Taebaek City Expands Citizen-Centered Urban Infrastructure from Pedestrian Safety to Winter Protection

'Sidewalk Renovation for Citizen Safety and Convenience'
Creating a People-Centered Pedestrian Environment
'Enhanced Winter Traffic Safety'
Full-Scale Installation of Heated Road Systems
'A Bright and Warm City Where People Live'
Expansion of Nighttime Landscape Lighting

Taebaek City in Gangwon Province, led by Mayor Lee Sangho, is accelerating various construction projects with the goal of completing them within 2025 to create a city where citizens can live safely and comfortably. The city is focusing on expanding facilities that directly impact residents' daily lives, and is carrying out comprehensive projects including improvements to pedestrian environments, winter safety measures, and nighttime landscape lighting.

Taebaek City is accelerating efforts to complete various construction projects within 2025 to create a safe and comfortable living environment for its citizens. Mayor Lee Sangho is seen conducting an on-site inspection. Provided by Taebaek City

According to Taebaek City on September 26, the city is renovating sidewalks between the former Hamtae Elementary School and the Mungok-Sodo-dong Community Center to create a safe walking environment for citizens. Of the total 1.49 km section, the 0.84 km stretch from the former Hamtae Elementary School to Chonchip Makguksu is scheduled for completion by October 2025, while the 0.65 km section from Chonchip Makguksu to the Mungok-Sodo-dong Administrative Welfare Center is planned for 2026.

This project will widen the existing sidewalk from 3.0 meters to 4.0 meters and restructure the road width to secure parking for about 50 small vehicles. Utility poles, street trees, and streetlights within the sidewalk will also be reorganized, ensuring that after completion, all pedestrians-including athletes using the Armistice Training Center, pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities-can walk safely and comfortably.

On September 22, Mayor Lee Sangho visited the site to inspect the progress and requested, "Please make every effort to not only create a safe walking environment for citizens, but also to help resolve parking issues in the city center and revitalize local businesses through this project."

To prevent accidents caused by road icing in winter and to maintain smooth traffic flow, Taebaek City is installing heated road systems, focusing on sections with steep slopes or high pedestrian traffic.

Last year, the city invested 265 million won to complete pilot installations on a 130-meter road section between Hongik Apartment and Gumunso Daycare Center, and on a 110-meter sidewalk in front of Booyoung Apartment.

In 2025, the city is investing a total of 4.591 billion won, including national subsidies and special grants, to install heated road systems on 26 sections, including the Cheoram Sambang-dong access road, covering a total length of 3,797 meters.

Starting in 2026, Taebaek City plans to gradually expand the installation areas within the city to help prevent safety accidents for seniors and other vulnerable pedestrians.

In response to the rapid population decline and decreased urban vitality caused by mine closures, and to create a "bright and warm city where people live," Taebaek City is expanding its nighttime landscape lighting projects.

With a total project cost of 5 billion won, supported by provincial funding, the city is currently installing nighttime landscape lighting at Hwangbuja Daughter-in-law Park, aiming for completion by November 2025, with the project currently 40% complete.

By linking Hwangji Pond and the Nakdong River Source Healing City Tower, the city aims to transform the area into a stay-type tourist destination, while providing citizens with a safe and pleasant walking environment and a bright, beautiful city image.

Additionally, Taebaek City is simultaneously carrying out 11 projects with a total budget of 1.603 billion won, including maintenance of aging streetlights, electrical equipment repairs, and replacement of security lights. Through these efforts, the city aims to ensure that citizens can safely use urban areas at night, foster a bright and warm city atmosphere, attract tourists, and revitalize local businesses.

A Taebaek City official stated, "We will do our utmost to create a citizen-centered, comfortable, and safe road environment, and to build a high-quality cityscape where people are happy and want to stay."

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