Gwanak District Splits Major-Road Snow Removal Routes from 6 to 9

“Comprehensive Winter Measures” to Run Through March 15, 2027

Gwanak District in Seoul (District Mayor Park Junhee) will subdivide its snow-removal routes on major arterial roads from six to nine and cut the target time for one snow-removal operation per route to one hour.

Gwanak District said it will implement its “Comprehensive Winter Measures” from November 15 through March 15, 2027, to prepare for unexpected weather conditions such as cold waves and snowfall. The district has established a support system covering four areas: cold waves, snow removal, safety, and daily life. This year, it is also focusing on strengthening inspections of cold wave shelters.

A view of Gwanak Cheong on the first floor of Gwanak-gu Office, which is operating as a designated cold wave shelter. Provided by Gwanak-gu.

To prepare for snowfall, the district will operate a disaster and safety countermeasures headquarters and activate a phased snow-removal response system. Reflecting the area's many steep roads, it has installed smart heated road systems at 14 sites, covering 3,030 meters, bringing the total length to 15,749 meters. The district has also secured additional spreaders and self-propelled snow-removal equipment to improve its ability to clear snow from side streets and pedestrian paths, and will run resident participation events such as “Clear the Snow in Front of Your Home.”

To respond to cold waves, the district will operate a “24-hour Comprehensive Support Situation Room” and deploy a daily inspection team for cold wave shelters to regularly check facility conditions and address users' inconveniences. It will increase regular inspections of cold wave mitigation facilities from twice in total to once a month, and expand operations of heated tents at bus stops and windbreaks in parks to 24 locations.

The district will also strengthen support for households in crisis and integrated care. Through its “Hope Ondol Warm Winter” program, it will provide living expenses and other assistance to neighbors in need, and use smart devices with care workers to check on isolated households. It will operate cold wave shelters at senior centers and expand the number of low-income older adults eligible for free meal support to around 200. It will also provide meal assistance to children at risk of going hungry and conduct patrols and counseling for homeless people.

In the area of safety, the district will strengthen its 24-hour integrated CCTV monitoring system and conduct focused inspections of construction sites and facilities used by many people, including social welfare and cultural facilities. It will also carry out winter disinfection and influenza vaccinations. In the area of daily life, the district will provide energy vouchers to ease heating costs for vulnerable groups and prepare for power outages in apartment complexes. It will also implement phased reduction measures for high concentrations of fine dust, monitor prices during kimchi-making season and the Lunar New Year holiday, and step up winter waste collection and road cleaning.

District Mayor Park Junhee said, “Even a moment of carelessness in winter can lead to a major accident, so we have taken proactive steps to address various risks posed by cold waves and heavy snow. We will mobilize all of our administrative resources for on-site inspections and response efforts so that every resident can have a safer and warmer winter.”

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