Yangcheon-gu Opens 2.7km Shinjeongsan Dulle-gil Trail... Mapo-gu Begins Renovation of 'Seongjung-gil' Road

[Seoul District News] Yangcheon-gu Completes Sinjeongsan Dullegil, a Healing Space Satisfying Five Senses by Walking, Seeing, Hearing, and Feeling; 15-Minute Park Zone, Forest, Path, and Village Connected Three-Dimensionally... 390m Road Widened, 90m Section Replaced with Palm Mat Wooden Deck... Seodaemun-gu Opens 'Chingurang' Neighborhood Care Centers 5th and 6th Branches... Eunpyeong-gu Continues Dense Fine Dust Reduction Measures

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) announced that it has completed the Sinjeong 3-dong Sinjeongsan Dullegil (2.7km), a customized response strategy for the post-COVID-19 era, and has opened it to the public.

Sinjeongsan, also known by various names such as Gyenam Park and Janggunbong, is a representative nearby mountain in Yangcheon-gu. Compared to other mountains, it is close to the Mokdong urban area and adjacent to surrounding villages, making it highly frequented by local residents.

Especially in the recent situation where indoor leisure activities are greatly restricted due to COVID-19, the linear Sinjeongsan Dullegil minimizes face-to-face contact while providing daily healing, attracting attention as a customized local attraction in the post-COVID-19 era.

Constructed over seven years since 2016, the Sinjeongsan Dullegil is a total of 2.7km long, connecting Nammyung Elementary School, Darakgol, Jangsu Elementary School, Jeongnang Hill, Multipurpose Gymnasium (Infant Forest Experience Center), and back to Nammyung Elementary School, allowing a comprehensive tour of Sinjeongsan (40 minutes to 1 hour for adults).

Main sections include ▲2.4km of barrier-free deck road ▲0.3km of dirt trail ▲rest areas.

Additionally, the area around the newly opened Dullegil boasts fresh forest clusters such as Quercus dentata (Daewang Oak), maple trees, and Bokjagi trees. Also, distinctive facilities such as ▲Janggunjeong at the top of the park ▲Senior Zone ▲Infant Forest Experience Center ▲Outdoor stage will provide unique enjoyment to residents visiting the Dullegil.

Furthermore, under the vision of ‘a 15-minute park zone accessible anytime, by anyone,’ the district plans to improve the guidance system to enhance visibility at park entrances, making it more convenient for citizens to use the Dullegil. In addition, customized cultural programs suitable for a healing space that satisfies all five senses?walking, seeing, hearing, and feeling?will be operated beyond a simple walking course.

Kim Soo-young, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, said, “I hope the newly opened Sinjeongsan Dullegil will become a healing space that comforts the tired bodies and minds of residents,” and added, “We look forward to many residents visiting the Sinjeongsan Dullegil, full of various joys.”

Mapo-gu (Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun) has started a project to create Seongjung-gil (from Seongjung-gil 24 to World Cup Buk-ro 233) as a healing and themed walking trail to establish a healing space within the city.

According to the ‘2020 Walking Travel Survey’ conducted by the Korea Tourism Organization, interest in ‘walking travel’ increased by 43.3% after COVID-19, and ‘walking travel paths’ ranked first as preferred outdoor tourist destinations at 50.4%.

The district plans to renovate Seongjung-gil, designated as one of the ‘96 Seoul Autumn Foliage Spots’ in 2021, where beautiful autumn foliage can be enjoyed thanks to the Metasequoia trees, to meet the walking demand of residents.

Until now, Seongjung-gil has been frequently used by citizens accessing Bulgwangcheon Stream, World Cup Park, World Cup Stadium, and large supermarkets, but there was inconvenience as pedestrians had to step aside when meeting others due to trees on the walkway.

The Seongjung-gil healing and themed walking trail construction project aims primarily to expand the walkway width from the existing 1.2m to 5m over a 390m section and install wooden decks to improve walking convenience. Also, a 90m section previously covered only with palm mats will be replaced with wooden decks.

The project will proceed with detailed design in February, start construction in April, and complete by September. During construction, detour walkways will be installed to minimize inconvenience to residents.

The district expects that upon completion, Seongjung-gil will become a new walking attraction filled with phytoncides emitted by Metasequoia trees, linked with Bulgwangcheon Stream, one of the ‘Top 10 Walking Paths in Mapo-gu,’ within the city.

Yoo Dong-gyun, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, “Through the Seongjung-gil walking trail project, we will offer a place to enjoy autumn foliage and walking this fall,” and added, “Walking is one of the best exercises in the COVID-19 era, so we hope many will use the Top 10 Walking Paths in Mapo-gu.”

Seodaemun-gu Cheonyeon-dong Our Neighborhood Care Center 'Chingurang' Scene

Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Moon Seok-jin) opened the 5th (Cheonyeon-dong) and 6th (Bukgajwa 2-dong) branches of the Our Neighborhood Care Center ‘Chingurang’ on the 24th of last month and the 3rd of this month, respectively, to address the blind spots in after-school care for elementary students and establish a community-centered care system.

‘Chingurang’ is an institution providing elementary student care services near their residence. The district previously opened the 1st branch in Bukgajwa 1-dong in 2019, the 2nd in Yeonhui-dong in 2020, and the 3rd and 4th in Hongje 3-dong and Hong Eun 2-dong in 2021.

The 5th branch in Cheonyeon-dong (28 Dongnimmun-ro, 1st and 2nd floors) is located near Geumhwa Elementary School and consists of 140.32㎡ of care-exclusive area and 90.32㎡ of support area including teacher’s rooms. The capacity is 31 for regular care and 6 for temporary care.

The 6th branch in Bukgajwa 2-dong (2, Jeungga-ro 20na-gil, 2nd floor) is located near Yeonga Elementary School and consists of 100.00㎡ of care-exclusive area and 58.02㎡ of support area including teacher’s rooms. The capacity is 28 for regular care and 6 for temporary care.

Operating hours are from after school to 7 p.m. on weekdays during the school term, and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays during vacations.

The cost is 50,000 KRW per month for regular care and 2,500 KRW per day for temporary care.

Before opening, the Seodaemun-gu Our Neighborhood Care Center Trustee Selection Committee selected the respective trustee corporations and completed remodeling construction.

‘Chingurang’ provides basic care programs such as life safety guidance, meal and snack provision, hygiene and health management, and supports online school learning.

Additionally, to promote balanced growth through a harmony of play and learning, it offers child-led project-based learning (PBL) activities including art, music, cooking, creative activities, and experiential learning.

So far, Seodaemun-gu Our Neighborhood Care Centers have provided ‘emergency care services’ to prevent care gaps due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and have implemented twice-daily temperature checks, once-daily disinfection, and restricted external visitors to prevent infection.

Moon Seok-jin, Mayor of Seodaemun-gu, said, “We will continue to expand Our Neighborhood Care Centers to meet the insufficient demand for elementary student care services.”

Applications can be made through the Our Neighborhood Care Portal, and detailed inquiries can be directed to Chingurang in Cheonyeon-dong and Bukgajwa 2-dong, Seodaemun-gu.

Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) will continue to promote fine dust reduction projects this year to reduce fine dust emissions and create a pleasant living environment.

The main contents focus on five areas and 30 projects: ▲crisis management response system ▲resident participation practice campaigns and protection of vulnerable groups ▲strengthened management of dust-generating workplaces ▲strengthened management in energy and transportation sectors ▲reduction of fine dust around living areas.

Emergency reduction measures are issued when two or more metropolitan areas (Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi) forecast that the average concentration of fine dust (PM2.5) from midnight to 4 p.m. exceeds 50㎍/㎥ on the day and is expected to exceed 50㎍/㎥ the next day.

When emergency reduction measures are issued, the district promptly disseminates the situation via text messages, SNS, and electronic billboards, advises vulnerable groups to refrain from outdoor activities, strengthens road cleaning, reduces operation rates of emission workplaces, shortens and adjusts construction hours, and actively implements departmental measures.

Additionally, various exposure reduction projects are conducted to protect vulnerable groups, including cleaning heating and cooling devices in elementary school classrooms, supporting air purifier operation in daycare centers and senior centers, providing fine dust response education for chronic disease patients and others under intensive management, and consulting on indoor air quality management in multi-use facilities.

The district also implements measures to reduce fine dust caused by dust from construction sites and roads and fuel combustion, which are major domestic sources of fine dust. It plans to strengthen management of dust-generating workplaces and air emission facilities through reduction measures, guidance, inspections, internal cleaning of Eunpyeong Tunnel, and operation of eco-friendly small electric dust suction vehicles in concentrated management zones.

The district strengthens management in energy and transportation sectors. It opened an Energy Cafe to serve as a promotional center and education hall for environmental and energy education and experiences. Smart shelters are installed at 10 bus stops in the area to protect residents’ health from air pollution, cold waves, and heat waves. It also encourages bicycle use by enrolling Eunpyeong residents in bicycle insurance.

Measures to reduce fine dust around living areas include supporting the distribution of eco-friendly boilers for homes, installing plant air purification systems, continuing road cleaning with dust suction and watering vehicles, planting trees in parks and streams, creating eco-friendly tree-lined streets and the Bongsan Cypress Forest Flower Hill, and promoting urban agriculture.

Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, said, “Eunpyeong-gu prioritizes protecting residents’ health from fine dust and is implementing fine dust reduction projects across various fields. We will continue to thoroughly manage fine dust so that residents can live safely and comfortably.”

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