"Fairness Between Gangnam and Gangbuk Should Also Be Considered"
Gangbuk District in Seoul plans to establish a 'Residential Maintenance Basic Plan' within this year, reflecting local characteristics and needs, to improve aging residential areas and expand public facilities.
Soonhee Lee, mayor of Gangbuk District, is delivering a greeting at the 'Residential Maintenance Basic Plan Public Hearing.' Provided by Gangbuk District.
As part of the process, Gangbuk District announced on July 4 that it held a total of five public hearings for residents by June 26 to gather opinions for the establishment of the Residential Maintenance Basic Plan and actively listen to the voices of local residents.
The establishment of the Gangbuk District Residential Maintenance Basic Plan is the first project of its kind to be pursued by a basic local government in Korea. The recent public hearings were organized to share the plan's direction and key contents with residents and to find effective maintenance strategies together.
During the hearings, explanations were provided on the characteristics and current issues of Gangbuk's residential areas, the basic concept and project methods by maintenance type, and customized plans by neighborhood and small living zones. A survey was also conducted to assess demand for daily convenience facilities.
The public hearings were divided into five regions, with a total of 416 participants including local block leaders, members of the residents' self-governing committee, project implementers, and residents. Many residents expressed the need to consider various regulations such as scenic districts and to address fairness between the Gangnam and Gangbuk areas.
In addition, there were various suggestions related to urban landscapes, such as securing view corridors and skylines, as well as proposals for improving and expanding transportation infrastructure, in addition to the expansion of daily social overhead capital (SOC).
In Gangbuk District, more than 70% of all buildings are over 30 years old, indicating that the overall residential environment is aging. The district also faces a relative shortage of living infrastructure such as roads, parking lots, and parks.
In response, the district has determined that it is urgent to secure long-term urban competitiveness through structural improvements across residential areas and to establish a systematic maintenance plan tailored to local conditions. For this reason, work on the Residential Maintenance Basic Plan has been underway since April of last year.
Soonhee Lee, mayor of Gangbuk District, stated, "This year marks the 30th anniversary of the opening of Gangbuk District Office, and it is a turning point for preparing for the next 30 years," adding, "This Residential Maintenance Basic Plan will serve as a blueprint not only for improving aging residential areas but also for expanding public facilities and achieving balanced urban development."
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