Seoul City Strengthens Hygiene Management of Sand Playgrounds in Hangang Parks... Hygiene Management at 12 Locations

Using specialized equipment for sand disinfection 7 times a year, sunlight disinfection more than twice a week, daily routine management implemented

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government's Hangang Project Headquarters announced on the 23rd that it will strengthen hygiene management of sand playgrounds within parks to provide a safe outdoor play space for citizens visiting Hangang Park for everyday relaxation.

Hygiene management of the sand playgrounds is conducted in three stages. First, daily management involves cleaning foreign substances and trash. Next, the sand is turned over and sun-disinfected at least twice a week, and during the spring to autumn seasons when visitor numbers increase, the sand is sterilized using specialized equipment such as high-temperature steam machines.

In particular, due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, disinfection using specialized high-temperature steam equipment will be strengthened and conducted a total of seven times from March to October. Following four times annually in 2020 and six times in 2021, this year’s disinfection will be carried out seven times to enhance hygiene in response to the prolonged pandemic.

Additionally, the Hangang Project Headquarters collects sand annually to conduct separate tests for parasites (eggs) and heavy metals to manage the environmental health risks of the sand playgrounds. Parasite (egg) tests are conducted twice a year (April and August), and heavy metal tests once a year (April), commissioned to the Seoul Institute of Health and Environment.

Through this comprehensive hygiene management, invisible risk factors such as sharp foreign substances and parasite infections caused by wild animal excrement are eliminated, ensuring the safety of children using the sand playgrounds and alleviating concerns about hygiene.

Yoon Jong-jang, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government Hangang Project Headquarters, said, “To create a safe Hangang Park, we will thoroughly manage not only facility disinfection but also hygiene management of sand playgrounds,” and added, “We ask citizens to actively cooperate by following personal quarantine rules such as wearing masks and maintaining social distancing when visiting Hangang Park.”

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