No Worries About Severe Cold Wave!... Seongdong-gu Implements Thorough Cold Wave Measures

Comprehensive Winter Cold Wave Measures Fully Implemented to Ensure All Residents Stay Warm and Safe Despite Severe Cold; 24-Hour Cold Wave Situation Room Operated... Expansion of 48 Cold Wave Shelters, Operation of 139 Smart Heating and Cooling Chairs, 41 Ongginuriso Facilities, and Other Community-Based Cold Wave Mitigation Facilities... Smart Snow Removal Systems Including 51 Road Heating Lines and 41 Automatic Brine Sprayers Activated, Facility Safety Inspections, and Protection for Vulnerable Groups

Seongdong-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jung Won-oh) announced that it will fully implement a comprehensive winter cold wave countermeasure to ensure that all residents can spend a warm and safe winter despite the severe cold wave.

Since November last year, the district has been operating a 24-hour cold wave situation room to respond step-by-step, focusing its administrative capabilities on the cold wave. It is focusing on 25 projects in five areas: health environment, cold wave measures, snow removal measures, safety measures, and convenience measures. The district is actively preparing for safety accidents and disaster situations that occur during winter such as heavy snow and cold waves, while aiming to protect vulnerable groups and minimize cold wave damage.

In particular, special efforts are being made to reduce the cold wave impact that can be felt in daily life.

First, in addition to 20 “cold wave shelters” including 17 dong community centers and 3 locations such as Seongdong, Seongsu, and Dokseodang Chaekmaru, the district will operate a total of 48 cold wave shelters by adding 28 “Seongdong-type smart shelters.”

“Smart cooling and heating chairs” are also operated to warm residents waiting at bus stops. A total of 139 “smart cooling and heating chairs” are installed in the area; when the waiting temperature drops below 20℃, the automatic heating function activates, maintaining a surface temperature of 40℃ to protect transportation-vulnerable people from the cold wave. Additionally, 41 “On-gi Nuri-so,” vinyl tent-type cold shelters, are installed near bus stops with high foot traffic to block cold winds.

In the event of sudden heavy snow, a smart snow removal system operates to protect residents’ safety. Since November last year, the district has added 11 locations with smart remote snow removal systems called road heating cables on steep slopes, operating a total of 51 locations covering 9.44 km of road heating cables. Automatic brine spraying devices, which install nozzles at regular intervals along roads and automatically spray eco-friendly liquid de-icers to melt snow when it falls, are also operated at 4 locations covering 1.64 km.

Furthermore, the district is conducting thorough safety inspections of multi-use facilities such as public hygiene businesses, sports facilities, public facilities, and traditional markets to prepare for winter fires.

Close-to-life welfare services for vulnerable groups are also continuously implemented. To prevent winter vulnerable groups from being isolated, the district conducts welfare checks on about 3,000 elderly living alone and uses 46 types of crisis information based on big data, such as unpaid water bills, gas bills, and maintenance fees, to identify neighbors in need of help.

Ongginuri Center

Also, through an agreement with the post office, welfare information is sent by registered mail to households suspected of being in crisis, and vulnerable groups are intensively monitored through on-site visits and investigations.

Mayor Jung Won-oh said, “We are thoroughly preparing so that residents can spend a safe and warm daily life without worry despite the cold wave,” adding, “We will continue to protect a happy and safe daily life with disaster response measures closely connected to residents’ lives that everyone can feel.”