[Seoul District News] Yeongdeungpo-gu to Operate Warm Tents from December 5 to March 10 Next Year...
Dongjak-gu Expands Heated Seats at Bus Stops to Combat Cold & Operates Them When Temperature Drops Below 20℃ & Adds 8 Locations and Fully Operates 27 Locations... Gwangjin-gu Activates Comprehensive Cold Wave Response Situation Room, Enters 24-Hour Emergency Duty System Until Situation Is Lifted Following Cold Wave Warning on 29th & Operates 4 Teams Including Situation Control Team to Disseminate Weather Information and Protect Vulnerable Groups... Geum
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The warmth tents that shielded against biting cold winds, snow, and rain are returning this winter.
Yeongdeungpo-gu (District Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) announced that as the severe cold wave begins in earnest, warmth tents will be installed and operated from December 5th until March 10th of next year.
The warmth tents serve as shelters for residents using public transportation or waiting at crosswalks to escape the cold, heavy snow, and strong winds, allowing them to warm up briefly while outdoors, and have been highly appreciated by users.
The district had suspended tent operations for the past two years due to social distancing measures to prevent COVID-19, but plans to resume operations this winter to minimize residents' inconvenience amid expectations of colder weather and more severe climate changes than usual.
This year, the number of warmth tents will increase from 26 to 28 locations. Installation sites were selected mainly at busy pedestrian crosswalks with long waiting times and bus stops in bustling areas with high foot traffic, such as Yeongdeungpo Market, in front of Dangsan Park, Exit 6 of Yeouido Station, and Exit 1 of Singil Station.
The tents measure 3 meters in length and 1.5 meters in width and will be installed so as not to obstruct pedestrian movement or bus boarding and alighting. Inside, simple chairs will be provided for users to sit on.
Additionally, to prepare for safety accidents, the district has subscribed to public liability insurance, and each neighborhood community center will conduct inspections and internal cleaning at least twice daily to provide a pleasant environment for users.
Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, said, “I hope the warmth tents become a cozy shelter that warms the bodies and hearts chilled by the cold. As the importance of disaster and accident prevention is increasingly emphasized, we will thoroughly prepare to prevent any harm to residents caused by the winter cold wave.”
Meanwhile, the district plans to pilot-install heated chairs at 10 bus stops located in areas with frequent use by transportation-vulnerable groups and densely populated residential areas by the first half of next year, so residents can wait for buses warmly even in midwinter.
Dongjak-gu (District Mayor Park Il-ha) is expanding and fully operating heated chairs, a cold wave mitigation facility, so residents can use public transportation warmly even in winter.
Currently, 27 heated chairs are installed mainly at major subway stations such as Nodeul Station and Daebang Station, as well as bus stops in front of markets and schools.
The district plans to add heated chairs to eight bus stops with long bus intervals or heavy foot traffic by January next year, responding to residents’ positive feedback.
Furthermore, the district intends to continuously increase the number of heated chairs to ensure no inconvenience in bus use anywhere in the area.
The heated chairs will operate from this month until March next year, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. When the ambient temperature drops below 20 degrees Celsius, a specially designed temperature controller activates to automatically adjust operation according to the external temperature.
To encourage commuters and students, the heated chairs bear the message “Bringing warmth to your daily life.”
Additionally, the district has subscribed to insurance against safety accidents related to the heated chairs and conducts regular inspections and maintenance.
Park Il-ha, Mayor of Dongjak-gu, said, “We will actively promote administration closely connected to residents’ daily lives so they can directly feel the benefits and continue to strive to improve residents’ quality of life.”
Gwangjin-gu (District Mayor Kim Kyung-ho) activated the comprehensive cold wave response support center and began emergency duty from 6 p.m. on the 29th of last month following the issuance of a cold wave warning.
The comprehensive cold wave response support center is composed of the Situation Management Team, Life Support Team, Facility Recovery Team, and Public Relations Support Team. It monitors weather conditions, damage status, and vulnerable group protection status during cold wave alerts and responds to emergencies 24/7.
First, the district disseminated cold wave preparedness guidelines such as refraining from outdoor activities via SNS and emergency disaster messages, and canceled all resident-attended events until the cold wave warning is downgraded to an advisory to ensure residents’ safety.
To prevent casualties from the cold wave, the district provides care management through phone calls and visits to vulnerable groups such as elderly living alone, patrols areas with concentrated homeless populations to check safety, and distributes winter relief supplies as needed.
Kim Kyung-ho, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, said, “We are operating the comprehensive cold wave response support center to prevent any harm to residents from sudden cold waves. We will continue to thoroughly prepare for various disasters such as heavy snow, cold waves, and fires to prioritize the safety and lives of our residents.”
Geumcheon-gu held the '2022 Winter Supplies Delivery Ceremony for Recyclable Collectors' on November 30 at the Siheung 5-dong Community Center.
Geumcheon-gu (District Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon) will distribute cold weather gear to 88 recycling collectors starting November 30th.
At a handover ceremony held on November 30th at Siheung 5-dong Community Center, 11 recycling collectors received cold weather jackets, insulated gloves, and neck warmers.
Geumcheon-gu’s “Recycling Collectors Safety Equipment Support Project” is implemented under the Geumcheon-gu Ordinance on Support for Recycling Collectors enacted in September last year. It aims to ensure the safety and welfare of elderly residents collecting recyclable materials such as scrap paper and to promote resource recycling. In July, 97 recycling collectors received folding carts and safety vests.
Eligible recipients are recycling collectors registered and residing in Geumcheon-gu who are aged 65 or older or have disabilities. The district plans to conduct annual surveys of recycling collectors to continue support.
Yoo Sung-hoon, Mayor of Geumcheon-gu, said, “We hope elderly recycling collectors can carry out their collection activities more safely and warmly during the winter. We will continue to support necessary safety equipment for recycling collection activities.”
Gangdong-gu (District Mayor Lee Soo-hee) announced on the 1st that it has prepared a comprehensive winter plan covering five major areas: cold wave, snow removal, safety, health, and livelihood stability, to be implemented until March next year.
The five major areas of the winter comprehensive plan are cold wave, snow removal, safety, health, and livelihood stability, with 21 detailed projects to be promoted, focusing all efforts on the safety and protection of district residents during winter.
First, when a cold wave advisory or warning is issued, the “Cold Wave Comprehensive Support Situation Room” will be activated to respond promptly to cold wave management. Departments will prepare for cold wave situations, assess damage, check on vulnerable groups, and inspect and manage vulnerable facilities.
To provide warm places for the elderly during cold weather, 65 locations including community centers and senior citizen centers are designated as “Cold Wave Shelters.” For 238 low-income elderly residents, meal delivery services including lunchboxes and side dishes will be temporarily expanded.
Heating cost support will also be provided. Winter countermeasure funds will be given to residential facilities for the disabled, and energy vouchers for electricity, gas, and heating will be distributed to energy-vulnerable groups. Additionally, projects such as “2023 Hope Ondol Warm Winter Campaign” and “Community Safety Line Project” will be promoted to care for cold wave vulnerable groups.
For snow removal, the “Snow Removal Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters” is operating 24/7 to prepare for heavy snowfall. The district has already secured sufficient materials such as calcium chloride and checked equipment status to ensure thorough preparation.
Alongside this, bus detour routes have been secured and a traffic countermeasure team is operating to prepare for heavy snow. Notably, Gangdong-gu is installing a “road heating system” at four vulnerable sections with slopes where icy accidents are a concern. The road heating system is an eco-friendly snow removal facility that installs heating wires beneath the road surface to automatically melt snow, and installation will be gradually expanded.
For safety measures, fire safety plans and emergency response systems have been established to prepare for large fires and various casualties that can occur in dry winter weather.
Preemptive inspections of construction sites, roads, flood control facilities, and other infrastructure are also conducted to address safety issues.
Health measures for residents include additional vaccinations to prepare for infectious disease resurgence in cold weather, establishment of emergency medical systems, and inspections of illegal or substandard food to ensure food safety. When the average daily (or next day forecast) fine dust concentration exceeds 35 μg/m³, emergency reduction measures and a vehicle 2-day license plate restriction system are implemented.
To prevent freezing damage to water meters and pipes, insulation materials such as insulated covers for wall-mounted meter boxes have been distributed and installed mainly in freezing-vulnerable residential areas. Safety inspections of energy supply facilities are also conducted in preparation for the winter energy crisis.
Lee Soo-hee, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, said, “We will implement a meticulous comprehensive winter plan to protect Gangdong residents safely from forecasted severe cold, heavy snow, and other natural disasters and accidents this winter. We will do our best to minimize damage through thorough preparation.”
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