with subway and bus routes, where new residential culture is continuously forming, the increasing demand for administrative services and resident cultural spaces has become more pressing.

Accordingly, the district focused on expanding facilities for resident convenience and enhancing the building's function as a cultural enjoyment space for residents. The plan for the Wangsimni 2-dong Public Complex Building was established in July 2017, followed by Seoul City's investment review in September of the same year. In May 2019, the Korea Asset Management Corporation was confirmed as the entrusted developer, and all construction was completed this month, leading to the opening.

Located at the foot of Muhakbong Mountain, named after the phrase "The crane flew and danced," Wangsimni 2-dong plans to actively promote the new building as a resident-centered service space providing one-stop administrative, welfare, and cultural services, as well as a space for direct communication to gather diverse resident opinions.

The construction of public complex buildings in Seongdong-gu has been continuously promoted through the 6th and 7th local governments. Due to aging and insufficient welfare facilities, community centers in Sagun-dong (2017), Seongsu 1-ga 2-dong (2019), and Oksu-dong (2020) were rebuilt.

To meet the increased demand for resident culture and welfare in one place, facilities such as daycare centers, libraries, and daycare centers were integrated. Seongsu 1-ga 2-dong features a Global Experience Center, and Oksu-dong has recreated the traditional beauty with traditional roof tiles and bamboo landscaping in the 'Dongho Reading Room' within the building, reflecting the unique characteristics of each institution. Following the opening of the Wangsimni 2-dong building this month, the Songjeong-dong Public Complex Building is planned to be constructed by May next year to create a complex cultural space for residents to enjoy further.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, "The Wangsimni 2-dong Public Complex Building, a long-awaited project for residents of the Wangsimni area, has been newly born with the support and expectations of many people," adding, "I hope it will be used as a space for residents that can actively and proactively handle the increasing administrative and welfare demands."

Yangcheon-gu (District Mayor Kim Soo-young) has completed its 51st public parking lot near Sinjeong Intersection, a densely populated residential area and commercial district, and will hold a completion ceremony on April 1, followed by a pilot operation.

Construction began in July 2020 and finishing work was completed by March this year. The parking lot (Sinjeong 3-dong 1326-6) has 84 parking spaces and a total floor area of 2256.41㎡.

The district plans to hold a completion ceremony on April 1 and conduct a one-month pilot operation before starting full operation. During the pilot operation, parking will be free, and afterward, it will operate 24 hours a day with paid parking. The parking fee is 50 KRW per 5 minutes, and monthly parking is available for 50,000 KRW.

Through the opening of the Sinjeong Intersection public parking lot, the district expects to alleviate parking difficulties in nearby residential areas, prevent illegal parking, and contribute to creating safe school routes. Especially, as it operates with the lowest rates in the area, it is expected to greatly contribute to revitalizing the local commercial district.

Besides the Sinjeong Intersection public parking lot, the district is preparing to complete its 52nd public parking lot with 54 spaces near Mokdong Kkaebi Market by the end of April. Additionally, a parking environment improvement research project is underway to alleviate parking difficulties by utilizing existing facilities, and by the end of this year, the district plans to introduce a parking convenience system using an integrated control system, focusing efforts on resolving parking issues.

Kim Soo-young, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, said, "The opening of the Sinjeong Intersection public parking lot is expected to alleviate parking difficulties in the surrounding residential areas and significantly reduce the burden on commercial district users," adding, "The district will continue to focus administrative efforts on improving the parking environment in the area."

Jongno-gu will open the 'Okin Childcare Harmony Center' (Jahamun-ro 17-gil 36) on April 5 to create a community where it is good to give birth to and raise children by providing high-quality childcare services.

Built as a hanok (traditional Korean house) to add uniqueness, this center is expected to become a new childcare hub in the area, following the Myeongnyun-dong 'Jongno-gu Childcare Comprehensive Support Center' and Changsin-dong 'Toy Library.'

The western area of Jongno, including Okin-dong, has more than 10 public and private daycare centers in Cheongunhyoja-dong, Sajik-dong, Muak-dong, and Buam-dong, and is rich in green spaces such as Inwangsan and Bugaksan Mountains. However, compared to the eastern area, there was a relative lack of public childcare centers. This opening is expected to completely resolve this imbalance.

The center consists of one basement floor and two above-ground floors, including a 'Program Room,' 'Shared Childcare Room,' and 'Toy Library.'

The 'Shared Childcare Room' is a space where caregivers with various childcare concerns can gather to share related information and experiences. The 'Toy Library' rents toys and books at affordable prices to residents who wish to use them. The 'Program Room' will later offer cultural programs to relieve work-related stress for childcare staff and plan times for parents, infants, and childcare workers to participate equally.

The center operates from Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For inquiries and more details, visit the Jongno-gu Childcare Comprehensive Support Center website.

Jongno-gu is expanding childbirth and childcare-related policies this year to alleviate the economic burden of raising children. Examples include the 'First Meeting Voucher,' which provides 2 million KRW vouchers to newborns, the 'Infant Allowance' that pays 300,000 KRW monthly to children aged 0-1, and the 'Child Allowance' program that provides 100,000 KRW monthly to promote children's rights and welfare.

A district official stated, "We plan to provide high-quality childcare services to parents in the western area of Jongno here," adding, "We will strive to be a reliable support for residents throughout all stages of childbirth and childcare."