[Seoul District News] Gwanak-gu Installs 600㎡ Electric Wheelchair Practice Facility, Launches Systematic Safety Education Program to Ensure Safe Mobility and Inclusive Coexistence for Mobility-Impaired... Yongsan-gu Operates 2022 Forest Experience Program... Seocho-gu Conducts Aerial Photo Analysis for Illegal Building Site Inspections... Seodaemun-gu Recruits Participants for 'Hongjecheon Running Crew' from May to December
[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Gwanak-gu has completed the installation of an electric wheelchair driving practice course to prevent safety accidents for mobility-impaired individuals and improve driving skills.
Electric mobility aids such as electric wheelchairs and electric scooters are classified as pedestrians under relevant laws and must travel on sidewalks. However, due to risks of collisions with pedestrians, obstacles, and narrow sidewalk widths, they are often forced onto the road, exposing users to accident risks.
Moreover, although the number of users is increasing as electric mobility aids become a primary means of transportation for the elderly and severely disabled, there is no education beyond the user manual. Users can operate them immediately without a separate license or safety training, making the establishment of safety policies urgent.
Accordingly, the district installed a dedicated electric mobility aid driving practice course on a 600㎡ site within the Nakseongdae Outdoor Playground in Gwanaksan Neighborhood Park.
The course layout was designed with advice from the Road Traffic Authority's Education Operations Department, and the floor surface was constructed using an elastic pavement method favorable for shock absorption to prevent injuries in case of accidents during practice.
The practice course will undergo a pilot operation period until June and will be fully operational from the second half of the year.
This is the first time a local government has directly installed a dedicated electric wheelchair practice course nationwide. It plans to operate a systematic safety education program so that electric mobility aid users can learn traffic regulations and master operational skills.
The safety education will combine theory and practice, providing comprehensive and diverse training on the use and management of electric mobility aids, safety rules, accident response methods, and road traffic safety laws.
Additionally, wheelchair experience classes will be offered not only to people with disabilities but also to welfare facility staff, students, and the general public to improve public awareness and understanding of electric mobility aid users, contributing to the establishment of a safe road traffic culture for all.
A district official stated, “Due to insufficient consideration for mobility-impaired individuals and the increasing number of electric mobility aids threatening the safety of non-disabled people, we installed the electric wheelchair practice course to create a safe and non-discriminatory coexistence foundation for everyone.” He added, “We will continue to identify blind spots overlooked by existing systems and strive for residents' safe and happy lives.”
Yongsan-gu (Mayor Seongjang Hyun) will operate 100 forest interpretation and experience programs at Hyochang Park and Eungbong Park by October.
This is to expand the base of low-carbon green leisure culture utilizing local ecological resources.
The forest experience programs will be operated as general programs for groups and families and special programs for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and disabled, as well as for promoting forest policies.
The general programs are planned to be held weekly, with group programs on weekdays designed to cultivate ecological sensitivity and physical development in infants and adolescents, and family programs on weekends to enhance communication among family members.
Special programs will be held once a month until October, excluding July, targeting vulnerable groups such as the disabled and elderly. Festival booths for forest policy promotion will also be operated in May and September.
A district official said, “Last year, many groups used kits for non-face-to-face forest experiences. Since social distancing was lifted on April 18, all programs will be conducted face-to-face starting next month.”
In May, a forest experience themed “Bird Stories” will be held at Hyochang Park. The experience will be led by a forest interpreter and run for 90 minutes starting at 10 a.m. Group programs will be held nine times (on the 4th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 17th, 19th, 24th, 26th, and 31st), and family programs seven times (on the 1st, 8th, 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd, and 29th).
The district will open reservations for the next month's programs around the 20th of each month. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis, and participation is free. Reservations and detailed information can be accessed through the Seoul Metropolitan Public Service Reservation System.
Yongsan-gu Mayor Seongjang Hyun said, “We will operate meaningful programs so that the natural environments scattered throughout Yongsan become healing spaces where residents can find their precious daily lives.”
Seocho-gu is conducting on-site investigations until the end of June to verify 7,433 cases of building violations identified from last year's aerial photo analysis by Seoul City.
This investigation aims to prevent safety accidents such as collapses and fires caused by illegal buildings and to create a safe and pleasant residential environment.
The main targets are unauthorized buildings that have been expanded or altered without building permits or notifications as required by the Building Act.
The district will focus on unauthorized expansions of rooftop, storage, and veranda spaces; unauthorized construction of containers on the site; and unauthorized expansion of business spaces using panels, among others.
A district official urged, “To prevent unforeseen fires or collapses caused by unauthorized expansions, even small-scale expansions or installations must be conducted through proper procedures by consulting the district's building department in advance.” He also warned residents to be cautious of impersonation scams by officials demanding money during on-site investigations and to verify the identity badges of officials during visits.
If violations are confirmed, the district will issue correction orders to restore the original state to the building owners. If not complied with, administrative actions such as imposing fines, registering violations in the building register, and filing complaints against owners will be taken, with continuous management until corrections are completed.
Seocho-gu Acting Mayor Jeong-wook Cheon said, “We will strive to eradicate illegal building activities through crackdowns to create a safe and pleasant residential environment in Seocho and strengthen public awareness efforts on this matter.”
Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Seokjin Moon) announced on the 25th that it will continuously recruit participants for the ‘Hongjecheon Running Crew’ from May to December this year to promote residents' health and leisure activities.
Regular meetings (runs) will be held every Thursday evening from 8 to 9 p.m. starting next month, led voluntarily by participants. However, schedules may vary depending on the weather.
The meeting point is near Hongje 3 Bridge (in front of the Swiss Grand Hotel) along the Hongjecheon walking trail, where participants will warm up together before starting the run.
Participants must be at least 19 years old and either residents of Seodaemun-gu or workers and university students in the area. Beginners can enjoy running at their own pace, according to the district.
In addition to running, physical fitness measurements before and after participation, running training, special lectures on the ecology of Hongjecheon, and satisfaction surveys will be conducted.
Those interested can add the ‘Seodaemun-gu Health Center Exercise Room’ channel on KakaoTalk and express their intention to join the running crew via 1:1 chat, providing their name, gender, date of birth, and contact information. Questions can also be asked there.
No special equipment is needed for meetings other than sportswear, running shoes, and masks. Functional socks and T-shirts will be provided upon the second and third participations, respectively.
Since establishing the IoT-based ‘Smart Dullegil’ in 2017, Seodaemun-gu has promoted walking culture through various programs such as walking along mountains and traditional markets, walking the Hongjecheon Smart Dullegil, online stamp tours of women-friendly themed trails, non-face-to-face citizen walking, and neighborhood walking challenges, even during social distancing.
This year, in line with the growing trend of running, the district prepared this program to expand running culture alongside walking.
Seodaemun-gu Mayor Seokjin Moon said, “I hope the Hongjecheon Running Crew will share the joy of running and create a healthy running culture.”
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