Yeongdeungpo District Cleans Up Street Vendors and Illegal Storage in Daerim-dong, Improving Pedestrian Environment

6,792 Cases Addressed
Continuous Management System Established for Both Weekdays and Weekends

Yeongdeungpo District in Seoul (District Mayor Choi Hokwon) has carried out intensive maintenance of the streets in the Daerim-dong area, which were previously congested with illegal street storage, street vendors, and advertisements, creating a pleasant and safe pedestrian environment for both residents and visitors.

Street in Daerim-dong after maintenance. Provided by Yeongdeungpo District.

The area around Daerim Station and Daerim Central Market is always bustling with people on both weekdays and weekends, resulting in a vibrant commercial district. However, the outdoor displays by nearby shops have caused pedestrian and vehicle paths to overlap, leading to ongoing safety concerns.

In response, the district designated this area as a focused maintenance zone in February this year and began full-scale improvements. Before starting the maintenance, the district held several meetings with the police, fire department, local residents’ groups, organizations of Chinese residents, and the merchants’ association to discuss improvement measures tailored to the area’s unique characteristics and to build consensus. In addition, the district enhanced advance publicity by putting up banners about enforcement, distributing information leaflets to each store, and conducting joint public-private campaigns such as “Making Daerim-dong Streets Pleasant,” encouraging voluntary participation from merchants and residents.

To strengthen on-site management, six dedicated personnel were permanently assigned to the maintenance section, and two new guard posts were installed, establishing a continuous management system for both weekdays and weekends. During the maintenance process, voluntary compliance was encouraged first, and for repeated violations, administrative actions such as fines were imposed to enhance effectiveness. For items stored on private property, where legal action is difficult, the district promoted voluntary improvement through ongoing consultations with property owners and merchants.

As a result, from February to October this year, a total of 6,792 cases of street storage and street vending were addressed, transforming the section from Exit 12 of Daerim Station to the entrance of Daerim Central Market into a much more pleasant and spacious street, unlike its previously crowded state. A district official stated, “Since the maintenance, accidents between pedestrians and vehicles have significantly decreased.”

Meanwhile, the district continues to promote resident-focused initiatives to create a safer and more pleasant living environment in Daerim-dong, including the “Daedongdankyeol” cleaning campaign (keeping Daerim-dong neat and clean), expanding crime prevention infrastructure, and increasing the number of bicycle racks.

Choi Hokwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo District, said, “I would like to thank the merchants and local residents for their cooperation in restoring order to the streets,” and added, “I hope everyone will continue to actively participate with the district in making Daerim-dong a pleasant neighborhood.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.