"Smoky Flavor on a Faded Chair"... Employee Solves 1.4 Billion Won Project with 2 Million Won

Painting alone costs 200 million KRW
Self-repair work has been underway since last January

Over many years, the faded seats of the Yangsan Sports Complex were restored through the idea of an on-site employee, completing a project originally costing 1.4 billion KRW for just 2 million KRW. On the 24th, the Yangsan City Facilities Management Corporation announced that, based on an idea proposed by an employee last year, they carried out repair work on about 20,000 seats at the Yangsan Sports Complex, saving 1.4 billion KRW in replacement costs.

Built in 2002, Yangsan Sports Complex is a representative landmark of Yangsan, hosting various local events and the Provincial Sports Festival. However, over the years, the bleachers have faded and become an eyesore.
[Photo by Yangsan City Facilities Management Corporation YouTube Channel]

Built in 2002, the Yangsan Sports Complex is a representative landmark of Yangsan, hosting various local events and the Provincial Sports Festival. However, over the years, the seats had faded and become an eyesore. The Yangsan City Facilities Management Corporation planned to replace the seats, but the cost was an issue. Replacing all 22,000 seats would cost about 1.4 billion KRW, and even just repainting would require a budget of around 200 million KRW.

At that time, an employee came up with an idea. It was Deputy Manager Jeong Gyeong-ho of the Yangsan City Facilities Management Corporation. He suggested applying the principle that plastic returns to its original color when heated. This is the 'principle of restoring the original color of plastic when heated.' It is a flame treatment technique where heating plastic restores its original color by reversing molecular structure changes caused by ultraviolet rays and other factors in thermoplastic materials.

The corporation also produced a video capturing this scene.
[Photo by Yangsan City Facilities Management Corporation YouTube Channel]

The Facilities Management Corporation staff tested this method on some seats and observed the condition for seven months, confirming no issues. Since January, they have been actively conducting in-house repair work on about 20,000 faded seats. Currently, about 80% of the process is complete.

The corporation also produced a video capturing this process. In the video, an employee sits in the sports complex eating Jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles). Feeling something is lacking, he says, "The Jjajangmyeon tastes so bland. Sir, please add some fire flavor." Then Deputy Manager Jeong, standing nearby, replies, "I'll add some fire flavor for you," and uses LP gas to change the color of the chair. The video ends with the promotional phrase, "Nation's first! Restoring the original color of 20,000 seats at the sports complex."

The cost of the restoration process was reported to be about 2 million KRW, reducing the originally estimated project cost by 99.85%. Deputy Manager Jeong Gyeong-ho, who proposed the idea, said to the media, "I brought a household torch I had and tested it lightly on one spot, and the color came out really well, just like in the video. I was surprised." He added, "Since the corporation staff work on it whenever they have time, it should be finished by around March," and said, "Our staff are working hard behind the scenes, so we hope citizens use the facilities safely."