Why Did Seongbuk-gu's 'Eco-friendly Smart Road Heating System' Captivate Six Asian Countries?

[Seoul District News] Lee Seung-ro, Seongbuk-gu Mayor, Presents at Malaysia's '2022 Asian Smart City Conference' & Receives Questions on Eco-friendly Smart Road Heating System and IoT Integration Projects & 11 Cities from 6 Asian Countries Share and Benchmark Outstanding Smart Policies ... Jeong Mun-heon, Jongno-gu Mayor, Acts as 'Companion for Elderly Living Alone,' Meeting Seniors via Zoom and Promoting Various Support Policies Including 'Pet Support Project' ... Dongjak-gu, From 2023, for Children and Kids

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) has captivated global netizens and fascinated six Asian countries with its ‘eco-friendly smart road heating system’ that prevents snow from accumulating and freezing.

Representing South Korea, Seongbuk-gu attended the '2022 Asian Smart City Conference' held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from the 6th to the 8th, showcasing various administrative cases integrating smart technologies such as the eco-friendly smart road heating system. The '2022 Asian Smart City Conference' gathered 11 cities from six Asian countries to share and benchmark outstanding smart policies of each city.

In his keynote speech, Mayor Lee Seung-ro of Seongbuk-gu announced administrative cases utilizing smart technologies, including the establishment of an eco-friendly smart road heating system, IoT sensor-based real-time smart shared parking, and an automatic river access alarm and blocking system, declaring a balanced development smart city where everyone prospers together. Interest in Seongbuk-gu’s eco-friendly smart road heating system, known through YouTube and overseas media, was high among participating cities. Questions continued for a long time even after the mayor’s presentation.

In the environmental sector, Seongbuk-gu learned a lot. Mayor Lee and the visiting delegation visited Malaysia’s Eco Recycling Plaza, representing resource recycling policies, the river management agency SMG (Selangor Maritime Gateway), and the waste disposal agency KDEB Waste Management, confirming the Malaysian public’s interest in river purification facilities using advanced technologies such as solar power and environmental protection.

Through the '2022 Asian Smart City Conference,' Seongbuk-gu also restored its friendly relations with Petaling Jaya City after four years. Mayor Mohamad Azhan Md Amir of Petaling Jaya and Mayor Lee Seung-ro of Seongbuk-gu agreed in talks to restore the friendship severed by COVID-19 and resolved to have Seongbuk-gu youth participate in the 'Petaling Jaya International Folk Festival 2022' and the 'Petaling Jaya Asia-Pacific Youth Folk Festival 2023.'

Mayor Lee Seung-ro of Seongbuk-gu said, “This inspection trip was not only an opportunity to showcase Seongbuk-gu’s advanced cases to the world but also a chance to reflect on Malaysia’s efforts to provide a clean environment to its citizens through smart city policies tailored to local conditions and to recognize that the greatest beneficiaries of smart cities are the district residents. We will not stop administrative innovation, including the introduction of advanced technologies, for a better future for Seongbuk residents.”

Jongno-gu (Mayor Jeong Moon-heon) is promoting various projects to prevent solitary deaths among elderly living alone and support socially isolated households since the launch of the 8th local government administration.

A representative example is the customized elderly care service. Targeting basic livelihood security recipients aged 65 and older, it focuses on eliminating blind spots in care by conducting regular welfare checks and monitoring, and linking various services tailored to individual needs and characteristics.

Currently, about 50 dedicated personnel including social workers and life support workers at the Jongno-gu Senior Welfare Center carefully check the safety and well-being of 501 elderly people. Additionally, the district signed a business agreement with a health drink agency and continues activities delivering drinks to 740 elderly living alone while closely monitoring their health conditions.

The preventive effect against solitary deaths due to the service is also emerging. On the 6th of this month, the district identified a delayed IoT sensor response from a 99-year-old elderly living alone in Hyehwa-dong and transported the elderly to the hospital with 119 emergency services and police.

In August, a life support worker who visited a 102-year-old elderly living alone in Muak-dong to accompany them to the hospital noticed irregular breathing and immediately called 119. The elderly was able to pass away in the family’s arms after the family arrived at the hospital.

Furthermore, Jongno-gu operates “Mayor Meets Elderly Living Alone via Zoom,” where Mayor Jeong Moon-heon personally becomes a companion to the elderly to strengthen the elderly welfare care system. (Photo) During last Chuseok, he inquired about their well-being and provided guidance on pneumonia and flu vaccinations for the changing seasons.

Kim ㅇㅇ (90), who met Mayor Jeong via phone, said, “It was very joyful to have the mayor as a companion during a time when it was difficult to go out due to COVID-19.”

Additionally, from the 18th of this month, the district will implement the 'Look at Me Like a Flower, Companion Plant Support Project for Elderly Living Alone' for 260 elderly people. It is expected that elderly will relieve boredom and regain vitality by growing companion plants.

Mayor Jeong Moon-heon said, “We will do our best to reduce loneliness among elderly living alone and create a Jongno without welfare blind spots. We will also strive to provide meticulous care services that embrace not only elderly living alone but also vulnerable residents.”

Dongjak-gu (Mayor Park Il-ha) announced on the 18th that it will significantly increase its budget from 2023 to expand support for daycare center operations so that many children and daycare centers in Dongjak-gu can benefit.

The ‘Expansion of Daycare Center Operating Subsidies’ is one of Mayor Park Il-ha’s campaign pledges, aimed at creating a high-quality childcare environment where both children and parents can be happy and feel secure.

Currently, the support items led 100% by Dongjak-gu from the district budget for daycare center operating expenses have been steadily increasing every year, and the support amount ranks sixth among autonomous districts, relatively high compared to neighboring districts.

First, to address consumer price inflation and improve meal quality, the district plans to increase the monthly infant meal and snack allowance at daycare centers from 13,000 KRW to 20,000 KRW starting next year.

Previously, only children under 2 years old enrolled in daycare centers were eligible, but the target has been expanded to all children enrolled in daycare centers.

Also, the longevity allowance paid to daycare center cooks with more than three years of service will be increased on a tiered basis according to length of service, applying the same standards as for childcare teachers. This is implemented in only two districts, and the 100,000 KRW paid for over 10 years of service is the highest among districts that provide longevity allowances to cooks.

In addition, the district supports daycare centers through self-initiated projects such as ▲facility improvement and operating expenses for Dongjak-type daycare centers ▲research and development expenses ▲after-school program expenses.

Mayor Park Il-ha of Dongjak-gu said, “We expect the childcare environment in Dongjak-gu to improve further through quality meals and securing excellent cooking staff. We will continue to work hard to create an environment where parents can trust and leave their children while balancing work and care.”

Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) announced on the 14th that it appointed 12 elderly human rights guardians to improve elderly rights and prevent abuse.

The human rights guardians are honorary welfare officers responsible for protecting the rights of elderly residents in elderly medical welfare facilities such as nursing homes and group homes for the elderly.

They consist of local residents familiar with the community and interested in elderly rights protection, workers from local elderly protection agencies, and representatives of long-term care institutions.

At the appointment ceremony, appointment certificates were awarded and activity training was conducted. The training was led by Lee Hyun-min, director of the Seoul Western Elderly Protection Agency, who provided practical and institutional information on the continuously evolving elderly rights and detailed guidelines for guardian activities to enhance expertise.

The guardians will conduct monitoring activities by visiting 24 elderly medical welfare facilities in the area at least once a month for one year. They will provide rights counseling to the elderly and facility staff, and inspect facility safety and meal conditions.

The district plans to increase the coverage of facilities monitored by guardians to 100%. Although the Ministry of Health and Welfare recommends at least 45%, the district aims for thorough elderly rights protection.

Mayor Kim Mi-kyung of Eunpyeong-gu said, “We hope that the guardians’ activities will help prevent elderly abuse and contribute to healthy aging.”

The three years of COVID-19 were especially harsh for the elderly. Vulnerable to infection, they could not freely go out. In Jung-gu, Seoul (Mayor Kim Gil-seong), an outing event was held for low-income elderly with mobility difficulties at the tail end of the pandemic.

The event was funded by the 'Good Way With Us' Hope Fund, the 11th donor-customized fund operated by the Community Chest of Korea.

The event organizer, Yurak Comprehensive Social Welfare Center, invited 50 elderly using wheelchairs and walkers on the 12th for an autumn outing to Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, titled ‘On a Wonderful Day in October.’

Jung-gu Sogong-dong Lotte Department Store Main Branch also participated. Twenty-five employees volunteered to accompany the elderly for more comfortable travel. Lotte Department Store also sent snack packages containing rice cakes, red bean jelly, and health drinks, creating an autumn picnic atmosphere.

On the day, the elderly took a bus with volunteers, had lunch near Haengju Fortress, visited Aqua Planet, and strolled in the lake park, enjoying the warm autumn sunshine.

Elderly who usually could not go out freely were able to stretch their bodies and minds. They shared cheerful conversations and bright smiles with neighbors and volunteers who accompanied them.

A representative of 'Good Way With Us,' which fully funded the event, said, “We hope the elderly enjoyed and were happy during this outing. We will continue to actively support with like-minded people to increase opportunities for marginalized neighbors to enjoy leisure and culture.”

Kim Jae-beom, manager of Lotte Department Store Main Branch, said, “It was meaningful to join the elderly on their outing. We will continue social contribution activities in cooperation with Jung-gu Office.”