"Full Commitment to Citizen Safety and Protection of Vulnerable Groups" ... Changwon Special City Implements Comprehensive Winter Plan

Snow and Cold Wave Response, Strengthened Wildfire Measures
Full-Scale Operation of Winter Disaster and Emergency Preparedness System

Changwon Special City in South Gyeongsang Province has established the "2025 Winter Season Comprehensive Plan" to prevent accidents during the winter and protect vulnerable groups. The city will focus on implementing this plan intensively for four months, from November 2024 to March 2025.

Changwon Special City Hall.

This plan consists of 33 detailed measures across four main areas: safety management, livelihood stabilization, citizen convenience, and welfare support. It includes a snow and cold wave response system and winter support for vulnerable groups to prepare for abnormal winter weather. Additionally, for the first time, the city will implement a strengthened comprehensive wildfire prevention plan to address the risk of large-scale wildfires caused by dry and strong winds during winter.

◆ Safety Management Measures - 20 Items

First, the city will focus on proactive, on-site responses to snow and cold waves to prevent casualties and property damage. All areas at risk of winter disasters will be thoroughly investigated and managed in an integrated manner. Major construction sites within the city will be intensively inspected to prevent winter safety accidents in advance.

The city will also strengthen patrols in areas prone to freezing and preemptively spread calcium chloride to prevent black ice traffic accidents, ensuring comprehensive road snow removal measures. In addition, the city plans to shift from a post-repair approach to a preventive management system for potholes, preparing for traffic accidents during the thawing season.

The city will also implement a more advanced comprehensive wildfire prevention plan. By reflecting improvements identified through the "2024-2025 Comprehensive Wildfire Prevention Plan," the city will utilize advanced equipment such as drones and wildfire prevention ICT platforms to enhance wildfire response. Firefighting equipment and facilities will be reinforced to enable immediate response to large-scale wildfires. Furthermore, fire safety measures will be established, focusing on traditional markets and multi-use facilities where winter fires are frequent, to strengthen prevention activities.

◆ Livelihood Stabilization Measures - 4 Items

The city will make every effort to stabilize the winter economy for citizens, including measures to control prices during the kimchi-making season. A comprehensive price management situation room will be operated to strengthen price monitoring, and unfair trade practices will be intensively cracked down on to ensure stability in daily life for ordinary citizens.

The city will also support public utility charges and pay-as-you-throw garbage bags for businesses with fair prices, and strengthen support for small business complaint call centers and legal counseling to alleviate management burdens for small business owners. In addition, the city will actively promote the revitalization of traditional markets through various events, such as the Traditional Market Festival and the Snowy Changdong Street Festival.

◆ Citizen Convenience Measures - 5 Items

To minimize inconvenience for citizens during the winter, the city will implement special disposal periods for kimchi-making waste and coal ash. The city will also establish measures to ensure the stable supply of energy sources such as oil and gas, to prevent fuel supply disruptions caused by abnormal winter weather, and will work to protect energy-vulnerable groups during the season.

Additionally, in preparation for the kimchi-making season, the city will conduct hygiene inspections and sampling tests on food distribution companies to ensure the supply of safe food.

◆ Welfare Support Measures - 4 Items

The city will also implement welfare measures to protect vulnerable groups and support neighbors in need. Heating costs will be promptly provided to social welfare facilities and low-income households, and sharing campaigns such as the "Hope 2026 Sharing Campaign" will be promoted to help citizens spend a warm winter. The city will also thoroughly inspect the winter preparedness of social welfare facilities.

A field response team for homeless individuals will be operated throughout the winter to protect those living on the streets. The city will also actively identify households at risk of welfare crises and high-risk elderly people living alone, working to eliminate blind spots in welfare services.

Jang Geumyong, Acting Mayor of Changwon Special City, stated, "This comprehensive winter season plan prioritizes citizen safety and includes thorough measures for each area. We will do our utmost to ensure that all citizens can spend a safe and warm winter through meticulous safety management and tailored support."

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