Gwangju City Opens 'Swiso' Rest Area for Mobile Workers... Operates 24 Hours

Equipped with Air Conditioning, Refrigerator, and TV for Comfort
Accessible After Registration at the Gwangju Labor Rights Center
Enhanced Safety with Six CCTV Cameras for Monitoring

Gwangju Mayor Kang Kijeong attended the opening ceremony of 'Swiso,' a rest area for mobile workers, which opened in Wolgye-dong, Gwangsan-gu, in the afternoon of the 16th, and participated in the ribbon-cutting. Photo by Gwangju City

A 24-hour rest area for mobile workers exposed to the ongoing heatwave in Gwangju has opened in the Cheomdan District.

The Gwangju City Government established 'Swiso,' a rest area for mobile workers, in the Cheomdan District of Wolgye-dong, Gwangsan-gu, and officially opened it on the 16th. The opening ceremony was attended by Mayor Kang Kijeong, Yoon Jonghae, head of the Gwangju Regional Headquarters of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, Lee Jonguk, head of the Gwangju Regional Headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, as well as about 30 people including substitute drivers and delivery workers.

'Swiso' is a Jeolla dialect word meaning 'please rest,' and serves as a dedicated rest space for mobile workers such as substitute drivers, delivery workers, and quick service drivers who work outdoors without a fixed workplace.

The rest area operates unmanned, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The 99-square-meter facility is equipped with basic amenities such as air conditioning and heating, a refrigerator, chairs and tables, an air purifier, and a TV. In particular, six closed-circuit (CC) TVs have been installed to enable constant monitoring and provide a safe environment for users.

Mobile workers who wish to use the rest area must apply for registration through the Gwangju Labor Rights Center and then register their access via a mobile phone application. Registered users can freely use the facility by tapping their registration card on the entrance reader.

Prior to the official opening, the city conducted a trial operation from July 1 to 13, during which a total of 130 mobile workers registered and the rest area was used by more than 300 people (cumulative). Based on user feedback and utilization rates, the city plans to further improve the operation system and expand the number of users in the future.

In particular, the city will enhance safety by cooperating with the local police precinct and voluntary security patrols for regular patrols. Additionally, a 'rest area guardian' network will be established, consisting of local merchants, residents, organizations, and community activists near the rest area, to ensure a rapid response in emergencies and to enable continuous and stable operation.

Mayor Kang Kijeong stated, "The right to health and rest for mobile workers is no longer a choice but a necessity," and added, "We will continue to reduce blind spots in the labor field and expand policies to provide practical protection of workers' rights and interests."

Meanwhile, the city is also promoting various policies to protect the health of mobile workers and improve their working environment, including providing convenience store coupons, conducting campaigns to prevent heat-related illnesses during the hot season, and supplying safety equipment.