All 20 smart shelters to have outdoor AC units relocated to rooftops, easing pedestrian congestion; 15 sites to receive high-visibility 3D ad boxes on exterior walls
Project fully funded through private investment, with installation set for completion by September
Seoul's Jung-gu district is overhauling its "smart shelters" — public rest stops equipped with air conditioning — to improve the pedestrian environment and make better use of available space.
The district will relocate air conditioning outdoor units that had been facing the sidewalk to the tops of the shelters and install three-dimensional advertising boxes on the exterior walls above.
Residents had long complained that the sidewalk-facing units caused discomfort, blasting hot air at passersby in summer and creating condensation that posed safety hazards in winter.
In response, the district will move the outdoor units at all 20 smart shelter locations to the rooftop level, creating a more comfortable and safer walking environment.
The existing roadside advertising panels had also been largely obscured by large buses stopping at the curb, limiting their effectiveness. To address this, the district will attach transparent showcase-style 3D advertising boxes to the exterior walls above the relocated units, maximizing promotional impact while securing a stable stream of ancillary revenue.
After consulting with nearby businesses, the district selected 15 of the 20 sites for the advertising box installation. A pilot installation was completed at two locations — in front of the Samsung headquarters building and in front of the Sogong-dong community service center — on July 2, with the remaining 13 sites, including Beotigoae, to be completed sequentially by September.
The project is being carried out through private investment by Monoblock Co., the licensed operator of the smart shelters, and requires no public funding. Jung-gu had previously recognized the department responsible for resolving shelter operating and maintenance costs through private-sector collaboration as a model of proactive administration.
This latest initiative again demonstrates the district's commitment to proactive administration — resolving residents' grievances quickly without placing any burden on the public purse.
Jung-gu District Mayor Kim Gil-seong said the facility improvement would allow residents to walk the streets in much greater comfort. "We will continue to pay close attention to even the smallest inconveniences of daily life and manage the smart shelters thoroughly so they become safe and convenient spaces for residents," he said.
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
