Myeongdong Spring Cleaning... Ready to Welcome Tourists

Over 260 Residents, Groups, and Officials Gather in Myeongdong on the 18th for Joint Public-Private Cleanup
Kim Gil-seong, Jung-gu Mayor, Rolls Up Sleeves to Clean Trash Cans and Wash Streets Together
Efforts to Create Safe and Clean Myeongdong Streets Ahead of Myeongdong Festival on the 26th

Kim Gil-seong, Mayor of Jung-gu, is cleaning the Myeongdong street with a vacuum cleaner.

Myeongdong has completed its spring cleaning and is now fully ready to welcome tourists.

On the morning of the 18th, a high-pressure water truck and a street cleaning vehicle appeared in Myeongdong, Jung-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Kim Gil-seong). First, all the trash on the streets was removed, and then the ground was thoroughly washed with water. The cleaning area covered a total of 600 meters, from Exit 6 of Myeongdong Station, past the Myeongdong Art Theater, to the Tourist Police Information Center.

Jung-gu Mayor Kim Gil-seong also participated in the cleaning work for an hour. He rolled up his sleeves to wash around the street trash bins and scrubbed the contaminated ground with soap and brushes.

A total of about 260 residents and officials took part in the cleaning that day. Public and private sectors, including welfare associations, the Barugesalgi Council, merchants' associations, the Myeongdong Tourism Special Zone Council, Lotte Department Store, Myeongdong Police Station, and the Model Drivers Association, all mobilized. Thanks to the cooperation of merchants, the removal of street obstructions and vehicle control were carried out smoothly.

In February, Myeongdong suffered from excessive trash due to a surge in foreign tourists. Since then, Jung-gu's proactive response has shone. Jung-gu increased cleaning personnel in Myeongdong and raised the frequency of trash monitoring and collection during nights and weekends. To prevent illegal dumping caused by a lack of trash bins, volume-based waste bags were also provided to each street store.

The ‘Myeongdong Festival’ will be held from the 26th of this month to May 6th. Various events are planned, and the district expects a significant increase in foreign visitors during this period.

Jung-gu Mayor Kim Gil-seong stated, “The number of tourists visiting Myeongdong has recently recovered to pre-COVID-19 levels,” adding, “Jung-gu will pay even more attention to the tourism environment in Myeongdong so that visitors can stay safely and comfortably in this world-renowned tourist destination.”