Dongdaemun-gu, Full Effort for 24-Hour Seamless Winter Care

Operation of Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters 24 Hours Until March 15 Next Year... Minimizing Resident Inconvenience Through Advanced Snow Removal... Implementing 19 Unit Projects in 4 Areas: Snow Removal, Cold Wave Measures, Inconvenience Resolution, and Safety Accident Prevention

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor You Deok-yeol) has designated a four-month comprehensive winter plan period until March 15, 2021, to ensure a warm and safe winter season. The plan includes 19 unit projects across four areas: ▲snow removal and traffic measures ▲protection of low-income vulnerable groups and cold wave countermeasures ▲alleviation of residents' inconveniences ▲prevention of safety accidents and fires.

With the mayor as the head, the Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters is composed of 55 members across eight teams: ▲Situation Management General Team ▲Traffic Measures Team ▲Disaster Site Environmental Maintenance Team ▲Facility Emergency Recovery Team ▲Emergency Living Stability Support Team ▲Social Order and External Cooperation Team ▲Administrative Support Volunteer Team ▲Disaster Recovery Public Relations Team, operating a 24-hour emergency duty system.

Starting from midnight on the 24th, as social distancing is raised to Level 2, Dongdaemun-gu maintains a 24-hour emergency quarantine duty system linked with infectious disease management personnel and the duty office to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and organizes epidemiological investigation and quarantine mobile duty teams for operation.

To minimize residents' inconvenience through rapid initial snow removal, the district operates snow removal patrol squads and three snow removal operation bases, introduces screening devices to enhance the recycling effect of snow removal agents, installs safety cutters to prevent accidents, and establishes an advanced snow removal system by linking existing security and multipurpose CCTVs for monitoring.

Additionally, in vulnerable areas of each neighborhood, the district expands private snow removal service sections and actively encourages residents such as community leaders, members of functional organizations, and volunteers to voluntarily participate in snow clearing. In case of heavy snowfall, it also establishes and operates a joint snow removal system involving civilian, government, and military support by receiving equipment and manpower from military units.

Furthermore, when a heavy snow warning is issued, all sanitation workers switch to an emergency duty system, focusing snow removal efforts on places frequently visited by residents such as bus and taxi stops, subway station entrances, and side streets.

Meanwhile, amid the ongoing economic downturn and increasing vulnerable groups, Dongdaemun-gu actively promotes the Bodeumnuri Project, a Dongdaemun-style welfare system, to ensure that marginalized groups in blind spots can spend a warm winter. The project includes monthly visits or welfare check-in calls to address welfare needs and actively supports neighbors in need through the Hope Ondol Warm Winter Campaign.

In particular, during winter, as the number of homeless people increases around Cheongnyangni Station and parks, a special patrol team operates frequent patrols to actively encourage facility admission or arrange for their return home, ensuring that no one dies from exposure.

During the winter kimchi-making season, the district actively promotes proper kimchi waste disposal methods through its website, newsletters, and local newspapers, and promptly collects kimchi waste around kimchi markets and alleyways to prevent accumulation.

Moreover, to prevent fires and various safety accidents common in winter, safety inspections are conducted targeting large construction sites and buildings, traditional markets, social welfare facilities, large stores, and gas and oil handling facilities. Minor issues are immediately addressed on-site, while matters requiring expertise are referred to the relevant institutions for inspection.

You Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, stated, “We will focus administrative efforts on protecting residents' health and safety and preventing inconveniences by thoroughly preparing for COVID-19 prevention and snow removal measures. We will also pay closer attention to ensuring that vulnerable neighbors can spend a safe and warm winter.”

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