Joye-ran, Gwangju City Council Member, Raises Issue of Implementing Pedestrian-Centered Snow Removal Policy Amid 117-Year Heavy Snowfall

Free Speech at the 3rd Plenary Session of the 2nd Regular Meeting

Jo Ye-ran, Chairperson of the Urban Environment Committee of Gwangju City Council in Gyeonggi Province, mentioned the inconvenience caused to citizens by the record-breaking heavy snowfall during a free speech at the 3rd plenary session of the 2nd regular meeting held on the 11th, urging a thorough inspection and improvement of Gwangju City's disaster safety prevention and management system.

Councilor Jo Ye-ran of Gwangju City Council. Photo by Gwangju City Council

Councilor Jo stated, "Safety can never be overemphasized," and pointed out, "From November 26 to 28, Gwangju City experienced a heavy snowfall of 43.7 cm, paralyzing road traffic and causing power outages, which greatly inconvenienced citizens." She requested a thorough disaster safety prevention system, including checking the stock of snow removal agents in each eup, myeon, and dong, as well as reviewing the winter disaster management manual.

In particular, Councilor Jo emphasized, "Due to snow removal work focused mainly on roads, sidewalks used by pedestrians have been neglected, threatening the safety of the elderly and children," and proposed designating special management zones for pedestrians and expanding snow removal equipment for alleys and sidewalks.

Meanwhile, during the 2nd plenary session, Councilor Jo urged the review of plans to utilize the 24 public and communal cemeteries in Gwangju City, which are fully occupied, not only as memorial sites but also as resident convenience facilities. She especially demanded the preparation of concrete implementation measures for Munhyeong-dong communal cemetery, expecting significant benefits as a resident convenience facility given its geographical accessibility and other conditions.

Additionally, she called for the connection of the disconnected section of the Osancheon riverside walking trail in the Neungpyeong-dong area and urged further improvement measures beyond the planned bus bay installation project next year in the Shinhyeon 3-dong area, where pedestrian conditions are poor. In response, Gwangju City stated that it would actively implement plans for utilizing communal cemeteries, improving bus stop facilities and installing sidewalks, and gradually constructing walking trails in the disconnected sections of Osancheon.

Councilor Jo expressed a strong commitment, saying, "I will continue to listen to the voices of each citizen and strive to make Gwangju a safe and pleasant place to live."