Yongsan-gu Sowol-gil Resident Rest Area Renovation

[Seoul District News] Yongsan 2-ga-dong 5-1414, 3rd Floor Stair-Shaped Site Total Area 1500㎡ with 10 Exercise Equipment Types, Combination Playground, Pergola, 8 Benches, and Planting Completed... Dongdaemun-gu Installs 'Heat Hunting Water Cooler' at 7 Major Riverside and Walking Trails for Heatwave Preparedness... Seocho-gu Operates 3 Seoripul Water Playgrounds until the 21st at Banpo Sports Complex (Banpo-dong 15-2), Cheonggyesan Waterside Park (Sinwon-dong 298-9), Yongheori Neighborhood Park (Seocho-dong 1324-1)... Dongdaemun-gu Hosts Dapsimni Film Media on August 6 at 2 PM

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] “Please refurbish Sowol-gil Community Rest Area, which is beloved by children and the elderly.”

Yongsan-gu (Mayor Park Hee-young) has completed the maintenance of the ‘Sowol-gil Community Rest Area,’ which was promoted based on a proposal from residents of Yongsan 2-ga-dong.

The ‘Sowol-gil Community Rest Area Maintenance’ was selected as one of the resident participation budget projects last year, with a project budget of 300 million KRW reflected in the 2022 budget.

The district considered that the Sowol-gil Community Rest Area is located in an aging residential area mainly consisting of multi-family and multi-unit houses with insufficient convenience facilities, that it is a place enjoyed by people of all ages, and that it is situated on steep, stair-shaped terrain.

The construction period was from May 30 to July 25 this year. The main contents included ▲ demolition of old facilities ▲ installation of exercise equipment ▲ creation of a children's playground ▲ installation of pergolas and benches ▲ planting of shrubs and trees ▲ resurfacing of floors and stairs.

The district installed four exercise machines (air walker, wave rider, pulley machine, back acupressure device) and pergolas and benches in the first area of the Sowol-gil rest area. In the second area, a children's playground was created with a combined playset, swings, seesaws, and rocking play equipment. In the narrow third area, six exercise machines including running bars, parallel bars, inversion tables, and sit-up benches were arranged.

To ensure residents can safely use the rest area, the stairs and entrance sidewalks were replaced with paving blocks, and the spaces with exercise equipment and playgrounds were constructed with elastic materials. The surrounding landscape was harmoniously decorated by planting 460 boxwoods, 100 azaleas, 475 Euonymus alatus, 585 evergreen shrubs, 200 ivy vines, and 1,050 Liriope muscari.

The children's playground facilities will be available for use from the end of August after passing the installation safety inspection.

Park Hee-young, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, said, “Outdoor rest areas are gaining great popularity among residents who avoid indoor exercise facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We will focus on creating urban relaxation spaces such as managing small parks and refurbishing rest areas.”

Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Lee Pil-hyung) is installing and operating ‘Heat Relief Water Refrigerators’ along major riversides and walking trails to protect residents from the heatwave.

As heat-related illnesses have increased fourfold compared to the previous year and heatwave damage has grown, the district selected locations with high visitor numbers and will operate the ‘Heat Relief Water Refrigerators’ until August 25.

The ‘Heat Relief Water Refrigerators’ will be installed at seven locations: two at Baebongsan, and one each at Seongbukcheon, Jeongneungcheon, Ihwagyo Bridge, Gyeomjaegyo Bridge, and Jangan Cherry Blossom Small Library. They will provide 500ml bottled water to residents three times a day. The water is supplied free of charge, with 300 bottles per session, totaling 6,300 bottles distributed daily.

To prevent indiscriminate use and comply with COVID-19 prevention guidelines, the ‘Volunteer Disaster Prevention Team’ will act as guardians of the healing refrigerators and manage them. The team will work in two shifts from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM and 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM for two hours each, with unmanned operation during other times.

Shim Mi-jung, Director of Safety and Disaster Management, said, “As the heatwave continues, we have installed ‘Heat Relief Water Refrigerators’ throughout the district to provide free cool water to prevent heat-related illnesses and safety accidents. We ask users to be considerate and orderly so that more residents can quench their thirst and receive help.”

Meanwhile, Dongdaemun-gu operates 149 heatwave shelters, 17 parasol rental stations, and 171 shade shelters to prepare for the heatwave.

Seocho-gu (Mayor Jeon Seong-su) announced that it will open three ‘Seoripul Water Playgrounds’ starting from the 1st, coinciding with the onset of the intense heat. This marks the reopening after about three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The newly opened Seoripul Water Playgrounds are located at Banpo Sports Complex (15-2 Banpo-dong), Cheonggyesan Waterside Park (298-9 Sinwon-dong), and Yongheori Neighborhood Park (1324-1 Seocho-dong), and will operate until the 21st of this month.

The water playground at Banpo Sports Complex is a large facility with two swimming pools, two water play areas, and two slides. The water playgrounds at Cheonggyesan Waterside Park and Yongheori Neighborhood Park are medium-sized, each with one swimming pool, one water play area, and one slide.

Additionally, parasols, awnings, and shade tents are installed at the Seoripul Water Playgrounds to provide rest areas for visitors during water play. To maintain clean water quality, water is tested more than twice daily, and safety personnel including certified lifeguards and nurses are deployed, increasing from six to twelve staff to ensure a safe and pleasant environment.

Operating hours are from 10 AM to 6 PM daily, year-round. To maintain children’s body temperature and a safe, clean environment, the playgrounds operate for 50 minutes followed by a 10-minute break, with a temporary closure from 1 PM to 2 PM for facility maintenance.

Admission fees are 2,000 KRW for the water playgrounds at Yongheori Neighborhood Park and Cheonggyesan Waterside Park, and 3,000 KRW at Banpo Sports Complex. Group rates for children (10 or more) are 1,500 KRW (Yongheori and Cheonggyesan) and 2,000 KRW (Banpo). National merit recipients and persons with disabilities receive a 50% discount.

Since its inception in 2018, the Seoripul Water Playgrounds attracted about 40,000 visitors by 2019 but were closed due to COVID-19.

Choi Myung-hwan, Director of Education and Sports, said, “We hope children and families enjoy their time at the reopened Seoripul Water Playgrounds after three years and beat the heat refreshingly.”

Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Lee Pil-hyung) will hold a cultural vacation event on the afternoon of the 6th at 2 PM in the Cinema Library on the 3rd floor of Dapsimni Film Media Art Center to help residents exhausted by the heatwave.

This performance is part of the ‘2022 Visiting Cultural Square’ project, which provides performance opportunities to artists and diverse cultural and artistic experiences to residents through cultural performances in everyday settings.

Following the ‘Exciting Summer’ event held last month on the 10th at the Korean Medicine Promotion Center, the ‘No Heat Performance’ will take place on August 6 at 2 PM in the Cinema Library on the 3rd floor of Dapsimni Film Media Art Center.

The ‘No Heat Performance’ features the acoustic mixed duo ‘Bomyeoreum,’ offering a wide range of genres from Disney animation OSTs to 70s and 80s music, appealing to a broad age group, and singer-songwriter Yoo Ju-ho, who delivers various life stories with refreshing vocals accompanied by acoustic guitar.

Additionally, the traditional Korean music group ‘Sangsaeng’ will present a wide spectrum of performances including haegeum sanjo, gayageum byeongchang, haegeum solo, and 25-string gayageum, covering folk songs from all regions, love songs, Canon, and genres from traditional Korean music to classical and popular music, providing residents with a special time to forget the heat.

The performance is open on a first-come, first-served basis without prior reservation. For more details, contact the Cultural Tourism Division of Dongdaemun-gu Office.

Kim Myung-chan, Director of Cultural Tourism, said, “As the scorching heat and tropical nights continue, we planned this cultural performance to energize residents who may be exhausted. The stage is designed for families from children to seniors to enjoy together, so we ask for active participation from residents.”