Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City (Mayor Kim Ikang) has secured 238 shared parking spaces by utilizing school parking lots within the district.
On the afternoon of the 10th, Seo-gu Mayor Kim Ikang signed a 'School Shared Parking Lot Agreement' at the Seo-gu Office Nanum Hall with the Gwangju Western Office of Education (Superintendent Kim Jean), Gwangju Sangmu Elementary School (Principal Jo Myeongsuk), Unri Elementary School (Principal Woo Gyeonggeun), Yuchon Elementary School (Principal Seo Seongwoo), and Seoseok Middle School (Principal Na Geumtaek).
Kim Ikang, the head of Seogu District Office, visited Kumho Elementary School to inspect the actual use of the shared parking lot. [Photo by Seogu]
Through this agreement, Seo-gu additionally secured a total of 103 parking spaces: 17 at Gwangju Sangmu Elementary School, 30 at Unri Elementary School, 24 at Yuchon Elementary School, and 32 at Seoseok Middle School.
Previously, last year, Seo-gu secured 135 parking spaces at five elementary and high schools in the district and opened them to residents.
The school shared parking lots are available free of charge to anyone who applies in advance among nearby residents. The opening hours are from 7:00 PM on weekdays to 7:30 AM the next day, within a range that does not infringe on students' learning rights, and they are open 24 hours on weekends and public holidays.
Seo-gu has installed parking control systems at the entrances of school parking lots and supports the maintenance of facilities around the parking lots to ensure students' safety.
Mayor Kim Ikang of Seo-gu said, "It takes an average budget of 140 million KRW and 2 to 3 years of construction to create one new parking space, but by sharing school parking lots last year, we achieved a budget saving effect of 15 billion KRW. I hope that schools and local governments will cooperate for mutual growth to solve local community issues together and work together for education and safety for future generations."
Meanwhile, Seo-gu has secured over 2,100 shared parking spaces through cooperation with schools, apartment complexes, religious facilities, and others. Last year, it was selected as the best local government in the 'Public Resource Opening and Sharing Service Local Government Performance Evaluation' conducted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, securing a special grant of 70 million KRW.
Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Shin Dongho baekok@asiae.co.kr
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