[The Herald Business = Senior Reporter Park Jong-il] Jongno-gu, led by District Mayor Yoo Chan-jong, will repair deteriorating circular sewer pipes at six sites — including areas near the Seoul Regional Office of the National Tax Service — through October.
The work aims to protect residents' lives and property by addressing drainage infrastructure before problems arise, creating a safer living environment.
The project, which began in April, is centered on the Susong-dong, Cheongjin-dong and Gongpyeong-dong areas. Sewer pipes in these neighborhoods are more than 30 years old and had posed a risk of ground erosion and safety incidents in the event of leaks.
Given the challenges of open-cut excavation in a dense urban setting, the district opted for a trenchless method — repairing pipes from the inside without digging up roads. The technique uses compressed air and steam curing to rehabilitate sewer lines underground, keeping traffic disruption, congestion, noise and dust to a minimum.
The district has completed repairs on the key pipe sections that needed to be finished before the rainy season and plans to proceed with the remaining stretches on schedule.
In addition, the district will carry out emergency sewer maintenance along Myeongnyun 10-gil near Waryong Park through November to prevent leaks from stone retaining walls.
The district expects the project to improve drainage safety, extend the lifespan of the infrastructure and reduce spending on repeated excavation repairs.
"We will carefully manage even the underground facilities that are out of sight, and create an environment where all Jongno-gu residents and visitors can move around safely without worry," District Mayor Yoo said. "We will continue to identify vulnerable sections in the urban core and carry out preemptive maintenance."
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