Seongdong-gu 'Seumas Shelter' Surpasses 1 Million Annual Users... What's the Secret?

Seongdong-type Smart Shelters: 7 More Added in First Half of Year, Total 28 Operated; Used as Heatwave Shelters... Convenience Facilities like Electric Blinds, Verticals, Wind Visors Added for Proactive Heatwave Response

Smart Shelter Installed in Front of Wangsimni Station

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) has gained great popularity as a heat shelter protecting public transportation users from heatwaves by utilizing the 'Seongdong-type Smart Shelter,' which was introduced nationwide for the first time.

Since its first installation in August last year, the cumulative number of users has exceeded 1 million, reaching a total of 1,063,853. Especially with the recent ongoing heatwaves, the number of users has increased further, with 217,186 people using the shelters in July alone, more than double the 93,318 users in the previous month.

By the end of July, Seongdong-gu added 7 more smart shelters at locations including Haengdang Station and in front of Seongdong-gu Sports Center, currently operating a total of 28 smart shelters.

The installation cost is approximately 100 million KRW per unit.

The 7 newly added locations were selected comprehensively based on big data of bus usage across Seongdong-gu, analysis of floating populations, and the current status of smart shelter installations by neighborhood.

The 'Seongdong-type Smart Shelter' is a future-oriented bus stop that integrates the unique functions of bus stops with cutting-edge Internet of Things (IoT) technology and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

In particular, to prepare for this summer's heatwaves, remote-controlled electric blinds and vertical blinds, insulation films, and windvisors (non-powered windmills that help internal air circulation) were additionally installed inside the shelters. One resident said, "Waiting for the bus for even one minute in midsummer is very tough, but it's great to be able to wait comfortably in the smart shelter."

The electric blinds and vertical blinds can be remotely controlled from the 'Smart City Integrated Operation Center' located on the 5th floor of Seongdong-gu Office, depending on the direction of sunlight and the angle of the sun for all 28 smart shelters.

Additionally, insulation films were attached to the exterior glass of the shelters to minimize the entry of hot sunlight, and windvisors were installed to promote air circulation inside the smart shelters, maximizing cooling efficiency.

Furthermore, the internal air circulation structure of the smart shelters was modified to allow selection between internal or external air circulation, improving the ventilation system which is a weak point of enclosed facilities, thereby enhancing temperature maintenance inside and outside as well as continuous ventilation for improved quarantine functions.

Last year, the smart shelter was selected as the number one most satisfying project among smart inclusive city policies chosen by Seongdong residents (30.8%), and in May, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport designated Seongdong-gu as a 'Lighthouse City' for the expansion of smart solutions. Consequently, 13 local governments have jointly benchmarked major projects such as smart shelters and smart crosswalks, continuing Seongdong-gu's role as a leader in smart cities.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, stated, "The Seongdong-type Smart Shelter is a space that realizes the value of a smart inclusive city where no resident is excluded or discriminated against and everyone can enjoy smart services in daily life." He added, "We will continue to provide smart inclusive services that incorporate smart technology so that anyone can safely and conveniently enjoy administrative services close to their daily lives."

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