Daegu City Council Member Kyunggu Jo Criticizes Divided Streetlight Installation, Costs, and Maintenance for Repeated Budget Waste and Avoidance of Accountability

Daegu City Council Member Kyunggu Jo (People Power Party, Suseong District 2) strongly criticized the structural problems in Daegu's streetlight management system through a written administrative inquiry on August 18, urging the city to urgently improve the system.

Council Member Jo stated, "Daegu's streetlight policy is failing in both efficiency and accountability because the responsibilities for installation, maintenance, and cost-bearing are all divided." He pointed out, "Installation is split between the city and the districts/counties depending on road width, while the Daegu Public Facilities Management Corporation is entrusted with maintenance for all sections. However, when it comes to electricity bills, districts and counties pay for general roads, and the Public Facilities Management Corporation pays for expressways, which is an irrational structure."

Daegu City Council Member Jo Kyunggu

He emphasized, "When responsibilities are dispersed, responses to civil complaints are delayed, and budget waste and avoidance of accountability inevitably recur." He strongly called for the unification of the management system and a revision of the standards for cost-sharing.

He also highlighted several issues: even after 12 years since the enactment of the 'Daegu City LED Lighting Promotion Ordinance,' the LED adoption rate remains at only 64%, with a significant gap between Dalseong County (49%) and Nam District (94%); and the basic plan for road lighting facilities, which is required to be established every five years under the 'Daegu City Road Lighting Facility Installation and Management Regulations,' has never been prepared even once.

Council Member Kyunggu Jo officially called for the unification of the streetlight management responsibility system, a rational restructuring of the cost-sharing structure including electricity bills, the prompt establishment of a basic plan for road lighting facilities, a strategic increase in budget allocation, and the reduction of regional disparities in lighting infrastructure.

He further emphasized, "Streetlights are not merely devices that illuminate roads; they are essential social infrastructure that ensures citizens' nighttime safety, prevents crime, and determines the quality of the urban living environment."

Council Member Jo warned, "Darkened streets increase the risk of crime and accidents, and areas neglected by the administration breed public distrust. Daegu must not settle for temporary fixes any longer and must now pursue comprehensive and fundamental improvements."

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