Oh Sehoon Inspects Sindang-dong Project Site
214 Steps Equal to 11 Floors to Be Replaced by Elevator Next Year
100 Steep Staircases Across Seoul to Become Barrier-Free by 2030
Seoul City's "Companion City" project, which aims to convert 100 steep staircases into barrier-free paths with elevators and other facilities, is gaining momentum. Starting with the selection of five priority sites for the "Community Customized Mobility" project in the first half of this year, Seoul City plans to add ten more sites by the end of the year.
On the morning of August 22, Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon visited one of the installation sites, located in Sindang-dong, Jung-gu (in front of Cheonggu Village Square, Sindang-dong 842-6), to inspect the site. The Cheonggu Village Square, which he visited, is a representative "densely populated highland area" around Namsan, connecting Cheonggu-dong to the Namsan Footpath. Currently, there are 214 steps installed on a steep slope of 113 meters and over 33 degrees, equivalent to the height of an 11-story building. About 2,000 people use the stairs each week, and a redevelopment project for 1,200 households is also underway nearby.
Seoul City is carrying out the "Companion City" project to convert 100 steep staircases into barrier-free paths such as elevators. The photo shows one of the priority sites for the "Customized Local Transportation" installation, located in Sindang-dong, Jung-gu (in front of Cheonggu Village Yard, Sindang-dong 842-6). Seoul City
At the site, Mayor Oh stated, "During the Jung-gu New Year's meeting in February, I received requests from residents to install an elevator, which has been a long-standing wish for the community. To alleviate citizens' inconvenience as soon as possible, we promptly pushed forward with the administrative process," adding, "Once the elevator is installed, all residents will be able to move comfortably, and everyone will be able to visit Namsan, a local point of pride, without inconvenience."
Mayor Oh also met directly with about 20 citizens, including the resident who proposed the elevator installation. He said, "We will continue to communicate with residents from the pre-construction stage, introducing vibration-free and noise-free construction methods to minimize inconvenience during the work." He added that the existing stairs would be maintained for residents who use them for exercise.
Currently, about 40% of Seoul's terrain consists of hilly areas at least 40 meters above sea level, while "mobility-impaired" individuals, such as the elderly and people with disabilities, now account for more than one in four Seoul citizens (28.3% as of 2023). In response, in August last year, Seoul City established a "Community Customized Mobility Installation Plan" to ensure that everyone can access highland areas conveniently and safely. In June of this year, the city selected and announced the first five priority sites: Junggok-dong in Gwangjin-gu, Hwagok-dong in Gangseo-gu, Bongcheon-dong in Gwanak-gu, Sungin-dong in Jongno-gu, and Sindang-dong in Jung-gu.
Seoul City plans to convert 100 steep staircases across the city into barrier-free paths with elevators and other facilities by 2030. The public competition for residents to propose sites for the second phase of the project is scheduled for September, and after on-site reviews of the proposed locations, the results will be announced at the end of this year.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
