Gwanak District Expands 'Safe Streetlights' in High-Density Residential Areas

Selected for Safe Streetlight Plus Project for Two Consecutive Years
Rapid Response Enabled Through CCTV Integration in Emergencies

Gwanak District in Seoul (District Mayor Park Junhee) announced on September 7 that it has been selected as the final recipient of the "2025 Safe Streetlight Plus Support Project," organized by the Milal Welfare Foundation and sponsored by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd.

Safe streetlights installed around Sillim Station in Gwanak District. Provided by Gwanak District.

The Safe Streetlight Plus Project aims to enhance nighttime safety for residents by installing "advanced smart pole safe streetlights" in areas with high foot traffic and a heightened risk of crime or safety incidents. Previously, the district was also selected for the 2024 project and installed 20 safe streetlights around Sillim Station.

Having passed the first and second rounds of review and on-site inspections this year, the district was selected for the project for the second consecutive year. It plans to install an additional 20 safe streetlights near Hyundai Market in Bongcheon-dong, which is the area with the highest residential density.

Around the Hyundai Market residential complex, approximately 12,000 households reside, and four schools and a market are located nearby, making students and merchants the main active population. Since pedestrian traffic is low at night, the district decided to install safe streetlights in this area to strengthen walking safety for vulnerable groups such as students and the elderly.

The smart pole safe streetlights are equipped not only with lighting to brighten the streets at night, but also with high-resolution closed-circuit television (CCTV), emergency bells, and abnormal sound detection devices, all based on Internet of Things (IoT) technology. In the event of an emergency, the CCTV system, which is linked to the Gwanak District Integrated Control Center, can monitor the scene in real time and enable a swift response. Remotely controlled switches and electronic display boards for public announcements will also be installed.

Park Junhee, Mayor of Gwanak District, stated, "Following last year's installation in the Sillim area, we plan to further expand the safety infrastructure this year in the Bongcheon area so that residents can walk safely at night." He added, "We will continue to actively utilize advanced technology to protect the lives and safety of residents, including vulnerable groups, as we move toward making Gwanak a smart and safe city."