Seok-Suk Seo, Mayor of Songpa District (left), personally operated an eco-friendly street sweeper to clean the streets.
Songpa-gu, March 21 ‘Big Cleaning Day’... Held in Pungnap 1-dong, Subject to Cultural Heritage Regulations
District Mayor Seo Gang-seok and 100 Residents Participate, Using Road Surface Cleaners to Clean Every Corner
Big Cleaning Continues in All 27 Neighborhoods Until March 31
Songpa-gu (District Mayor Seo Gang-seok) held a ‘Big Cleaning Day’ on the 21st, where the district mayor and residents cleaned together as part of ongoing cleaning efforts throughout the area until the end of March to welcome spring.
This ‘Big Cleaning Day’ was conducted in Pungnap 1-dong, an area densely populated with old houses and subject to various regulations for cultural heritage protection.
At the event, Mayor Seo Gang-seok stated, “Due to cultural heritage protection, residents’ living environments have become quite deteriorated. Therefore, we launched a large-scale cleaning effort so that residents can welcome the new spring in a somewhat cleaner environment.”
About 100 residents, including neighborhood community groups, block leaders, and local merchants, participated in the cleaning. Together with Mayor Seo, they swept and wiped every corner of the Pungnap-dong cultural heritage compensation area, parks, and vulnerable cleaning spots for about two hours.
In particular, Mayor Seo used the ‘eco-friendly road surface cleaner’ introduced as a pilot this year to thoroughly remove trash and cigarette butts accumulated in alleys and rainwater drains where large cleaning vehicles have difficulty accessing.
The eco-friendly road surface cleaner is not only small in size but also easy to pull around using electric power, making it effective for removing illegally dumped waste and illegal flyers in alleys, commercial areas, and restaurant-dense neighborhoods.
Additionally, various cleaning vehicles such as sidewalk water trucks and small road surface cleaners were used to perform water cleaning, making sidewalks, roads, and back alleys clean and tidy.
Going forward, the district plans to designate the fourth Wednesday of every month as ‘Clean Day’ to encourage residents to voluntarily participate in cleaning and continue water cleaning of surrounding roads and street facilities.
Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, “Cleanliness is the top priority in urban administration. Through this big cleaning, we will remove the grime accumulated over winter to create clean streets and spare no support to foster a pleasant urban environment.”
Gwanak-gu Holds ‘Starlight Naerincheon No Plastic Plogging Day’ with Residents
Environmental Cleanup Volunteer Efforts at Starlight Naerincheon to Overcome Climate Crisis
Volunteers Walked Along Waterfall Fountain and Gwanak Bridge, Collecting Trash Thoroughly
Gwanak-gu (District Mayor Park Jun-hee) held a ‘No Plastic Plogging Day’ on the 22nd at Starlight Naerincheon (Dorimcheon) to overcome the climate crisis through volunteer efforts.
‘Plogging’ is a compound word from the Swedish ‘plocka upp’ meaning ‘to pick up’ and the English word ‘jogging,’ referring to jogging while picking up trash.
District Mayor Park Jun-hee also participated in the ‘No Plastic Plogging’ activity along with about 70 volunteers from 21 neighborhood volunteer camps, practicing joint action to overcome the climate crisis.
They walked mainly along the riverside park, collecting general and recyclable trash separately while moving toward Sundae Town, Sinwon Market, the waterfall fountain, and Gwanak Bridge, helping restore the ecological environment.
Park Jun-hee, Mayor of Gwanak-gu, said, “I am always grateful and reassured that volunteers and the volunteer center are at the heart of creating a Gwanak-gu where I and my neighbors live together. I hope this Plogging Day becomes a volunteer activity that takes pride in preserving the ecological environment and responding to the climate crisis.”
Kim Tae-woo, Mayor of Gangseo-gu, Seoul, Cleans Rainwater Drains in Preparation for the Rainy Season
Cleaning Alleys in Balsan 1-dong with Residents, Cleaning Rainwater Drains for Rainy Season Preparedness
Kim Tae-woo, Mayor of Gangseo-gu, Seoul, visited Balsan 1-dong at 3 p.m. on the 22nd to clean alleys with residents and remove trash accumulated in rainwater drains.
About 100 people, including block leaders, local residents, the autonomous disaster prevention group, and the Saemaul Women’s Association, participated in the street cleaning.
They cleaned hidden spots and alleys that are less frequently touched by people rather than the relatively clean main roads.
Especially, in preparation for the rainy season, they opened rainwater drain covers and removed fallen leaves, cigarette butts, and other debris inside.
The street cleaning, initiated by Mayor Kim’s idea in October last year, is a clean campaign where the district mayor directly cleans the village together with residents.
Mayor Kim Tae-woo said, “I started street cleaning to create a clean Gangseo-gu free of cigarette butts and to meet residents more closely. We will continue to manage so that there is no flooding damage caused by illegally dumped trash such as cigarette butts accumulated in rainwater drains during the rainy season.”
After the cleaning, Mayor Kim also held an impromptu meeting to hear the vivid voices of local residents.
Gwangjin-gu Designates ‘Spring Cleaning Week’ Until March 31, Focusing on Cleaning During March When Fine Dust Peaks
Conducts Road Water and Dust Cleaning, Manages Cleanliness of Side Streets and Special Cleaning Zones by Neighborhood, Encourages Residents to Sweep in Front of Their Homes and Stores, Leading Efforts for a Pleasant City
Gwangjin-gu (District Mayor Kim Kyung-ho) has designated the period until March 31 as ‘Spring Cleaning Week’ and is conducting special cleaning and environmental maintenance.
‘Spring Cleaning Week’ is set as a focused period from March 13 to 31, when fine dust levels are relatively high in spring. The district removes residual calcium chloride from winter snow removal, fine dust, and trash from roads throughout the district.
During the cleaning week, 13 cleaning vehicles (5 dust suction vehicles, 4 street surface vehicles, and 4 water spraying vehicles) are mobilized to perform water and dust cleaning around bus stops, side streets such as Taste Street, arterial roads, and Cheonho-daero.
All neighborhoods conduct frequent cleaning and focused management of side streets and habitual illegal dumping areas designated as special cleaning zones, encouraging participation from functional groups, store owners, and local residents to sweep in front of their homes and stores together.
In addition, linked with ‘urban emptying,’ a core of ‘safe and clean city’ creation, the district maintains public facilities along main roads. This includes maintaining street flower pots, managing roadside stored items, and removing pedestrian obstacles that cause inconvenience and spoil urban aesthetics.
Furthermore, from March to November, the district designates the fourth Wednesday of each month as ‘Gwangjin Clean Day,’ focusing on creating a clean and pleasant urban environment centered on arterial roads, subway stations, crowded places, and vulnerable alleys.
Mayor Kim Kyung-ho emphasizes, “Cleaning is also a direct line of communication.” As part of the ‘alley communication’ initiative, which has gained attention for its diverse communication channels in the 8th local government, the district cleans alleys with residents, removing accumulated trash and sharing communication and empathy. On the 10th, during the ‘9th Alley Cleaning with Residents’ held in Jayang 3-dong, the district worked together to create a clean environment that residents can feel and listened directly to residents’ stories. (Photo)
Mayor Kim Kyung-ho said, “Creating a safe, clean, and pleasant urban environment is a major goal of the 8th local government. I hope residents welcome spring with a refreshing feeling by seeing streets thoroughly washed of grime accumulated over winter through spring cleaning.”
Yangcheon-gu Joint Public-Private Big Cleaning to Welcome the New Spring
Yangcheon-gu (District Mayor Lee Ki-jae) announced that it conducted a joint public-private big cleaning from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on the 22nd to create a pleasant urban environment for the new spring.
About 2,500 people, including Yangcheon-gu Office, 18 neighborhood community centers, and functional groups, participated in this cleaning, using 33 pieces of specialized equipment to thoroughly clean accumulated grime over winter in pilot areas such as Sinjeong Intersection Station and Mokdong Station, as well as major commercial areas, arterial roads, and residential areas with heavy foot traffic.
Additionally, as this is the first large-scale cleaning in four years since COVID-19, the district plans to conduct extensive environmental maintenance with each functional department?such as Park and Greenery, Construction Management, Roads, Flood Control, and Traffic Administration?setting their own plans to clean around parks, green belts, sidewalk facilities, sewer facilities dredging, and traffic safety facilities.
Lee Ki-jae, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, who personally participated in environmental maintenance activities with staff and residents at Sinjeong Intersection Station in the morning, said, “I thank the residents and public officials who participated early in the morning in the joint public-private big cleaning to welcome a fresh spring. We will continue to create a clean Yangcheon through thorough cleaning policies.”
Geumcheon-gu Holds ‘New Spring Big Cleaning’ Event at 7 a.m. on the 22nd
Operates New Spring Big Cleaning Period Until End of March, Cleaning Facilities and Roads
Geumcheon-gu (District Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon) conducted a ‘New Spring Big Cleaning’ at 7 a.m. on the 22nd.
On this day, about 100 residents from Siheung 1-dong and Siheung 5-dong collected trash and performed water cleaning on sidewalks along Siheung-daero and Geumha-ro.
Geumcheon-gu has designated the period until March 31 as the special new spring big cleaning period. During this period, trash accumulated in vulnerable residential areas will be collected simultaneously, and public offices, major facilities, Anyangcheon, and bus stop facilities will also be cleaned.
Additionally, road dust suction vehicles, road surface cleaners, and water cleaning vehicles will be operated to thoroughly remove fine dust and calcium chloride accumulated on roads.
Geumcheon-gu will regularly operate ‘Geumcheon Clean Day’ on the fourth Wednesday of every month, continuing dust and fine dust removal along major arterial roads and district-wide big cleaning.
Yoo Sung-hoon, Mayor of Geumcheon-gu, said, “As spring blooms with fragrant flowers, residents and public officials gathered to clean accumulated grime throughout the village, hoping to wash away the long-standing frustrations caused by COVID-19. I ask many residents to join in creating a ‘Clean City Geumcheon.’”
Park Kang-soo, Mayor of Mapo-gu, Holds No Plastic Han River and Tributary Plogging Day
Mapo-gu (District Mayor Park Kang-soo) announced that it held a ‘No Plastic Han River and Tributary Plogging Day’ campaign on the morning of the 22nd.
The event was prepared as a joint event by all 25 autonomous districts of Seoul to mark the UN-designated ‘World Water Day,’ and Mapo-gu conducted it over a 2 km section from Seongsancheon-gil (Hongjecheon Bicycle Path) to Mangwon Han River Park.
Mayor Park Kang-soo and about 50 activists, including volunteer camp leaders from neighborhoods, threw EM (Effective Microorganisms) soil balls and performed plogging (jogging while picking up trash) to carry out cleanup activities.
Before the campaign, Park Kang-soo, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, “Mapo is the district with the longest contact with the Han River in Seoul, so it has a greater responsibility to preserve the ecological environment of the Han River and its tributaries. We will manage more thoroughly so that residents can enjoy clean rivers and improve their quality of life through facility maintenance and river environment improvement.”
Seodaemun-gu Promotes ‘No Plastic Hongjecheon! Resident Action Campaign’
On World Water Day, Over 100 Volunteers Participate Along Hongjecheon
Seodaemun-gu (District Mayor Lee Seong-heon) held a resident action campaign titled ‘No Plastic Hongjecheon!’ on the afternoon of the 22nd, World Water Day, along the Hongjecheon area.
The campaign was organized by the Seodaemun-gu Volunteer Center together with residents to spread a volunteer culture where residents are the main actors in protecting ecological environments and the value of nature.
About 100 people, including 70 volunteers, employees of the Seodaemun-gu Urban Management Corporation, and environmental action members, participated in ‘plogging’ activities, running and collecting trash.
Starting from the Hongjecheon Waterfall Square, participants on Course 1 went to Sacheon Bridge and back, while those on Course 2 went to Pobang Bridge and back, cleaning up discarded trash and plastics along the way.
They also cleaned rainwater drains and conducted a campaign for ‘No Plastic Daily Practice and Proper Disposal.’
Lee Seong-heon, Mayor of Seodaemun-gu, said, “I expect this small but important resident action movement for the Earth to function as a virtuous cycle for ecological environment improvement and restoration.”
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