From Bus Stop 'Daebak' to Smoking Booths and Unmanned Shared Rooms...

'Innovation of Space' Seongdong-gu's Experiment
"An Outcome of Adding Civil Servants' Efforts to Residents' Opinions"

Seongdong-gu, Seoul continues to introduce innovative facilities utilizing small spaces in bus stops and parks. The photo shows (from left) the Seongdong-style smoking booth, the interior of Everyone's Space, and the Seongdong-style smart shelter. (Photo by Seongdong-gu Office)

Seongdong-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jung Won-oh)’s ‘Seongdong-type Smart Shelter’ is a bus stop that has become a hot topic not only in Korea but also overseas. Starting from residents’ ideas, a resident participation group of more than 60 people was formed, and through several field surveys and feedback sessions, a futuristic bus stop was created. It first began operation three years ago and has now spread to 53 bus stops within Seongdong-gu as well as other regions.

Thanks to the glass-walled bus stops measuring 6.2 to 14.4㎡, passengers waiting for the bus are protected from heatwaves, cold waves, fine dust, and exhaust fumes. They are equipped with almost all necessary facilities such as heating and cooling, air purification devices, UV sterilization functions, closed-circuit (CC)TV, emergency bells, Wi-Fi, and wired and wireless chargers. This year, a hearing loop for the hearing impaired and an automated external defibrillator were also installed. Not only have other local governments benchmarked this model, but it has also become the original source of the second and third phases of spatial innovation within Seongdong-gu.

The follow-up project operated by Seongdong-gu is the ‘Seongdong-type Smart Smoking Booth.’ Seongdong-gu installed smart smoking booths equipped with sealed negative pressure facilities in areas with dozens of smoking-related complaints every month, and the response was explosive. The area between the Acro Seoul Forest office building in Seongsu-dong 1-ga, where SM Entertainment’s headquarters is located, and the exit of Seoul Forest Station on the Suin-Bundang Line was a frequent complaint area due to smoking. Seongdong-gu installed a smoking booth measuring 6 meters wide and 3 meters long here, and since then, complaints have disappeared.

Jang Dal-deok, head of the Smart Policy Team in the Smart City Division of Seongdong-gu, explained, “Using the principle of a hospital’s negative pressure device, it blocks cigarette smoke from leaking outside while quickly removing internal smoke, providing a pleasant environment for both non-smokers and smokers.” He added, “By the end of the year, additional booths will be installed in Seongsu-dong and Seongdong-gu Office, and next year, there are plans to expand installation to areas with frequent smoking complaints.” Seongdong-gu reported that the booth installed near the Seoul Forest Station exit in November last year has been used by an average of 1,200 to 1,500 people on weekdays. Seoul City, some autonomous districts, and Wonju City in Gangwon Province are considering adopting this system.

An idea to utilize underused small plots of land within parks as shared meeting places or conference rooms also followed. The ‘Everyone’s Space,’ a shared conference room and meeting room installed in Hanyang Square near the Hanyang University Hospital intersection, officially began operation this month.

The temporary structure space, totaling 31.5㎡, consists of a 4-person room (11.2㎡) and an 8-person room (17.5㎡), which can be combined into one space if needed. It operates unmanned every day during working hours without holidays, and the usage fee is inexpensive at 1,000 to 2,000 won per hour. The 8-person room is also equipped with a computer, projector, and sound equipment. Users can reserve through an app and access the space by tagging a QR code. The system was built by a small or medium-sized enterprise developing operation platforms related to space rental such as study cafes, shared offices, and music practice rooms.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “All of these started from residents’ ideas or proposals and were born through the staff’s concerns and efforts,” and added, “Next year, we will continue to install additional smart shelters, conduct thorough inspections, and upgrade functions. Inspired by the smart shelter, which is an excellent case of development in our district, we will create more open spaces that residents can freely use.”

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