Gyeongho Kim, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, What Is the Secret Behind the Success of 'Emptying the City'?

[Seoul District News] Launch of Core Project 'Urban Emptying' in the 8th Term: Achievements in Street Planter Maintenance, Roadside Storage Management, and Removal of Pedestrian Obstacles & Kim Kyung-ho, District Mayor, Staff, and Residents Unite to Clean Every Corner of Alleys ... Kim Kyung-ho, Gwangjin District Mayor, Awards Appointment Certificate to Kang Ho-cheol, New Chairman of Gwangjin Facilities Management Corporation, at Mayor's Office on the 3rd

Kim Kyung-ho, the mayor of Gwangjin District, is cleaning the alley together with residents.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Kyung-ho) has launched an "Urban Clearing" operation to create a pleasant and safe urban environment.

"Urban Clearing" is a major project of the 8th local government administration aimed at removing elements that cause inconvenience to pedestrian traffic and spoil the cityscape. Unnecessary facilities on roads are removed, duplicates are integrated, and old facilities that have been neglected for a long time are refurbished.

Accordingly, Mayor Kim Kyung-ho, the responsible departments, and the local community centers have joined forces. Various policies such as ▲maintenance of street flowerpots ▲management of roadside deposits ▲rapid collection of illegally dumped garbage ▲undergrounding of overhead lines ▲removal of pedestrian obstacles ▲cleaning of alleys by district are being established and implemented.

Mayor Kim, who has been communicating while closely inspecting every corner of the alleys, listened to the concerns of the elderly and children about pedestrian safety risks and the residents suffering from illegal garbage dumping, and devised solutions.

First, among the 78 street flowerpots installed in the area, 23 flowerpots that caused inconvenience to pedestrian traffic were maintained. Flowerpots installed on side roads around Junggok 1-dong Village Yard and Shinyang Jaturi Rest Area were removed to prevent vehicle traffic obstruction and safety accidents.

In Junggok 4-dong, where a long uphill road is formed along Ginkgo-rang-ro, the removal of street flowerpots widened the walking space, and resting benches were installed for elderly people who have difficulty walking for long periods.

For roadside deposits, 22 locations classified as habitual deposit offenders are subject to intensive day and night patrols and administrative guidance.

Regarding the undergrounding of overhead lines project, approximately 6.5 billion KRW will be invested by 2025 to alleviate traffic congestion and pedestrian inconvenience along a 780m extended section in the Ttukseom-ro and Neungdong-ro areas.

Also, Mayor Kim, staff, and residents gather in one place to clean the alleys every two weeks. Fifteen vulnerable cleaning points in each district are designated, and they thoroughly clean every corner of the alleys without missing a single cigarette butt.

The efforts of the staff seem to shine as residents said, "I was always careful not to fall, but now the road is wider and better," "The roadside has become noticeably cleaner," and "I was surprised and moved to see the mayor personally emptying the trash cans."

Kim Kyung-ho, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, said, "The cleanliness, hygiene, and pleasant environment of the city are important issues directly related to the safety and happiness of residents," adding, "We will continue to organize and clear every corner of the alleys to create a happy Gwangjin that is good to walk and live in."

At the appointment ceremony of the Chairman of Gwangjin-gu Facilities Management Corporation on the 3rd, District Mayor Kim Kyung-ho and the new executives (far right is Kang Ho-cheol, the 6th new chairman)

Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Kyung-ho) held the appointment ceremony for the 6th new chairman of the Gwangjin-gu Facilities Management Corporation in the mayor’s office on the 3rd.

The Gwangjin-gu Facilities Management Corporation is a public institution under Gwangjin-gu that manages and operates facilities closely related to residents' lives, such as cultural and sports facilities, libraries, and public parking lots.

On this day, Mayor Kim Kyung-ho congratulated the new chairman Kang Ho-cheol and urged him to work together to improve the quality of life and happiness of the residents.

Chairman Kang said, "Drawing on my long administrative experience, I will enhance the safety and convenience of facility management and lead the corporation to become a safety-specialized public enterprise," and expressed his ambition to "work closely with the district office to create a 'Happy Gwangjin that develops through communication' during the 8th local government administration."

Kang Ho-cheol began his public service career in 1982 and served as head of the Traffic Guidance Division and the Autonomous Administration Division at Gwangjin-gu Office, retiring as Director of the Planning and Economy Bureau in 2018.

He will hold an inauguration ceremony at 2 p.m. on the 3rd in the large conference room of the Gwangjin-gu Facilities Management Corporation and begin his official duties. His term is three years, from the 3rd to November 2, 2025.

Mayor Kim Kyung-ho said, "Given the recent unfortunate tragedy, the role and responsibility of the Facilities Management Corporation, which manages public facilities, are very important," adding, "I hope the corporation will become a more trusted cultural space for residents by thoroughly managing facilities and conducting safety inspections."