Proactive Response to Threats such as Ground Subsidence, Heat Waves, and Isolated Households
"Resident Safety Depends on Local Governments on the Front Lines"
Geumcheon District in Seoul is striving to become a "safe city" by adopting advanced technologies and customized policies to address various everyday threats such as ground subsidence, heat waves, and socially isolated households.
Yuseonghoon, head of Geumcheon District Office, is inspecting the site related to the sinkhole. Provided by Geumcheon District Office.
To prevent ground subsidence accidents resulting from increased underground development in urban areas, the district is currently conducting subsurface cavity inspections using ground-penetrating radar (GPR). By last year, the district had surveyed 484 kilometers, discovered 127 voids, and completed their restoration. This year, additional inspections are being carried out on 80 kilometers of roadways and 20 kilometers of sidewalks.
Additionally, Geumcheon District operates an integrated closed-circuit television (CCTV) monitoring system and AI-based intelligent selective monitoring through its U-Integrated Operation Center, enabling rapid response to incidents, accidents, and disasters. This center has been selected as the "Best Monitoring Center" by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency for four consecutive years since 2021. In the first half of this year alone, it achieved 10 real-time criminal apprehensions and handled 7,368 monitoring responses.
Policies to protect vulnerable groups have also been strengthened. Last year, the district introduced an AI CCTV-based pedestrian warning system at school zones, providing right-turning vehicles with pedestrian alerts and enhancing the safety of school routes. This year, the district plans to further secure children's safety by installing additional AI-powered CCTV cameras.
To prevent social isolation and solitary deaths, the district is implementing the "With U" project, which uses AI to identify welfare blind spots and connects them to the district's support system, thereby reinforcing everyday safety nets. In addition, six types of resident safety insurance policies are being operated: resident safety insurance, bicycle insurance, youth military service injury insurance, storm and flood insurance, public liability insurance, and insurance for mobility devices for people with disabilities and seniors.
The district is also focusing on responding to natural disasters caused by abnormal weather. It has expanded heatwave mitigation facilities such as smart shades, special roof treatments (cool roofs), and fine water mist sprays (cooling fog). The district also operates 94 cooling centers, 9 public bathhouses, and 17 water play areas to provide practical spaces for rest.
To protect residential areas adjacent to mountainous regions from heavy rainfall, the district has developed and patented the nation's first "valley waterway smart dredging system (rainwater collection device)." This system quickly removes sediment accumulated in valley waterways during heavy rain, thereby preventing flood damage.
Yuseonghoon, head of Geumcheon District Office, stated, "It is no exaggeration to say that the safety of residents depends on local governments that meet residents on the front lines," adding, "I will do my utmost to make Geumcheon a safe place where residents can live with peace of mind."
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