[Seoul District News] Dobong-gu Implements Comprehensive Heatwave Measures from July 18 to August 17 at 8 Riverside and Urban Park Locations: Cooling Centers, Night Safety Shelters, Meal Support, Welfare Checks, Free Parasol Rentals, Shade Installations, Expanded Road Cleaning... Gwanak-type Mother Center Operates Reservation System for 5 Child Play Areas... Ryu Gyeonggi, Jungnang-gu Mayor, Participates in Love Side Dish Sharing Event for Chobok in Junghwa 1-dong... Seongbuk-gu Ecological Restoration around 400 Jungnangcheon Embankment in Seokgwan-dong... Gangdong-gu Enhances Crosswalks with High Child Traffic
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Dobong-gu (Mayor Oh Eon-seok) is operating a ‘Heat Escape Refrigerator’ that provides cool bottled water along riversides and urban parks to ensure the safety of residents from the heatwave.
The Heat Escape Refrigerator, scheduled to operate from July 18 to August 17, will be available at eight locations within the district (▲Under Nowon Bridge on Jungnangcheon Stream ▲Under Sanggye Bridge on Jungnangcheon Stream ▲In front of Building 105, Seowon Apartment on Jungnangcheon Stream ▲Under Nokcheon Bridge on Jungnangcheon Stream ▲Inside Balbadak Park ▲Entrance of Bamgeo Children’s Park ▲Under Ui 3 Bridge on Uicheon Stream ▲Around Suyu Bridge on Uicheon Stream). Anyone exhausted by the heat can use it, and bottled water is supplied seven times a day.
To ensure hygienic management and prevent indiscriminate use, the district has organized a Heat Escape Refrigerator guardian team from the Autonomous Disaster Prevention Corps to manage the refrigerators. Recycling bins are installed next to the refrigerators to allow PET bottles to be recycled.
In addition, Dobong-gu is operating comprehensive heatwave countermeasures this summer, including ▲Heat Shelters (155 locations) ▲Night Safety Lodgings (3 locations) ▲Care SOS meal support and face-to-face lunchbox delivery for welfare checks ▲Free parasol rentals (29 locations) ▲Installation of crosswalk and park shade shelters ▲Expanded road water cleaning.
Mayor Oh Eon-seok of Dobong-gu said, “This year, an early heatwave warning was issued across the Korean Peninsula, resulting in about 500 nationwide heat-related illness cases and even deaths. To prevent such casualties, the district decided to operate the Heat Escape Refrigerator at places with high foot traffic where people can take a break from the heat. We hope many people will use this service.”
Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) offers many hot spots where children and parents can enjoy themselves without burden while escaping the scorching sun and heat during summer vacation.
The Gwanak-style Mother Center ‘I-rang’ is a popular childcare space in Gwanak-gu, providing a public playroom for infants and toddlers, and a cooperative and self-help meeting space for parenting parents to enjoy parenting healing together with their children.
Starting with the Nanhyang branch opened in 2019, there are currently five ‘I-rang’ centers operating, including the Daehak-dong, Nakseongdae, Boramae, and Sinsa branches.
‘I-rang’ operates a free play space equipped with various toys and playthings according to developmental stages through a reservation system. Playtime is set at 1 hour and 30 minutes, three times a day, and each session is open to only five families, making it a safe indoor play space that has received great response during the COVID-19 period.
Children can avoid the sweltering heat and play excitedly with peers in a safe space, while parents can use it as a communal childcare space to exchange parenting information.
The district is doing its best to prevent COVID-19 infection by thoroughly managing ventilation, toy disinfection, and symptom checks before and after each play session so that users can enjoy the space with peace of mind.
Parents who wish to use the free play space can sign up on the Gwanak-gu Office website and make a reservation by checking the usage times for each branch under the ‘Participation/Reservation → I-rang’ menu.
Each branch of the Gwanak-style Mother Center I-rang will operate various non-face-to-face experiential programs during the summer vacation season in July and August, allowing infants, toddlers, and families in the area to safely enjoy activities at home.
Programs include the craft program ‘Summer, Please Take Care’ (Daehak-dong branch) where participants make soap and air fresheners, the physical activity ‘Chalchalchal Corn Play’ (Boramae branch) that boosts physical, emotional, and intellectual growth, and the enjoyable music play ‘Dance with Sea Friends’ (Nanhyang branch) for parents and children to enjoy together?non-face-to-face sensory development programs perfect for summer vacation with children.
Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “I hope parents and children will comfortably visit the nearby Gwanak-style Mother Center I-rang during the hot summer and have a joyful and meaningful time together. We will continue to evenly install and efficiently expand and operate I-rang childcare spaces throughout the region to make Gwanak-gu a family-friendly district where it is good to have and raise children.”
Ryu Kyung-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu (center), along with members of the Saemaeul Women's Association of Junghwa 1-dong and related personnel, are taking a commemorative photo.
Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi) held a ‘Sharing Love Side Dish’ event on the 15th in Jung-hwa 1-dong to support vulnerable groups at risk of food insecurity on the day of Chobok (the first of the three hottest days of summer).
The Saemaeul Women’s Association of Jung-hwa 1-dong prepared side dish lunchboxes including bulgogi, seaweed soup, and cucumber water kimchi for about 100 households at risk, such as vulnerable children, middle-aged single-person households, and elderly living alone.
Since school meals are suspended during summer vacation, the district prioritizes support for children at risk of food insecurity and plans to deliver lunchboxes directly to homes of disabled or elderly residents with mobility difficulties.
Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi of Jungnang-gu said, “Thanks to the lunchboxes filled with sincerity and nutrition, children at risk of food insecurity and vulnerable residents will be able to get through the summer well. I thank the members of the Saemaeul Women’s Association who always share warm affection with the local community.”
Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) transformed habitual illegal parking areas into safe and healing spaces by planting trees and flowers.
Seongbuk-gu recently completed the ‘Jungnangcheon Embankment Ecological Restoration and Waterside Space Creation Project’ by removing concrete from roads along the Jungnangcheon embankment area in Seokgwan-dong 400, a place frequently used by residents, and planting trees and herbaceous plants to restore the Jungnangcheon ecosystem and create a waterside space.
This area had been a concern for children’s safety due to habitual illegal parking. Seongbuk-gu established the ‘2020 Jungnangcheon Landscape Improvement Basic Plan’ to fundamentally eradicate illegal parking in school zones and create a space where local residents can enjoy daily walks and relaxation.
Following the plan and after collecting residents’ opinions, Seongbuk-gu planted 4,520 trees and 3,852 ground cover plants over a 421㎡ area along the Jungnangcheon embankment.
With the project completed in July, from July to September, residents can enjoy colorful and beautiful flowers such as hydrangeas, and from October to November, seasonal beauties like autumn foliage will be presented along Jungnangcheon.
Residents visiting the newly created walking path said, “Walking while admiring the flowers and trees makes me feel much more relaxed.”
Mayor Lee Seung-ro of Seongbuk-gu said, “We will continue to do our best to improve residents’ quality of life and ensure safety through ecological restoration of Jungnangcheon and creation of waterside spaces.”
Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Soo-hee) announced that it installed sign blocks at five locations in Seongil Elementary and Seonrin Elementary to create a safe walking environment for children.
Sign blocks are yellow special blocks with excellent durability and visibility. When installed in front of crosswalks, they create a distinct space from the surroundings, guiding children to wait safely for signals and helping drivers easily recognize pedestrians.
Previously, the district installed sign blocks at 38 locations in front of crosswalks with high traffic accident risks in 18 schools within child protection zones and school routes.
Additionally, various traffic safety facilities such as ▲floor traffic lights ▲voice guidance devices ▲intersection alerts ▲runway-type crosswalks are being installed, and the district plans to identify and expand installation sites in the second half of the year.
Mayor Lee Soo-hee of Gangdong-gu said, “We expect that the installation of sign blocks in child protection zones will allow children in Gangdong-gu to walk safely. We will continue to make multifaceted efforts to create a safe walking environment.”
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