Of the 18,900 Manholes in Seo District,
About 2,100 Have Concrete Covers
Yoon Jungmin, a member of the Gwangju Seo District Council (Democratic Party of Korea), highlighted the dangers of so-called "pink manholes"?concrete manhole covers?during a five-minute free speech session at the 332nd extraordinary meeting held on July 25, and urged for a swift resolution.
Yoon stated, "Recent repeated heatwaves and heavy rainfall have raised concerns about the aging of local infrastructure. In particular, pink manholes, which are manufactured without internal reinforcements such as rebar, are extremely vulnerable to impact. Their damage progresses covertly, posing a threat to public safety."
Currently, there are approximately 18,900 manholes installed in Seo District, of which about 2,100 have concrete covers.
Yoon emphasized, "Even if the surface appears intact, internal corrosion is often in progress, which can lead to unexpected collapse accidents. In fact, there have been a series of accidents nationwide caused by the breakage of pink manholes."
She added, "It is fortunate that replacement work is underway in Seo District based on priority. However, this is still far from sufficient compared to the total number. We must expedite the complete replacement process."
She further stated that until a full replacement is achieved, supplementary measures are essential. These include: the installation of temporary safety devices such as fall-prevention nets; the establishment of a regular inspection system; and the strengthening of reporting channels.
In conclusion, Yoon urged, "We can no longer be complacent with facilities that merely look good on the outside. Do not ignore the dangers beneath our feet, and take proactive measures to make Seo District a truly safe city."
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