Gwangjin-gu Promotes 'Winter Comprehensive Measures'... Strengthening Resident Protection from Snow Removal to Safety

Operation of 'Winter Comprehensive Measures Period' from the 15th of this month to March 15 next year
Six areas including snow removal, cold waves, and safety... Aiming to prevent various disasters and accidents and minimize inconvenience to residents
Thorough preparations to protect residents through systematic response systems by sector

Gwangjin-gu (District Mayor Kim Kyung-ho) has established a 'Comprehensive Winter Measures' plan to ensure a safe and warm winter for its residents and has begun full-scale implementation.

The district has designated the period from the 15th of this month to March 15th of next year as the winter comprehensive measures implementation period, focusing on six key areas closely related to residents' lives: snow removal, cold waves, fire, safety, health, and livelihood stability, and has prepared specific measures accordingly.

First, to prepare for heavy snowfall during winter, a Snow Removal Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters will be operated. It is composed of 13 task forces led by the district mayor as the head, aiming to minimize residents' inconvenience through rapid initial response based on advance snowfall prediction.

To this end, Gwangjin-gu has further strengthened its snow removal capabilities compared to last year by additionally installing and operating road heating wires and automatic remote spreaders in snow removal vulnerable areas.

Additionally, the district plans to actively encourage residents' voluntary snow removal activities by strengthening publicity for 'Clearing snow in front of my house and my store' and recruiting snow removal volunteer groups.

Cold wave measures for a warm winter for Gwangjin-gu residents will also be promoted. A dedicated TF team for real-time cold wave situation management will be operated, and when a cold wave advisory (such as concerns about large-scale damage) is issued, the Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters will be immediately activated to conduct tailored emergency duties according to the situation.

Moreover, support for public utility fees and heating supplies will help low-income households with winter living, and welfare checks and protection activities will be strengthened for vulnerable groups such as elderly living alone, mobility-impaired individuals, and homeless people.

In addition, 72 locations including senior centers and welfare centers in the area will be set up as cold wave shelters, and health management for vulnerable groups during winter will be reinforced using care personnel and visiting nurses in each of the 15 neighborhoods.

Gwangjin-gu will also operate a wildfire prevention countermeasures headquarters to prepare for winter fire occurrences. Proactive wildfire prevention activities will be conducted, such as removing wildfire risk factors in advance through real-time monitoring and intensively patrolling wildfire-prone areas. In particular, a separate response duty will be carried out to prevent wildfire risks when North Korean trash balloons drift into the area.

In the safety sector, the focus will be on safety management of construction sites and multi-use facilities, preparing for various winter accidents. Thorough safety inspections will be conducted not only on housing construction sites and road/traffic facilities but also on public facilities such as parks and sports facilities in areas with high foot traffic.

The district will also strengthen efforts to respond to infectious diseases and prevent food poisoning. Especially, a rapid response team will be operated for immediate response to infectious disease outbreaks to enhance the surveillance system. Furthermore, inspections and guidance will be conducted at facilities prone to food poisoning during the year-end and New Year period, such as food service establishments, to create a safe environment from winter food poisoning.

Finally, Gwangjin-gu has prepared measures to stabilize residents' lives during winter. Intensive collection of fallen leaves will be carried out until January next year, with free collection services provided for places generating large amounts of fallen leaves such as apartments and schools.

Also, a special collection period for kimchi-making waste will be operated until the end of this year, and patrols and crackdowns will be strengthened in areas with frequent illegal dumping to maintain clean and pleasant alleyways.

In addition, efforts will be made in residents' economic life areas, including operating a price countermeasure team for winter price safety management, promoting the use of reasonably priced stores, and conducting surveys of essential goods and price labeling system inspections in preparation for the Lunar New Year holiday.

Kim Kyung-ho, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, said, “We have prepared and are implementing a more substantial comprehensive plan this year to prevent various winter disasters and accidents and minimize residents' inconveniences. Gwangjin-gu will concentrate all its capabilities to thoroughly implement sector-specific measures so that all residents can spend a warm and safe winter.”