Playing Baseball, Soccer, Tennis, and Golf at Anyangcheon... Yeongdeungpo-gu Completes 'Anyangcheon Comprehensive Sports Belt'

[Seoul Autonomous District News] Completion of 'Comprehensive Sports Belt' from Anyangcheon Yanghwa Bridge to Yangpyeong Bridge... Adult and Youth Baseball Fields, Tennis Courts, Soccer Fields, Park Golf Courses, and Parking Facilities Established... Seodaemun-gu Completes Improvement Projects for Sinchon Baramsan Mobility Facilities... Gangdong-gu Accelerates Creation of Sangil-ri Manse Square... Yangcheon-gu Develops 'Jiyangsan Meditation Forest Path and Jiyang Village Playground' in Onsu Park... Jungnang-gu Installs Smart Security Lights in 187 Single-Person Household Dense Areas... Jung-gu Pil-dong and Chunghyeon Senior Centers Renovated with Universal Design... Gwangjin-gu Conducts Prompt Snow Removal Operations

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yeongdeungpo-gu (Mayor Chae Hyun-il) has transformed the area along Anyangcheon from Yanghwa Bridge to Yangpyeong Bridge into a premium comprehensive sports belt featuring two baseball fields, an artificial turf soccer field, a park golf course, and tennis courts.

The sports belt spans a total area of 55,000㎡. Construction began in January 2019, and with a budget of approximately 6.1 billion KRW, including national, city, and district funds, the project was completed in September 2021.

In 2019, the baseball fields and park golf course were established. Last year, the reed field 2 artificial turf soccer field and hard court tennis courts were completed. This year, a 150-space parking lot, reed field 3 artificial turf soccer field, and an athletics track were finished and are now open to users.

The baseball fields include one adult baseball field of 8,374㎡ and one youth baseball field of 5,425㎡. To prevent safety accidents, net fences and back nets were installed around the baseball fields. The ground was covered with loam, and artificial turf was laid on the pitcher's mound to create an environment suitable for baseball games.

The park golf course covers a total of 15,000㎡ with 18 holes installed. Natural grass was laid on the ground to give the feeling of putting in a natural setting.

The reed field 2 soccer field is 7,593㎡, and reed field 3 is 8,500㎡. Reflecting user preferences, 55mm artificial turf, which reduces injury risk, was installed. Notably, reed field 3 meets international standards with dimensions of 100m in length and 64m in width, and lighting facilities were installed to support nighttime sports activities.

Additionally, a two-lane athletics track was created around the soccer fields to allow for various recreational sports.

The hard court tennis courts were built according to international standards, measuring 23.77m in length and 10.97m in width. The space between courts is 4.66m, and there is a 6.52m clearance behind the baseline, focusing on creating an open and spacious playing environment.

Going forward, the district plans to maintain the sports belt by installing outfield lighting for the baseball fields, adding more parking spaces, improving sidewalks, enhancing vehicle access roads, and strengthening safety facilities.

Yeongdeungpo-gu Mayor Chae Hyun-il stated, “We have worked hard to create the Anyangcheon comprehensive sports belt so that residents can enjoy various ball games in nature. Through meticulous and swift expansion of sports infrastructure such as waterfront walking trails and convenience facilities, we will do our best to help residents enjoy a healthy daily life and leisurely leisure activities at Anyangcheon.”

Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Moon Seok-jin) announced on the 22nd that it recently completed improvement projects including mobility facilities as part of the Sinchon Baramsan landmark project in the area of Changcheon-dong 4-55.

Baramsan is a highland located between Sinchon Station on Subway Line 2 and Sinchon Station on the Gyeongui-Jungang Line, where Changcheon Neighborhood Park and Baramsan Children's Park are situated.

The district began construction in mid-May this year and installed an elevator and pedestrian bridge here. This allows all citizens, including the elderly and disabled, to conveniently access Baramsan.

The district also created a cultural deck and exhibition space, planted trees and grass, and plans to operate the area as a space where culture flows throughout the four seasons.

Seodaemun-gu Mayor Moon Seok-jin said, “Since the area offers excellent views and accessibility has improved through this project, I hope Sinchon Baramsan will develop into a cultural and artistic landmark in Seoul, like Montmartre Hill in Paris, France.”

Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Jung-hoon) announced that it is actively constructing the ‘Sangil-ri Manse Plaza,’ which embodies the historical significance and symbolism of the March 1st Movement.

Scheduled for completion in January next year, the ‘Sangil-ri Manse Plaza’ around the waterfront park at 511 Sangil-dong is being created to commemorate the fierce manse (long live independence) protests by about 1,000 local residents near the military police station (around 259 Sangil-dong) during the March 1st Movement and to carry on its spirit.

The plaza will feature a decorative wall and symbolic sculptures depicting the March 1st Movement history, as well as convenience facilities such as stone walls, benches, and a mirror pond for relaxation.

The decorative wall will include explanations about the background, progress, and significance of the March 1st Movement, along with quotes from independence activists and poems by prominent nationalist poets representing the Japanese colonial period. It will also showcase the achievements of independence activists who led the independence manse movement around the old Gucheon-myeon Sangil-ri (now Sangil-dong) area and photos reflecting that era.

At the mirror pond, a sculpture symbolizing the hopeful future development of the nation freed from shackles and trials through the manse movement will be installed. The sculpture will represent the nation stretching out after the manse movement and the hope blossoming on a tree.

The district plans to hold commemorative events every March at the Sangil-ri Manse Plaza to honor the spirit of the independence manse movement that occurred in Sangil-ri, making it a historical landmark embraced by all local residents.

Gangdong-gu Mayor Lee Jung-hoon said, “The March 1st Movement is a history that our nation must never forget. Going forward, the district will diligently promote the creation of a space that remembers the sacrifices of patriotic martyrs for liberation and honors the spirit of the independence movement.”

Appearance After Creating the Play Garden

Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) announced the completion of the ‘Jiyangsan Meditation Forest Trail’ and ‘Jiyang Village Play Garden’ at Onsu Park in Sinwol 7-dong.

The section of the ‘Jiyangsan Meditation Forest Trail’ located at Sinwol 7-dong 350-53 and 350-55 is part of Onsu Park land purchased with a Seoul city budget of 2.8 billion KRW through the ‘Neighborhood Back Mountain Park Project’ in 2016 and 2018. Originally, it was used as a hiking trail leading to the summit of Jiyangsan Gukgibong, but after the creation of the Jiyangsan barrier-free forest trail, the usage frequency of this section relatively decreased.

Accordingly, Yangcheon-gu secured a Seoul city budget of 500 million KRW to clear dead trees and other debris in the valley area between the barrier-free forest trail and Gukgibong. They planted 38,540 trees of three species, including pink spider lilies, creating a cluster of spider lilies. Every August to September, the beautifully blooming pink spider lily cluster from the deck rest area and stairs toward the valley will create a spectacular view.

Additionally, a ‘Meditation Garden (deck)’ connected to the Jiyangsan barrier-free forest trail and a ‘Forest Health Rest Area’ where visitors can exercise while breathing fresh air were created. Based on this, the previously quiet area was reborn as the pleasant resting space called ‘Jiyangsan Meditation Forest Trail.’

Moreover, the district secured an additional 100 million KRW from the Seoul city budget last November to replace the worn-out flooring of the Onsu Park Jiyang Village children's playground located behind the Jiyang Senior Citizens’ Room with bright colors. Adjacent vacant land was landscaped to create the ‘Jiyang Village Play Garden.’ This fresh forest-themed play space is expected to bring small daily joys to local residents.

For more details about Yangcheon-gu’s park development projects, inquiries can be made to the Parks and Greenery Division.

Yangcheon-gu Mayor Kim Soo-young said, “We expect the spider lily cluster to bloom fully next summer, beautifully coloring the slopes of Jiyangsan. We will continue to manage the Jiyangsan area, a representative mountainous park in Yangcheon-gu, so that it can serve as a walking and resting space for local residents.”

Installation of Smart Security Lights

Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi) installed smart security lights in safety-vulnerable areas to provide residents with a bright and safe walking environment instead of dark and secluded alleys.

The district installed smart security lights at 187 locations around Sangbong Station and Myeonmok Station, areas densely populated by single-person households, to assist safe nighttime commuting and prevent potential crimes, thereby eliminating safety blind spots.

Smart security lights are LED security lights equipped with IoT (Internet of Things) technology. Notably, they can be linked with the Ansim-i app, allowing users to shake their smartphones in emergencies to make the lights flash and immediately notify the local integrated control center and police precinct.

This rapid on-site response, combined with flashing lights alerting nearby pedestrians, enables effective recognition of dangerous situations and assistance.

The smart security light installation project, with a total budget of 160 million KRW, began replacing old security lights in October and was fully completed by December.

Jungnang-gu Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi said, “We expect the smart security lights, which provide a safe walking environment through IoT technology, to alleviate residents’ anxiety when using alleys late at night. We will continue to do our best to create an environment where residents can live with peace of mind.”

Jongno-gu completed the construction of an ‘Intelligent Selective Surveillance System’ this month and will actively use it from January next year to protect residents’ safety and solve local issues.

The selective surveillance system is an intelligent service that uses AI-based video analysis technology to detect movements of people, vehicles, animals, and other objects appearing on screen. When it identifies elements posing a risk to citizen safety, it prioritizes displaying related footage to surveillance operators.

Unlike traditional visual monitoring, it enables high-speed searches, minimizing the time needed to find incident footage and improving object recognition accuracy and efficiency.

Jongno-gu was selected in February this year as the lead institution for the ‘Advanced Information Technology Utilization Public Service Promotion Project’ hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. It secured 600 million KRW in national funds and added 400 million KRW from its own budget to finance the project. After planning in March, the district completed contractor selection, service design, site selection, and field surveys analyzing floating populations, culminating in the system’s completion.

The district has been installing new CCTVs annually, considering the area's characteristics such as high floating population, concentration of tourist attractions, entertainment districts, and shantytowns. As of November 2021, about 1,700 CCTVs monitor various locations within the district.

With the addition of the selective surveillance system, from 2022 onwards, monitoring personnel, police officers, and related agencies will be able to quickly grasp situations and take follow-up actions, significantly contributing to crime prevention. Besides reducing crime rates and increasing arrest rates, it is expected to reduce monitoring gaps, lower staff fatigue, and improve concentration.

Furthermore, the system will help promptly address illegal parking near major tourist spots and contribute to eradicating smoking in no-smoking zones, creating a pleasant street environment.

Jung-gu (Mayor Seo Yang-ho) announced on the 21st that it has renovated elderly welfare facilities by applying universal design.

Universal design refers to designs that create products or environments easily usable by anyone regardless of gender, age, cultural background, or disability.

The district is prioritizing facility improvements based on the aging level and user numbers among 23 district-run senior centers. Following the renovation of Jangchung Senior Center in March, this time, Pildong Senior Center and Dasan-dong Chunghyeon Senior Center were selected.

Universal design was applied to the interior and exterior facilities of the senior centers, which had many safety hazards due to aging, creating a safe and comfortable environment for the elderly.

First, ramps and safety handrails were installed at entrances to allow easy access for wheelchair and walker users. A canopy was installed at the entrance to protect against bad weather, and automatic doors replaced manual ones to enable effortless entry and exit for seniors.

The old and dull main and middle entrance colors were changed to warm and stable beige tones, and furniture was matched in the same tone to create a brighter atmosphere. Pictogram-based signboards were installed in corridors and stairways to enhance both design and visibility.

To prevent falls, safety handrails and anti-slip pads were installed on all stairs. The most deteriorated space, the restroom, was completely renovated, including doors, washbasins, and toilets, and an emergency bell was installed to prepare for urgent situations, transforming it into a safe and pleasant space.

The district gathered residents’ opinions through workshops and briefings and applied universal design with expert consultation.

Jung-gu Mayor Seo Yang-ho said, “We will continue to expand facility improvement projects so that all elderly residents in the district can use senior centers safely and comfortably.”

Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Sun-gap) has taken swift snow removal measures to minimize inconvenience to residents caused by heavy snowfall.

Upon the issuance of a heavy snow warning on the 18th, anticipating inconvenience to residents, the district declared snow removal stage 2 duty as of 9 a.m. on the 18th, deploying 297 personnel for emergency duty.

To proactively respond to heavy snow, saltwater and calcium chloride were pre-applied mainly on 19 vulnerable routes including Jayang-ro. From 3:30 p.m., when heavy snow intensified, snow removal was conducted on all routes.

Snow removal used 28 snow removal vehicles and 274 tons of deicing agents to prevent ice formation in vulnerable areas such as temporary screening clinics, steep slopes, village bus routes, and subway stations, and to ensure lane visibility to prevent traffic accidents.

Additionally, to ensure residents’ smooth Monday morning commutes, personnel from community centers, the cleaning department, and mobile teams worked hard on residual snow removal and frequent patrols.

Gwangjin-gu Mayor Kim Sun-gap said, “All staff united to protect the district safely from disasters such as typhoons and heatwaves. We will focus all efforts on preparing for upcoming heavy snow and cold waves through the Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters to ensure residents can live warmer and safer.”

Earlier, starting November 15, the district opened the Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and designated the snow removal period from November 15 to March 15, operating the headquarters in full.

801 snow removal personnel were assigned, and 340 snow removal boxes, 1,200 tons of deicing agents, 2,300 shovels, 2,000 brooms, and 2,000 scrapers were secured at community centers and subway station entrances.

Vulnerable areas are intensively managed with route-specific responsibility systems, and during snowfall, deicing agents are pre-applied in priority order: vulnerable areas, main roads, sidewalks, and side roads.

For rapid initial snow removal in vulnerable areas, automatic remote liquid sprayers and mobile automatic remote sprayers will be actively used in steep areas and places difficult for snow removal vehicles to access.

Also, as part of the ‘Clear Snow in Front of Your Home and Store’ campaign, 6kg calcium chloride packets are produced and distributed free to residents. This allows residents and merchants to easily apply deicing agents, reducing pedestrian accident risks during snow and cold waves, and has been well received since last year.

Curves Madle Club (CEO Park Jin-sook) members delivered 1,000kg of white rice to the Jeongneung 1-dong Community Service Center to support vulnerable groups in Jeongneung-dong.

Curves Madle Club is a women-only fitness club known for annually visiting neighbors in need dressed as Santa Claus to practice sharing.

On the 21st, members personally delivered 1,000kg of rice to elderly living alone and vulnerable households. The rice was collected through members’ contributions. To comply with COVID-19 prevention guidelines, staff from the Jeongneung 1-dong Community Service Center also rolled up their sleeves to help.

At Santa’s visit, the elderly were initially surprised but soon received the rice with happy expressions like children. Elder Kim** (76) said, “When someone wearing a Santa hat came to my house to deliver rice, it reminded me of receiving gifts from Santa Claus in my childhood, and I was moved to tears.”

Park Jin-sook, CEO of Curves Madle Club, said, “I personally spent my childhood in Jeongneung-dong. Although circumstances were difficult, it is a place full of happy memories. Sharing rice with the elderly felt like returning to that time, warming my heart. We will continue various sharing activities for vulnerable elderly in Jeongneung-dong.”

Seongbuk-gu Mayor Lee Seung-ro expressed gratitude, saying, “During these challenging times due to COVID-19, I thank Curves Madle Club for sharing and bringing joy with Santa costumes to neighbors in need.”

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