Red Anti-Slip Pavement on the Slope of Alley in Hongdae Club Street

[Seoul District News] Mapo-gu Launches Comprehensive Survey of Steep Slopes in Busy Hongdae Walking Street Area for Safety Management to Prevent Resident Accidents... Lee Gijae, Yangcheon-gu Mayor, Appointed as Seoul City Urban Planning Committee Member, Term Starts June 2 for 2 Years

Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, inspecting the alley slope site

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Mapo-gu (Mayor Park Gang-su) recently conducted a comprehensive survey of steep slopes centered around the Hongdae club district and has begun preparing measures to prevent safety accidents among residents.

The district plans to implement "anti-slip pavement" on steep roads near the Hongdae club area, where slopes exist and the road width is narrow, to ensure pedestrian safety. Anti-slip pavement is installed on frequently accident-prone steep slopes and downhill roads, helping to secure pedestrian safety and assist in safe vehicle operation during heavy snow or rain conditions.

In particular, to enhance visibility and raise awareness of safety accidents, a "red" anti-slip pavement that colors the road surface will be implemented. The colored anti-slip pavement allows the dangerous section to be recognized from a distance, leading to safer walking and driving, and is expected to reduce accidents caused by carelessness. To this end, the district recently completed a full survey of slopes near the Hongdae clubs and plans to start construction this month after securing the budget, including disaster management funds.

Additionally, the district will conduct a comprehensive survey of slopes at entrances and exits of public institutions used by vulnerable traffic groups and will refurbish them with colored paving blocks that have anti-slip functions to prevent safety accidents among these pedestrians.

Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, "The Hongdae area, where clubs popular among young people are concentrated, has a large floating population and can be exposed to constant danger when crowds gather. Especially narrow alleys or slopes are blind spots where passage and access are restricted in emergencies, so we will promptly refurbish them to prevent any possible accidents."

Meanwhile, the district will also conduct a comprehensive cleanup of unauthorized road occupation facilities around the Hongdae Walkable Street area from this month until the end of the year. Facilities and signboards that obstruct pedestrian traffic will be removed, and habitual violators will face fines and forced removal of items. The district stated that these measures aim to create a safe Hongdae street without accidents.

Urban engineering expert Lee Gi-jae, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, was appointed as a member of the Seoul Metropolitan Government Urban Planning Committee, a key organization for urban and housing policies, and began his term on the 2nd.

This appointment is Seoul's response to the Seoul Association of District Mayors' request last August to increase the number of district mayors participating in the Seoul Urban Planning Committee from one to two. Lee Gi-jae, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, and Kim Kyung-ho, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, have newly joined the committee.

Lee Gi-jae, who majored in civil engineering (bachelor's) and urban engineering (master's and doctorate), is recognized as a suitable candidate to effectively represent the conditions and opinions of 25 autonomous districts related to urban planning, based on his expertise and extensive practical experience, including 10 years working at a private construction company and 5 years serving on urban planning committees of metropolitan and basic local governments.

In particular, in September, a proposal for improving the safety inspection system for reconstruction, suggested by Mayor Lee to the Seoul Association of District Mayors, was adopted as an agenda item and submitted to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Starting his term on the 2nd, Mayor Lee's first schedule is to attend the "12th Seoul Urban Planning Committee" meeting to be held on November 30.

Mayor Lee Gi-jae of Yangcheon-gu said, "As the Seoul Urban Planning Committee is a core organization for urban and housing policies such as urban planning and maintenance plans, I will carry out my duties with a strong sense of responsibility, utilizing my expertise and experience as an urban engineering professional to wisely address key local government issues such as reconstruction and redevelopment."

The term for Seoul Urban Planning Committee members is two years, and participants include district mayors, city council members, public officials, and experts in fields such as urban planning, architecture, transportation, and environment.