Nowon-gu 'Amendment to the Ordinance on Support for Reconstruction Safety Inspection Costs' Resident Petition

Seoul City Urged to Amend Ordinance to Advance Reconstruction Safety Inspection Costs

Nowon-gu Reconstruction/Redevelopment Rapid Promotion Team Leads Signature Campaign Until February 10

Online Signatures Available on Nowon-gu Office Website and In-Person at District Resident Centers

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Nowon-gu (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it will conduct a resident signature campaign urging the enactment of an ordinance to support reconstruction safety inspection costs.

The aim is to reduce conflicts among residents and financial burdens by having the district advance the safety inspection costs and amending the city ordinance to allow cost recovery before completion approval, thereby promoting swift reconstruction.

The signature campaign, led by the Nowon-gu Reconstruction and Redevelopment Rapid Promotion Team (Chairman Oh Seung-rok), will continue until February 10 targeting 30 complexes undergoing safety inspections and general residents in the area.

The district has placed online signature forms on the district office website and physical signature sheets at the district office and 19 resident centers, informing Nowon-gu residents and Seoul citizens about the significance and necessity of the ordinance amendment while supporting the signature campaign.

Signatures can be collected at redevelopment promotion committees and household heads of each complex, as well as at resident centers, and participation is also possible online via QR codes on posters and banners or through the district office website.

Despite the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announcing a rationalization plan for reconstruction safety inspections on December 8 last year, easing the standards that had hindered reconstruction, many complexes are still struggling to raise safety inspection costs ranging from 100 million to 400 million KRW, delaying reconstruction efforts.

Currently, the higher-level Urban and Residential Environment Maintenance Act allows discretion in supporting safety inspection costs, and many local governments in the metropolitan area provide such support. However, Seoul City's Urban and Residential Environment Maintenance Ordinance requires the requester to bear the full cost, causing delays in reconstruction and fostering conflicts among residents.

To address these issues, the district submitted the ordinance amendment as an agenda item at the 173rd District Mayor Council meeting in October last year, successfully passing the original proposal, and actively engaged in discussions with the Seoul City Housing Policy Office Director.

However, when the ordinance amendment was deferred indefinitely by the Housing and Spatial Committee, a standing committee of the Seoul City Council, in December last year, the district launched the signature campaign to gather and convey residents' opinions for the prompt promotion of reconstruction.

Once the signature campaign concludes, the district plans to deliver the results to the city and city council and prepare detailed criteria and support measures for safety inspection cost assistance.

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, stated, “By 2030, about 111,000 households in 124 complexes, accounting for 88% of apartments in the area, will be classified as aged apartments. We believe the future of the city depends on swift reconstruction, and we will unite with residents to ensure the city ordinance hindering reconstruction is amended.”

Geumcheon-gu U-Integrated Operation Center Ranked 3rd Best Control Center

142 Major Violent Crimes and 5,968 Incident/Accident Prevented, Outstanding Performance Compared to Other Districts

Geumcheon-gu (District Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon) announced that the Geumcheon-gu U-Integrated Operation Center was ranked 3rd Best Control Center in the second half of 2022 in the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s evaluation of CCTV control centers in Seoul’s autonomous districts.

The evaluation was based on the center’s performance in criminal apprehension, incident and accident prevention, and exemplary cases.

Geumcheon-gu contributed to preventing 142 crimes and 5,968 incidents such as fires through CCTV monitoring and situation dissemination. Particularly, it was recognized for outstanding achievements in preemptive prevention, including the arrest of stalking and threatening suspects and drunk drivers, outperforming other districts.

The Geumcheon-gu U-Integrated Operation Center, in cooperation with Geumcheon Police Station (Chief Kwak Chang-yong), maintains a 24-hour rapid response system with 16 personnel including control operators and police officers to prevent not only the five major violent crimes but also fires and traffic safety accidents.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency presented commendations to outstanding Geumcheon-gu employees (Administrative Officers Kim Jeong-seong and Hwang Bo-byeong, and Sergeant Yoo Seon-mi of Geumcheon Police Station) to encourage their efforts.

Geumcheon-gu was previously ranked 2nd and 3rd Best Control Center in the first and second halves of 2021 respectively, and 3rd in the first half of 2022.

Yoo Sung-hoon, Mayor of Geumcheon-gu, said, “The Geumcheon-gu U-Integrated Operation Center is doing its best to protect residents not only from crime but also from disasters through real-time monitoring.”

Gangseo-gu Operates Seoul’s First Autonomous District Snow Removal Monitoring Team

Residents Can Apply via 1365 Volunteer Portal Website Until the 20th

Proactive Patrols of Sidewalks and Back Roads to Eliminate Snow Removal Blind Spots

Gangseo-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Kim Tae-woo) is recruiting and operating the first snow removal monitoring team among Seoul’s autonomous districts to create a safe urban environment free from resident damage and traffic inconvenience caused by heavy winter snowfall.

Heavy snowfall in cold weather obstructs smooth road traffic, and frozen snow creates slippery sidewalks, often leading to falls, injuries, and casualties.

Accordingly, the district operates a snow removal monitoring team composed of volunteers who proactively inspect the snow removal status of sidewalks and back roads during snowfall to prevent winter slip-and-fall accidents.

The recruitment period is until the 20th, and any resident using personal SNS can apply through the 1365 Volunteer Portal website.

After receiving preliminary training, the monitoring team will check the safety conditions of assigned back roads and sidewalks during snowfall, take photos on-site, and share them via SNS with the relevant district office departments.

Participants can join up to twice a month, earning one hour of volunteer time per session. Certification photos must include the exact address and details of the complaint site.

District Mayor Kim Tae-woo said, “Resident cooperation at every site is crucial to prevent inconveniences and safety accidents during winter snowfall. In addition to operating the first snow removal monitoring team among autonomous districts, we will actively promote snow removal in front of homes and stores to create a safe Gangseo-gu together with residents.” For more details, contact the Gangseo-gu Office Road Division.