Resumption of Operation of Seoripul Wondu-mak to Protect Residents from Harsh Sunlight

Large Shade Shelters Blocking Harsh Sunlight to Resume Operation from the 30th

10 Additional Locations Compared to Last Year, Total of 222 Sites Operated; Full Inspection Completed for Safety Before Operation Begins

Jeon Seong-su, District Mayor, "We Will Continue to Promote Resident-Centered Administration Such as Seoripul Wondumak"

The large shade shelters called ‘Seoripul Wondumak’ in front of crosswalks that block the scorching sun will be deployed throughout Seocho-gu starting on the 30th to welcome spring.

Seocho-gu’s Seoripul Wondumak is a fixed shade shelter first introduced nationwide in 2015. It has established itself as a resident-centered administrative facility highly praised by residents, and has now become a benchmark for other local governments and private companies, becoming an essential facility for summer heatwave prevention commonly seen across the country.

This year, Seoripul Wondumak will operate at a total of 222 locations, 10 more than last year. They are installed at 198 crosswalks and traffic islands, 14 locations along Yangjaecheon, Banpocheon, and parks, and 10 other cultural facilities. The 10 newly added shelters were installed based on residents’ feedback collected last year.

Seoripul Wondumak

The standard sizes are the general type with a width of 5m and height of 3.5m, and the mini type, mainly installed near village bus stops, with a width of 2.5m and height of 3m.

Seoripul Wondumak became the national standard for shade shelters across Korea by serving as the basis for the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s 2019 ‘Guidelines for Installation and Management of Shade Shelters for Heatwave Prevention.’

Seoripul Wondumak has also received numerous domestic and international awards. It won the ‘Presidential Award’ in the local government category of the 2019 Korea Design Awards, and the ‘Gold Medal’ for excellent innovation cases at the Government Innovation 1st Street hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety in 2020. Internationally, it received the ‘Green Apple Awards,’ Europe’s top environmental award, in 2017, and the ‘Green World Awards’ in 2018. In 2020, it was donated to the sister city Cuauht?moc in Mexico City and installed in a local park.

Jeon Seong-su, Mayor of Seocho-gu, said, “We will actively collect residents’ opinions to establish new Seoripul Wondumak shelters where needed and strive to provide cool shade,” adding, “We will continue to promote resident-centered administration such as Seoripul Wondumak.”