Jongno-gu Establishes 'Comprehensive Plan for Cultural Heritage Safety Management'
Jongno-gu (District Mayor Jeong Munheon), known as a cultural heritage hub representing Seoul, is launching a full-scale campaign this year to ensure the safety of cultural assets using Internet of Things (IoT) technology. There are a total of 479 cultural heritage sites in Jongno-gu, accounting for nearly 24% of Seoul's entire cultural heritage (2,055 sites), with 80 of these directly managed by the district.
In January this year, Jongno-gu established the Cultural Heritage Division and began building a smart and systematic safety management system. In particular, the district formulated the "2024 Comprehensive Plan for Cultural Heritage Safety Management" and plans to focus administrative efforts on proactive responses to crimes such as graffiti vandalism and arson.
Safety inspections are conducted through 24-hour patrols, expanding the patrol scope beyond the interiors of cultural heritage sites to include external facilities to prevent incidents like graffiti at Gyeongbokgung Palace from recurring. Security guards are stationed at Heunginjimun Gate and nationally designated important cultural heritage sites to prevent unauthorized intrusion and damage, and these are linked with crime prevention and disaster prevention systems for 24-hour intensive monitoring.
Special inspection teams are formed to focus on damage and the operation of security facilities during the thawing season, flood and wind disasters, holiday periods, and winter. Regular joint inspections are conducted with district employees, security guards, and the Cultural Heritage Care Project Center. Minor issues are corrected immediately on-site, and if serious risk factors are found, prompt measures are taken in cooperation with the Cultural Heritage Administration and Seoul City.
A disaster prevention IoT system will be pilot-introduced for wooden cultural heritage sites. This is to ensure that in case of emergencies, the system immediately connects to the real-time control center to avoid missing the golden time. Infrared detection cameras will also be installed in blind spots of closed-circuit television (CCTV) to strengthen security functions.
District Mayor Jeong Munheon emphasized, "We will not only proactively respond to incidents and accidents but also expand cultural heritage utilization policies for the residents."
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