Jongno-gu Promotes 'Adding More Chairs' for Non-Face-to-Face Rest Spaces

Increased Resident Demand for Outdoor Non-Face-to-Face Rest Areas in the City Due to Prolonged COVID-19... Creating a Restful Jongno... Project Combines 'Donation-Type' with Voluntary Citizen Participation and Department-Led 'Public-Type'

Donation Benches for Parks, Available in 1- and 4-Person Sizes

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Jongno-gu (Mayor Kim Young-jong) is promoting the 'More Benches Project' to create a resting space in Jongno, as residents' demand for outdoor non-face-to-face resting spaces in the city center has increased due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

This project, which has been underway since August to expand resting spaces for socially vulnerable groups such as the elderly and disabled, as well as residents, combines a 'donation type' involving voluntary citizen participation and a 'public type' conducted by each department of the district office.

For the donation type, it was decided to proceed with a citizen participation policy that considers and creates citizens' memories (anniversaries) together in Jongno.

Accordingly, considering the installation locations and donation amounts, the bench designs will be diversified from single-seat to three-seat benches, and inscriptions such as well-wishes desired by donors will also be reflected on the benches.

Regarding the official name of the donation benches, a contest was held for all district office employees from the 12th to the 18th of last month, and 'Your Seat' was finally selected.

It carries the meaning of 'a bench you donate and use, a comfortable resting space for your neighbors (you)'.

Jongno-gu plans to link the More Benches Project with key district projects currently underway, such as urban emptying, healthy city, and garden city. Through this, benches will be installed in necessary locations, and surrounding environment maintenance will be organically coordinated simultaneously.

Mayor Kim Young-jong quoted Professor Yoo Hyun-joon of Hongik University, a humanistic architect, saying, "The dignity of a city depends on the number of benches per unit area," and stated, "We aim to actively promote this project to relieve residents' fatigue caused by social distancing and to allow comfortable rest anytime and anywhere. We will strive to realize a dignified city based on policies that ensure residents' health and happiness."

Donation Bench for 2.4 Persons for Park Use

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