Seongdong-gu Childcare Center Smart Air Purification System Introduction

District introduces IoT-based fine dust automatic control 'Hybrid Air Purification System' in daycare centers... Integrated monitoring system enabling real-time air quality status check via smartphone also established

Seongil Kindergarten children are having a class with their teacher in a classroom equipped with a fine dust ventilation system.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) is fully introducing a ‘Hybrid Air Purification System’ that automatically controls fine dust using the Internet of Things (IoT) to all district-run daycare centers.

Last October, the district installed a total of nine hybrid air purification ventilation systems on the windows of the first and second-floor childcare rooms at Seongil Daycare Center in Seongsu 1-ga-dong, becoming the first in the nation to do so.

A circular sensor above each window changes color from red to green and operates continuously, automatically turning on and off according to fine dust and carbon dioxide concentration levels to manage air quality. Even on days when opening windows is difficult, it filters outside air and sends it indoors, automatically adjusting fine dust and indoor carbon dioxide levels. It operates with heat recovery, resulting in significant energy savings.

A district official said, “As fine dust issues worsened, last year we received full investment from a private company to pilot the hybrid ventilation device,” adding, “It received explosive positive responses from parents who were sensitive to fine dust.”

Building on the successful pilot operation, the district decided to introduce the hybrid air purification system to all district-run daycare centers in the area.

First, in May, the system was installed in 11 rooms across three floors at Wangsimni Hana Daycare Center. In addition to the existing automatic ventilation function, an integrated monitoring system was established so that parents and district officials can check indoor air quality conditions such as fine dust, carbon dioxide, temperature, and humidity via a smartphone application at a glance.

The district office can now manage the air quality situation of daycare centers in real time, and parents can verify that their children are safely attending daycare.

Kim Jin, director of Wangsimni Hana Daycare Center, said, “Despite the COVID-19 situation, 60-70% of the children are attending due to emergency childcare,” adding, “Parents are very pleased to see real-time safe management of air quality issues such as fine dust and viruses like COVID-19.”

Additionally, the district has installed IoT indoor air quality sensors in a total of 81 daycare centers to strengthen monitoring and has set up ‘Smart Gyms’ in 44 daycare centers to support children who find it difficult to play outside due to fine dust or heatwaves, allowing them to engage in physical activities indoors.

A hybrid air purifier with a ventilation system automatically activated in conjunction with an IoT sensor according to fine dust concentration levels

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “Parents continue to face difficulties sending their children to daycare safely due to COVID-19 and fine dust,” adding, “We will strive to create a safe environment in daycare centers by applying various methods including 4th industrial revolution technologies to reduce fine dust, and actively promote local government-level, lifestyle-based fine dust countermeasures tailored to the characteristics of each target group.”

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