Seoul City Restructures Old Park Worker Rest Areas... Rest Area per Person Increased from 2.2 to 3.4㎡

Customized Improvements for Aging and Poor Rest Areas in Five Parks Including Cheonho Park and Boramae Park

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] With the Serious Accidents Punishment Act set to be enforced in January next year and growing interest in preventing industrial accidents and improving working conditions for workers, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 4th that it has restructured the rest areas for workers in five parks under the Eastern Park and Greenery Office.

The rest area per worker was expanded from an average of 2.2㎡ to 3.4㎡. The break rooms that were previously located in secluded underground areas have been improved to above-ground facilities with sunlight, and spaces that were used interchangeably as storage and rest areas have been separated according to their purposes. Aging facilities such as sagging floors were improved through remodeling. Privacy is protected with external screens, and outdoor spaces for light exercise have also been provided.

Seoul explained that it surveyed the weaknesses and problems of rest facilities in each park and collected opinions from the workers who actually use them to create customized rest facilities where workers can rest with peace of mind. The expansion of rest areas is also expected to help maintain social distancing among workers during the COVID-19 era.

The five parks where facility improvements were made are Cheonho Park, Yulhyeon Park, Eungbong Park, Boramae Park, and Gildong Ecological Park. Except for Gildong Ecological Park, where construction will be completed this month, the other four parks have all completed facility improvements.

First, Cheonho Park had a poor rest area located in a temporary shed used as a library building basement and material storage, but now a new 27㎡ above-ground rest facility with sunlight has been built, allowing workers to rest more comfortably. In front of the rest area, an outdoor yard exclusively for workers has been created where they can do light exercise and physical training.

Yulhyeon Park renovated the interior of the rest room, which had been poor due to floor sagging and odors caused by plywood decay, and installed external screens to protect workers' privacy. An additional outdoor rest area of 553㎡ was also created. Eungbong Park had a rest room, storage, and shower facilities all in one space, making it inconvenient to rest properly. The city built new facilities to completely separate spaces by purpose, making them more convenient to use. Boramae Park relocated the workers’ rest room, which was located by the park road, to a safe and independent space and carried out interior remodeling to improve the working environment.

The rest area in Gildong Ecological Park was divided into temporary shelters on both sides of Cheonho-daero (11 lanes) crossing the park. Seoul plans to integrate the separated rest areas into one independent rest room by the end of this month so that workers can use it safely.

Park Mi-ae, head of the Seoul Eastern Park and Greenery Office, said, “We will create a park that makes both workers and park users happy by improving workers’ rest facilities, making parks?which have become the biggest resting places for citizens during the COVID-19 era?more pleasant and clean spaces.” She added, “We will continue to lead changes in awareness regarding workers’ right to rest and create an environment where workers can rest comfortably.”

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