Yangcheon-gu Mayor Lee Gijae Actively Pushes for Safety Inspection System Improvement

[Seoul District News] Yangcheon-gu Mayor Lee Gijae Proposes Adoption of Safety Inspection System Improvement at Seoul District Mayors' Council on the 14th & Proposes Implementation Only Upon Request by 'District Mayors' as Public Institution Appropriateness Review Plan Authorities & Recommends Transitional Measures Applying Revised Regulations to Complexes Undergoing Appropriateness Review When Safety Inspection Standards Are Relaxed ... Gangseo-gu Pushes Government Proposal to Ease Gimpo Airport Height Restrictions ... 'Seodaemun Happiness 100% Promotion Team' Accelerates Fulfillment of 8th Term Election Promises

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Lee Gijae, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, submitted a proposal on improving the safety inspection system for reconstruction to the Seoul Metropolitan Council of District Mayors on the 14th, which was adopted as an agenda item. The proposal submitted by Mayor Lee pertains to the part related to the improvement of the safety inspection system in the "8·16 Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Plan to Realize National Housing Stability."

The main content of the submitted proposal is to improve the system so that the public institution's appropriateness review for reconstruction is conducted only when requested by the district mayor.

This aims to shorten the reconstruction project period by improving the process to be implemented only when requested by the district mayor, who is the planning authority for maintenance plans and best understands the local characteristics and the condition of aging complexes, thereby enabling prompt reconstruction decisions.

The second suggestion is the need to prepare transitional measures when relaxing safety inspection standards. It proposes applying the revised regulations to apartment complexes currently undergoing appropriateness reviews. This is because if the previous standards are applied and the complex fails, an additional two years and costs will be incurred due to re-investigation and re-execution of safety inspection services, increasing the burden on residents and potentially lowering the government's credibility regarding housing supply expansion policies.

The adopted proposal will be submitted to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport under the name of the Seoul Metropolitan Council of District Mayors.

Lee Gijae, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, stated, "Now is the time for all autonomous districts in Seoul, not just Yangcheon-gu, to take an interest in apartment reconstruction issues and speak with one voice," adding, "We will strive to ensure that institutional improvements to protect residents' safety, who are exposed to aging residential environments and safety accident risks, are promptly realized."

"We will promptly resolve the long-standing wish of 570,000 residents of Gangseo-gu, the 'airport height restriction relaxation,' and definitely improve the residential environment of the old downtown areas such as Hwagok-dong and Banghwa-dong."

Kim Tae-woo, Mayor of Gangseo-gu, expressed strong determination regarding the relaxation of height restrictions at the 'Airport Height Restriction Relaxation Promotion Committee Meeting' held on the 15th in the annex conference room of the district office.

This is because the 'airport height restriction relaxation' directly affects the core district administration pledge, 'Hwagok becomes Magok.'

The district held the meeting to report on the achievements made so far by the committee and the relevant departments and to discuss future activity plans.

Mayor Kim Tae-woo and the committee agreed that active government support should be requested and that the committee and the district office should cooperate to promote recommendations to the government.

They also decided to engage in promotional activities using content such as videos that clearly explain the importance of 'airport height restriction relaxation' to increase public consensus.

Mayor Kim Tae-woo said, "We will continuously submit the district's position to related agencies such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and draw out government cooperation," adding, "We will promptly resolve Gangseo-gu's long-standing wish and definitely create a high-quality balanced city where the old and new downtown areas thrive together."

Meanwhile, according to the Aviation Act, 97.3% of Gangseo-gu's total area is subject to height restrictions, causing significant infringement on property rights.

Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Lee Seongheon) held a results report meeting for the operation of the Seodaemun Happiness 100% Promotion Team, abbreviated as 'Seobaekdan,' on the afternoon of the 14th in the district office's large conference room.

To successfully promote the major pledges of the 8th elected term, the district has been operating the 'Seobaekdan' since July 22, consisting of five task forces (TFs): ▲organizational restructuring and personnel ▲transportation innovation ▲military base relocation ▲life care ▲new development.

A total of 69 participants, including 47 experts from various fields and 22 district-related department staff, have been discussing practical measures for 10 major tasks and presented their achievements at the report meeting.

According to the report, the 'Organizational Restructuring and Personnel TF' derived a reorganization plan reflecting the major pledge projects of the 8th elected term and residents' policy demands, including the consolidation of similar functions.

The 'Transportation Innovation TF' focused on discussions about restoring and relocating the Western Light Rail stations, undergrounding the Gyeongui Line, creating a new university street, and upgrading Yonsei-ro.

The 'Military Base Relocation TF' benchmarked successful cases from other regions and proposed directions for citizen-led project promotion. They also discussed problem-solving methods through various consultation channels.

The 'Life Care TF' selected 12 core projects for providing 'life care welfare services tailored to the entire life cycle' and sought implementation plans.

The 'New Development TF' concentrated on preparing rapid and systematic redevelopment promotion plans, including creating landmarks in the northwest area.

Mayor Lee Seongheon expressed gratitude, saying, "The Seodaemun Happiness 100% Promotion Team derived concrete practical measures in a short period," and added, "As mayor, I will faithfully fulfill my role to ensure that the district's practical departments can implement the projects effectively."

The district plans to establish department-specific action plans by the end of this month following the report meeting and continue building networks to strengthen expertise.

Dongdaemun-gu Mayor Lee Pil-hyung (center) is visiting and inspecting the Hwikyung Garbage Truck Depot, where renovation work on aging facilities is underway, on the afternoon of the 14th.

Lee Pil-hyung, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, personally visited and inspected the installation site of manhole fall prevention facilities and the old facility improvement construction site of the cleaning vehicle garage on the afternoon of the 14th to create a pleasant and safe living environment for residents.

The district has conducted preliminary investigations on 377 locations in low-lying areas where manhole openings are a concern due to water volume and pressure during heavy rain and where road flooding is expected, and is installing manhole fall prevention facilities.

Currently, about 50 manhole fall prevention facilities have been installed, and the district plans to complete installation at a total of 377 locations by next year. After installation, the necessity will be assessed to consider additional installations.

At 3 p.m., Mayor Lee visited the Jang-an 1-dong area where the manhole fall prevention facilities are being installed, personally confirmed the safety of the facilities, and urged that installation proceed without delay for residents' safety.

At 4:30 p.m., he visited the Hwikyung cleaning vehicle garage, where old facility improvement construction is underway. The Hwikyung cleaning vehicle garage was raised as a complaint during Mayor Lee Pil-hyung's neighborhood communication meeting in August due to urban landscape degradation and odor issues. Currently, to resolve the complaints, old facilities are being demolished and newly constructed, improving the surrounding environment.

Mayor Lee carefully inspected the site to understand residents' difficulties and find solutions.

Lee Pil-hyung, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, said, "Even if heavy rain occurs again, we will complete the installation without delay to prevent casualties caused by manholes, and consider additional installations if necessary. We will also strengthen communication with residents regarding issues related to the Hwikyung cleaning vehicle garage to find more amicable solutions," adding, "We will do our best to provide residents with the safe life and pleasant environment we promised."