Jongno-gu Launches 'Bench Deo Nohgi Project'... Expanding Contactless Rest Areas

Expanding Rest Areas for Socially Vulnerable and Residents and Creating a Restful Jongno with 'Donation-Type' Benches Based on Voluntary Participation of Companies and Citizens Since August, and 'Public-Type' Benches Conducted by Each District Office Department

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Jongno-gu (Mayor Kim Young-jong) is promoting the 'More Benches to Rest Project' in response to the increasing demand from citizens for outdoor non-face-to-face resting spaces in the city 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 residents and to create a restful Jongno, operates both a 'donation type' based on voluntary participation from companies and citizens, and a 'public type' conducted by each department of the district office.

The official name of the bench is 'Your Seat,' meaning 'a chair you donate and use, a comfortable resting space for your neighbor (you).'

To this end, the district office held a contest for all employees in August.

Currently, companies, organizations, and citizens who sympathize with Jongno-gu's 'More Benches to Rest Project' are steadily participating, and by the end of this year, 45 benches will be installed at 26 locations within the district, creating warm resting spaces in the city for neighbors.

The bench designs vary from single to triple seats, considering the installation location and donation amount, and nameplates with various inscriptions such as well-wishes desired by donors are also attached to convey the meaning of the donation.

So far, donations for bench production have been made by ▲ SM Gold Exchange Gold U ▲ Jongno-gu Sports Council ▲ Samcheong-dong ▲ Gyo-nam-dong ▲ Sungin-dong residents, and earlier this month, Sampo Group collaborated with Amorepacific and Decrete (a UHPC design company) to produce and donate eight benches, which have been installed in local parks and other areas.

The donated benches are especially notable as they are eco-friendly upcycling benches made using Sampo Group's ultra-high-performance concrete materials and plastic cosmetic containers provided by Amorepacific.

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