Namsan South Circular Road, Road Heating Expansion Again This Year

Excellent for Preventing Snowfall and Ice Safety Accidents

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] The Jungbu Park Leisure Center of Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 1st that it has resolved the risks caused by winter freezing through the operation of eco-friendly road heating cables installed last December on the southern circular road of Namsan Park to prevent safety accidents due to sudden snowfall and freezing in winter.

The location where the road heating cables were installed is the ‘Southern Circular Road’ within Namsan Park, a habitual freezing zone with frequent downhill slopes and winding passes. Out of the total length of 1310m (1.31km), the approximately 700m section from the Namsan Seoul Tower bus terminal to the Namsan Library has been completed and is currently in operation. The remaining approximately 610m section will be additionally installed in 2023 to provide a road environment that considers safety and the environment within the park.

In addition, the introduction of eco-friendly road heating cables in the park has reduced the use of environmentally harmful calcium chloride, minimizing environmental pollution caused by it and improving not only safe passage but also the ecological environment.

Along with this, Namsan Park, known as the ‘Lungs of Seoul,’ is being transformed into a nature-friendly and safe park leading the eco-friendly era by gradually replacing park management equipment such as blowers (for leaf cleaning), brush cutters, pruners, and chainsaws with eco-friendly (electric) equipment to reduce exhaust and noise. During forest pest control, pesticide use is minimized, and non-chemical, eco-friendly control methods are implemented through expert consultation, making efforts to realize ‘Eco Namsan.’

Jaeho Ha, Director of Seoul Jungbu Park Leisure Center, said, “In response to climate change, the way we manage parks in daily life must also change,” adding, “We will do our best to create and manage parks that consider the environment and safety so that citizens can use healthy parks.”