Why Did the Auditor General Receive an Award for the Seongdong-gu Utility Pole Relocation Project to Improve Traffic Convenience?

[Seoul District News] Seongdong-gu Leads Nationwide with Korea Electric Power Corporation and KT Public-Private Partnership for Utility Pole Relocation Project; Selected as Model Case and Awarded Audit Commissioner Commendation in 2021 Audit Service Regular Inspection... Eunpyeong-gu Wins Grand Prize in Senior Welfare Awards... Jongno-gu Launches Spring 'Old Waste Intensive Collection' Campaign

Last month, the utility poles were removed from the school route in front of Oksu Station near Okjeong Elementary School.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) has been recognized by the Board of Audit and Inspection for its contribution to preventing safety accidents in the ‘Relocation Project of Utility Poles Causing Traffic Inconvenience’ and was selected as a model case in the regular audit and awarded the Commissioner’s Commendation.

The Board of Audit and Inspection conducted a regular audit of Seongdong-gu’s overall institutional operations from April 29 to May 21 last year. During this process, the Board evaluated Seongdong-gu’s ‘Relocation Project of Utility Poles Causing Traffic Inconvenience’ as significantly contributing to resolving residents’ traffic inconveniences and creating a safe school commute environment.

In the audit result notification, the Board stated, “Local governments have only sent official letters requesting the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) and KT to relocate utility poles without actively making efforts to consult with related agencies and stakeholders.” It added, “In contrast, Seongdong-gu decided to take an active stance in conflict resolution and actively participated in persuading stakeholders, including residents of the relocation sites, who had been left to KEPCO and KT, thereby facilitating smooth relocation of utility poles.”

Since 2019, Seongdong-gu has been actively promoting the utility pole maintenance project, which was considered impossible due to the complex entanglement of relocation sites and cost burdens. It solved the issue through public-private cooperation with KEPCO and KT for the first time nationwide, drawing attention as a win-win cooperation model.

In this process, in April 2019, the district signed a ‘Utility Pole Relocation Implementation Agreement’ with the ‘KEPCO Gwangjin Seongdong Branch,’ providing relocation sites and promptly processing road occupancy and excavation permits while bearing part of the relocation costs (Seongdong-gu 30%, KEPCO 70%).

In September of the same year, it persuaded ‘KT Metropolitan Northern Customer Headquarters Gwangjin Branch’ to bear 50% of the communication pole relocation costs and signed a ‘Communication Pole Relocation Implementation Agreement’ that included prompt permit processing and joint response to civil complaints.

Currently, Seongdong-gu is carrying out a five-year project until 2023 to maintain a total of 150 utility poles around school routes, having relocated and removed 90 poles over the past three years (2019?2021).

Through such proactive administration, the district has secured pedestrian safety, especially for elementary school routes, receiving great support from residents and saving a total budget of 467 million KRW.

This year, the district plans to maintain a total of 30 utility poles around 17 school routes, starting with Okjeong Middle School’s school route, followed by Geumok Elementary School, Seongsu Elementary School, and others.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “Relocating utility poles was considered administratively impossible, but as we prioritized residents’ safety and carried out proactive administration, we were recognized as a model case by the Board of Audit and Inspection.” He added, “I especially thank KEPCO and KT for their active cooperation with Seongdong-gu’s efforts.”

Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) announced that it won the ‘Grand Prize’ at the 1st Senior Welfare Awards hosted by the Korea Senior Citizens Association on the 23rd of last month.

The Senior Welfare Awards were established this year by the Korea Senior Citizens Association Central Committee to discover and award local governments that have contributed to improving senior welfare and have supported affiliated federations, branches, and senior centers.

Eunpyeong-gu received excellent evaluations for its efforts to promote the development of the Korea Senior Citizens Association Eunpyeong Branch and enhance senior welfare, including remodeling the district-run Saejanggol Senior Center for zero-energy transition and supporting branch activity expenses and vehicle repair costs.

The district also stood out in senior job projects. This year, about 4,800 seniors participate in Eunpyeong-gu’s senior job programs, making it the most active among Seoul’s autonomous districts. Approximately 1,000 seniors are engaged in social service-type projects such as Silver Clean Bell (school cleaning) and Silver Bell Fence (park patrol) under the Eunpyeong Branch. In April last year, the Eunpyeong Senior Job Center was opened to meet the increasing demand for senior jobs.

Meanwhile, the Korea Senior Citizens Association Eunpyeong Branch will relocate to a more comfortable place. It plans to use part of the space in the youth housing in Daejo-dong, scheduled for completion in December this year. The vacant space from the branch’s move will be used by the adjacent Eungam Jeil Senior Center. This is expected to help foster a healthy leisure culture for seniors.

Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, said, “It is an honor to receive the grand prize in the first year of the Senior Welfare Awards by the Korea Senior Citizens Association.” She added, “I hope this will be an opportunity for Eunpyeong-gu and the Korea Senior Citizens Association Eunpyeong Branch to cooperate more closely and develop into a pivotal organization for advancing senior welfare in our district.”

Jongno-gu has launched an ‘Intensive Collection of Old Waste’ campaign from the 28th of last month until the 24th of this month to provide residents with a pleasant living environment.

This initiative aims to support residents, who have been staying indoors longer due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and limited outdoor activities, in cleaning up their homes inside and out ahead of the new spring season.

Accordingly, each neighborhood will install containers at major points to serve as intermediate collection sites for timely waste collection. Last year, about 75 tons of waste were collected through the installation of large waste containers.

Items that can be disposed of in the large waste containers include waste flowerpots and rubber items that are difficult to dispose of in volume-based waste bags. However, food waste, large household waste, and waste electronics (refrigerators, washing machines, TVs, etc.) are not accepted. For schedules and related inquiries, residents should contact their local community service centers.

Additionally, during the intensive collection period, the district plans to collect waste abandoned in commercial areas, residential alleys, vacant lots, and hillsides. Residents familiar with the local area, community leaders, and community service centers will identify places causing discomfort to nearby residents and damaging the cityscape, which will then be handled by the dedicated cleaning department.

Meanwhile, Jongno-gu has been vigorously conducting a ‘New Spring Cleaning’ every spring to thoroughly remove accumulated grime from every corner of the city. This cleaning includes internal and external maintenance of public offices and major facilities, as well as road washing to reduce fine dust.

The district also carries out continuous cleaning activities throughout the community, such as cleaning sidewalks dirtied by calcium chloride used during winter, striving to provide residents with a healthy urban environment.

A district official said, “We hope residents take this opportunity to thoroughly clean old waste and create a fresh and pleasant home environment.” He added, “We will conduct regular patrols and continuously maintain areas where waste has been dumped, such as vacant lots and slopes.”

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