Groundbreaking of 'Gangdong Supsok Library' in Myeongil Neighborhood Park, Gangdong-gu

[Seoul District News] Gangdong-gu Invests 24 Billion KRW to Build Gangdong Forest Library & Expected Role as Forest Reading Shelter & Scheduled to Open in October 2024 ... Public Design Festival Held on Gangnam Street ... Eunpyeong-gu Installs Outdoor Unmanned Civil Service Issuance Machines at Main District Office Entrances, Operating 24/7 ... Dongjak-gu Operates Happiness Plus Hiking School

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Soo-hee) announced on the 4th that it held a groundbreaking ceremony for a regional hub library to be built within Myeongil Neighborhood Park.

Due to large-scale reconstruction in the Godeok-Sangil area, the population has surged, and with schools densely located nearby, residents have continuously demanded the expansion of library facilities.

Accordingly, the district will build a library in Myeongil Neighborhood Park, a key strategic location, to expand reading infrastructure for residents. Once completed, it will serve as a hub library not only for the Sangil, Myeongil, and Godeok areas but for the entire district.

In particular, the construction will minimize forest damage by utilizing the tennis court site and park parking lot, which had been unused due to noise complaints. After the library is built, the remaining tennis court area will be restored as a park, designed to allow residents to relax in the forest.

Since the establishment plan was set in 2020, the project has completed procedures this year including securing the site, cultural heritage surveys, and design completion, following central investment review, urban park committee review, and architectural review in 2021.

The official name of the library was selected through a public contest, with "Gangdong Supsok Library" chosen as the most preferred name by residents.

While the existing six district-run libraries operate at branch scale with less than 2,000㎡ each, the new public library will be a hub library with a total floor area of 4,972㎡ across four floors (one basement, three above ground), housing over 100,000 volumes across various fields. After construction, the library plans to diversify services in cooperation with local public libraries.

Additionally, selected in 2021 as part of the government's Living SOC Complex Project, a children's after-school care center will be installed within the library building. To enable all age groups to enjoy reading, facilities such as a children's and toddler materials room, youth materials room, English materials room, general materials room, and multipurpose room will be provided.

Construction began in September this year, aiming for completion in August 2024 and opening in October. The total construction cost is expected to be 24 billion KRW (with an annual operating budget of 2 billion KRW).

Lee Soo-hee, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, stated, "We expect to meet the increased demand for reading infrastructure due to the rapid population growth in the Godeok, Sangil, and Myeongil areas through the library construction," adding, "We will proceed with the construction without delay so that the library can be used in 2024."

Gangnam-gu (Mayor Cho Sung-myung) is participating in the "Public Design Festival" hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Craft & Design Cultural Promotion Agency, showcasing five public design laboratories and four media art galleries until the 30th.

Under the theme "Infinite Imagination, ○(Gong)○(Gong) Design," this festival is jointly held until the 30th at the complex cultural space Culture Station Seoul 284 and over 80 public design hubs nationwide, with participation from government ministries, metropolitan governments, and local governments. The festival is expected to be an opportunity to share cases where design has solved social issues and contributed to restoring urban publicness.

The "Gangnam Station Public Design Laboratory," participating in this festival, will present experimental public design ideas to address issues such as smoking, littering, and use of narrow spaces around Yeomyeong-gil near Gangnam Station.

It introduces ▲"Forest Path of Encounters" to improve smoking problems between buildings in front of Exit 11 of Gangnam Station (known as "Gangnam Rabbit Hole") ▲"Urban Camping," a resting space in the city using the Gangnam Square site ▲"Local Cube," the cleanest air space in the world placed in areas prone to smoking and illegal dumping ▲"Shadow Space," utilizing stone benches on Gangnam-daero ▲"TONG," an experimental public facility applying an odor reduction system for beverage trash bins. Note that "Urban Camping" operates for three days from the 7th to the 9th, while the other works are exhibited until the 30th.

Also, as a platform for artists to exhibit works, four media galleries (photo) are operated on famous streets in the area, providing citizens with cultural leisure spaces.

At ▲Sinsa Dynamic Grid (Exit 7 of Sinsa Station), ▲Cheongdam Media Street (Apgujeong Galleria EAST), ▲Cheongdam Urban Frame (Cheongdam Intersection), and ▲Segok Urban Cloud (Segok Intersection), visitors can enjoy "ART FESTA," a relay exhibition by nine prominent domestic artists.

Cho Sung-myung, Mayor of Gangnam-gu, said, "I hope people can understand and experience public design through the public design laboratories and media art galleries held in Gangnam-gu," adding, "In the 8th term of the elected government, Gangnam-gu will strive to expand sustainable public design across various fields starting with this festival."

Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) announced that it will install and operate an "outdoor unmanned civil service issuance machine" at the main entrance of the district office, available 24/7, 365 days a year without visiting the civil service office.

It will be open at all times regardless of nighttime, weekends, or holidays. Even after regular business hours, residents can easily issue civil documents using fingerprint recognition without an ID card.

The outdoor booth is equipped with heating and cooling systems, automatic doors, and CCTV unmanned security systems to provide a more comfortable and safe issuance service. Accessibility and safety have been enhanced with features such as wheelchair ramps for the disabled, keypads and voice guidance for the visually impaired, screen magnification for low vision users, and guidance services for the hearing impaired.

Issuable civil documents include about 100 types such as resident registration certificates, land registers, and education certificates. Corporate seal certificates, registry copies, and real estate registry copies can be obtained from the court-exclusive unmanned civil service issuance machine located in the lobby on the first floor of the district office.

With this installation, the total number of unmanned civil service issuance machines operated by the district reaches 36 units: 15 units in multi-use facilities such as subway stations and 21 units in community service centers.

Installation locations include the district office lobby and entrance, 16 community service centers, Yeonsinnae Station, Gupabal Station, Bulgwang Station, Eungam Station, Gusan Station, Eunpyeong Tax Office, E-Mart Eunpyeong Branch, NC Department Store Bulgwang Branch, Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital, Eunpyeong Citizen Sports Center, e-Pureun Saemaeul Geumgo Headquarters, and Wooridle Saemaeul Geumgo Saejeol Station Branch, totaling 30 sites. Operating hours and available documents vary by location and can be checked on the district website.

Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, said, "We expect a significant increase in convenience for residents as they can issue necessary civil documents anytime throughout the year," adding, "We will continue to do our best to provide better administrative services."

Dongjak-gu (Mayor Park Il-ha) announced on the 4th that it will operate the "Happiness Plus Hiking School" to ensure safe mountain hiking for Dongjak residents.

This project was prepared to promote hiking culture and support safe mountain hiking as the autumn foliage season and fall outing season approach, increasing the number of people visiting mountains.

The hiking school will invite professional instructors to provide correct knowledge related to hiking through theoretical education and practical hiking training for 50 Dongjak residents.

First, from October 21, every Friday for four weeks, theoretical education will be held at the small auditorium of Dongjak Cultural Welfare Center, covering beginner hiking courses, equipment and food, first aid, walking methods, and other topics to prevent mountain accidents.

Based on this, practical hiking training will take place on November 18 at Cheonggyesan Mountain. There is no separate participation fee, but personal hiking gear and practice costs are the participant's responsibility.

Interested Dongjak residents can apply by attaching required documents on the "Seoul Public Service Reservation" website from the 13th to the 14th. Participants will be individually notified through a lottery. For more details, inquiries can be made to the Dongjak-gu Sports Policy Division.

Park Il-ha, Mayor of Dongjak-gu, said, "I hope this will be an opportunity for residents to hike safely during the autumn season, and I encourage families, clubs, and friends to participate together and have a meaningful time."