Cold Wave Approaches!...Winter Preparation Measures in Yeongdeungpo-gu and Songpa-gu

Yeongdeungpo-gu Launches 'Comprehensive Winter Measures'... Songpa-gu Prepares Early for Winter... Snow Removal Measures Initiated

Seoul's autonomous districts have begun preparations for the cold wave.

This is because forecasts predict that this winter will be very cold following an unusually hot summer.

Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo District, checking the snow removal equipment (right)

Yeongdeungpo-gu to focus on four key areas: cold wave, snow removal, safety, and daily life management for four months starting November 15

Significant expansion of cold wave mitigation facilities including the establishment of an integrated control system for heated and cooled chairs, and strengthened support for vulnerable groups

Yeongdeungpo-gu (Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) announced that it will officially implement the “2024/2025 Winter Comprehensive Plan” focusing on four key areas: cold wave, snow removal, safety, and daily life from November 15 to March 15 next year.

With a strong cold wave predicted this winter, the district will operate a three-level emergency work system to respond immediately to emergencies and strengthen measures centered on protecting vulnerable groups and preventing safety accidents.

To prepare for the cold wave this year, the district will expand cold wave mitigation facilities by operating 27 cold wave shelters and 30 heated tents, and will additionally install 69 heated chairs at bus stops, operating a total of 126 heated chairs. Furthermore, it will establish and operate an “Integrated Control System for Heated and Cooled Chairs” to remotely adjust operating hours and temperature for systematic maintenance.

Support and protection for vulnerable groups will also be expanded. Winter supplies will be provided to 300 low-income energy-vulnerable households, and emergency support for winter fuel costs will be increased to ease heating expenses. The “Support for Installation of Eco-friendly Home Boilers” program will be expanded from existing recipients and near-poverty groups to include multi-child households with basic median income below 70% and social welfare facilities, realizing universal energy welfare. Additionally, health management visit services will be strengthened for about 5,100 people including elderly living alone and those with mobility difficulties to carefully monitor their health during winter.

To respond swiftly to sudden heavy snowfall, a “Snow Removal Countermeasures Headquarters” will be operated, initiating stepwise emergency duty. The district plans to install additional road heating cables at five snow removal vulnerable sections this year to enable rapid initial response during snowfall. It will also provide real-time winter safety guidelines and lifestyle information to residents through the district website, SNS, and local community talk reporters.

To prevent winter safety accidents such as fires and pipe bursts, the district will strengthen on-site inspections of safety-vulnerable facilities including construction sites, vacant houses, multi-use facilities, and gas supply and usage facilities. To prevent food poisoning, a permanent emergency duty system will be maintained, and hygiene inspections will be conducted on high-consumption food manufacturing and sales businesses during specific periods such as kimchi-making season, Christmas, and year-end holidays to create a safe food environment.

Continuous monitoring will also be conducted to fully prevent cold-related illnesses and infectious diseases.

The district will establish daily life measures in each area to minimize residents’ daily inconveniences. It will collect kimchi-making waste, fallen leaves, and other household garbage promptly, strengthen street cleaning to maintain street aesthetics, and create a pleasant environment. It will also work to establish proper commercial order by inspecting price tag compliance and cracking down on unfair trade practices.

Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, said, “As an unprecedented cold wave is expected this winter, we will implement a more strengthened comprehensive plan than last year to fully protect our residents,” adding, “We will thoroughly prepare so that everyone can spend a safe and warm winter without any residents being left out.”

Seok Sang-seok, Mayor of Songpa District, is working on snow removal together with residents.

Songpa-gu ▲Operation of 9 major road heating cable sites ▲6 automatic liquid spraying devices

Snow removal equipment pilot operation training conducted…inspection of snow removal material spreaders

Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) announced that it has established a comprehensive snow removal plan for the 2024/25 winter season and will begin special duty for four months.

To respond to heavy snowfall caused by abnormal weather, the district has set up a Snow Removal Countermeasures Headquarters and will deploy 1,671 public officials from November 15 to March 15 next year to operate a 24-hour emergency duty system according to situations.

In particular, the district focused on preventing slip accidents among residents this year.

First, by using ▲riding-type small snow removal vehicles, it will meticulously cover areas where conventional snow removal vehicles cannot operate, such as park and stream walking trails and public parking lots. Riding-type small snow removal vehicles will be allocated to community service centers and the Songpa-gu Facilities Management Corporation to improve snow removal work efficiency and enhance resident safety in preparation for snowfall.

Additionally, for snow removal vulnerable sections, the district operates ▲a total of 9 road heating cable sites and ▲6 automatic liquid spraying devices as part of a smart remote snow removal system. Road heating cables to prevent snow accumulation were newly installed at 4 major uphill roads in the district. Next year, the district plans to expand installation of heating cables to 3 roads with steep slopes where slip accidents are a concern.

Moreover, on the 7th, the district conducted a ▲“Snow Removal Equipment Pilot Operation Training” at Tancheon Parking Lot.

About 70 snow removal staff from the district office and community service centers participated in this training, inspecting over 30 snow removal equipment including multipurpose road management vehicles. They also conducted operational training by directly spreading snow removal materials, completing thorough preparations for snow removal work.

Furthermore, through the “Clear Snow in Front of My House and Store” campaign, the district plans to create a safe road environment together with residents. To facilitate smooth snow removal work, 98 houses storing calcium chloride and 67 snow removal boxes have been prepared for easy use by residents. The locations of nearby snow removal boxes can be checked on the Seoul Safety Nuri website.

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, “We will do our utmost to ensure thorough snow removal measures by mobilizing all administrative power not only to minimize residents’ inconvenience caused by heavy snowfall in winter but also to prevent safety accidents.”