"Buttocks Stay Warm"... Gangdong-gu Installs Heated Chairs and More at 160 Bus Stops

Gangdong-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Lee Soo-hee) announced on the 9th that it is operating cold-weather convenience facilities such as heated chairs and smart eco shelters at 160 bus stops within the district.

Gangdong-gu Smart Eco Shelter. Provided by Gangdong-gu.

Before the onset of severe cold this winter, the district additionally expanded cold-weather convenience facilities at a total of 23 bus stops, including the bus stop at Exit 1 of Amsa History Park Station. Accordingly, this year the district operates 153 heated chairs, 10 windbreak shelters, and 7 smart eco shelters at a total of 160 bus stops.

The cold-weather convenience facilities were installed based on on-site conditions such as the number of users per stop, sidewalk width, and electrical connections. Heating and warming functions operate during bus service hours (4 a.m. to 2 a.m. the next day) to allow residents using the stops to safely and comfortably warm themselves. The district plans to conduct regular inspections and maintenance of the installed facilities.

The most widely installed convenience facility to warm users is the heated chair, with 22 additional units installed compared to last winter, totaling 153 in operation. It automatically activates when the outside temperature drops below 15 degrees Celsius. The surface temperature is maintained at a warm 38 degrees Celsius, helping residents wait for buses comfortably during winter.

There are 7 smart eco shelters operating in Gangdong-gu. The interior temperature is maintained at 26 degrees Celsius, and they provide various conveniences to bus stop users, including Bus Information Terminals (BIT), air purifiers, and wired/wireless chargers.

Windbreak shelters are installed at 10 nearby idle sites around bus stops to protect residents from biting winds. They are temporarily operated until March next year when the weather warms up and will then be removed.

Jung Young-hwan, Head of the Transportation Administration Division of Gangdong-gu, said, “Through these cold-weather convenience facilities at bus stops, we hope residents can use public transportation safely and conveniently even in the cold winter. We will continue to expand related projects to cover bus stops where facilities have not yet been installed this year.”