Support for Children’s Commute to and from School with Seongdong-gu Walking School Bus for the New Semester

Seongdong-gu Conducts Demand Survey for Lower Grades, Publicly Recruits 84 Traffic Safety Instructors, and Holds Launch Ceremony on the 27th of Last Month

Expanded Working School Bus Operation Year-Round Including Vacation Since Early Last Year... 130 Traffic Safety Guardians Deployed at Safety Vulnerable Points

Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) announced on the 2nd that it will start the Working School Bus project to support safe commuting to and from school and to foster proper walking habits in line with the new semester.

Earlier this year, the district conducted a demand survey targeting prospective first graders and 2nd to 3rd graders and publicly recruited 84 traffic safety instructors. On the 27th of last month, a traffic safety education session and launch ceremony were held for the newly recruited instructors.

The Working School Bus project, meaning a "walking school bus," officially began in 2014. The traffic safety instructors hired by the district patrol designated routes between schools and homes for one hour in the morning and two hours in the afternoon throughout Seongdong-gu. They accompany elementary school students from 1st to 3rd grade who have similar directions, ensuring their safety on the way to and from school.

Since early last year, the Working School Bus has been expanded to be available during vacations for children attending care classrooms, earning recognition as the most exemplary operation nationwide.

This year, the 84 newly hired traffic safety instructors will be responsible for the commuting routes of children across 38 routes in 17 elementary schools within the district. Seongdong-gu currently operates the Working School Bus with the largest workforce among Seoul’s autonomous districts and a budget of 520 million KRW, and parents of 1st to 3rd graders can apply freely.

Each route operates a group chat on SNS with parents to share commuting situations in real time, preparing for any emergencies. A survey conducted last year with 583 parents who used the service showed a 98% satisfaction rate among respondents, indicating strong approval.

Additionally, 130 traffic safety guardians secure safe walking paths and provide traffic safety guidance from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at safety vulnerable points along the way to school. Previously, traffic safety guidance on the way to school was managed by the Green Mothers’ Association or parent rotation systems, which caused inconvenience to parents. In 2019, Seongdong-gu became the first autonomous district nationwide to implement the traffic safety guardian project for school commuting.

For the way home, based on analysis of the ‘Seongdong-type Public Big Data,’ 40 traffic safety instructors (two per school) are assigned to blind spots with high traffic accident rates, providing guidance from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, stated, “We will strive to operate the Working School Bus project more effectively for the safety of children and will continue to implement various policies until child traffic accidents are completely eliminated.”

Seogang-seok, Mayor of Songpa District, is listening to residents' suggestions regarding outdoor sports facilities in the area during the 'Visiting Dialogue with Residents'.

Songpa-gu Establishes Citizen-Friendly Outdoor Sports Facility Operation System

Immediate Inspection of Outdoor Exercise Equipment Reflecting Residents’ Requests

District Establishes Comprehensive Guidelines for Managing Outdoor Exercise Equipment to Promote Residents’ Health

Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) is building an operation system to efficiently manage sports facilities and is transforming into a ‘Healthy City.’

Songpa-gu has a total of 1,292 outdoor exercise equipment units installed across 146 areas such as neighborhood parks, with very high demand from residents using them.

Accordingly, aiming for a ‘healthy city through community sports,’ the district has established comprehensive guidelines to efficiently manage sports facilities (outdoor exercise equipment) tailored to the high usage by Songpa-gu residents.

Mayor Seo Gang-seok explained, “During dialogues with residents conducted by visiting all 27 neighborhoods one by one, many requests were made regarding the management and improvement of outdoor exercise equipment facilities. Most of these have been implemented immediately. Above all, we will spare no budgetary or policy support to ensure residents can enjoy community sports without inconvenience.”

First, a three-stage inspection system has been established for outdoor exercise equipment in the area, including continuous inspection, regular inspection, and detailed inspection. Through regular safety checks, the district plans to maintain and manage the equipment in optimal condition to prevent any inconvenience to residents.

Additionally, each piece of outdoor exercise equipment will have an information sign attached, and any inconvenience or requests for new installations or replacements will be promptly addressed.

Furthermore, all outdoor exercise equipment is covered by property liability insurance, carefully safeguarding residents’ health and safety. The district plans to reflect demands for new or replacement installations in the annual budget to enhance resident convenience.

In preparation for the spring season with increased outdoor activities, the district conducted an inspection of 113 outdoor exercise equipment units at 14 riverside locations within the area. The operational status and damage of equipment such as step cycles and inversion tables installed along Songpa-gu’s rivers were checked, and maintenance for six pieces requiring replacement will be completed by March. The district is also actively considering new installations in areas lacking community sports infrastructure.

Mayor Seo Gang-seok of Songpa-gu said, “Through efficient management and operation of outdoor exercise equipment in the area, we hope residents can enjoy vibrant and healthy daily lives. We will continuously collect residents’ requests regarding community sports and reflect them in district administration to further expand the base of community sports.”