Guri City Pursues Citizen Safety Through Life-Friendly Projects

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Eom In-yong] Guri City is moving forward to pursue citizen safety through life-friendly projects.

Safety and City Affairs Director Kim Cheon-bok held a regular press briefing in the week of October 17 at the Comprehensive Situation Room on the 3rd floor of City Hall, explaining current municipal issues including △plans to implement the 2024 Disaster Response Safe Korea Drill △proclamation of amendments to Guri City's Urban Planning Ordinance △sidewalk maintenance project around Jangja Lake Park Station △promotion of 2025 Apartment Complex Subsidy Support Projects.

First, the city announced it will conduct the "2024 Disaster Response Safe Korea Drill" on October 22 at Guri Station on Line 8.

The Disaster Response Safe Korea Drill is a joint training conducted by relevant agencies and private and civic organizations within the city pursuant to the "Disaster and Safety Management Basic Act," aimed at establishing cooperation systems and strengthening disaster response capabilities.

This drill will be conducted assuming a disaster accident on the platform of Guri Station on Line 8 where citizens frightened by an armed disturbance gather on transfer escalators (65m) while evacuating. The city plans to set up an on-site emergency medical center and conduct realistic drills with assigned missions.

The city plans to deploy approximately 300 personnel from relevant agencies and about 40 pieces of equipment to inspect disaster response capabilities.

Director Kim Cheon-bok stated, "Disaster response training suited to Guri City's regional characteristics is necessary," and added, "Through this drill, we will inspect initial response capabilities and strengthen rapid problem-solving abilities in emergency situations."

The city announced it has proclaimed the "Partial Amendment to the Urban Planning Ordinance" containing changes to floor area ratio increases applied within Category 3 General Residential Areas and related provisions based on legislative revisions.

The main content of the amended ordinance is to increase the floor area ratio of Category 3 General Residential Areas from the existing 280% to 300%, the maximum statutory floor area ratio, to establish conditions for urban equity and smooth housing project implementation.

In addition, reflecting changes from amendments to superior laws, the city reorganized standards for gathering resident opinions based on urban management planning, revised regulations involving non-urban areas, and reflected amendments to other relevant laws.

The briefing also revealed plans to conduct sidewalk maintenance around Jangja Lake Park Station on Line 8 by the end of November.

The target area is a 550m section from Exit 2 of Jangja Lake Park Station toward the Guri Police Station, an area frequently used by residents commuting to Jangja Lake Park.

This section had previously received requests for sidewalk block replacement due to unevenness caused by tree root growth and damage from aged sidewalk blocks.

Accordingly, the city plans to do its best in creating a safe pedestrian environment through △replacing sidewalk blocks and organizing boundary stones △removing tree roots.

The city also announced it will accept applications until the 25th for the 2025 Apartment Complex Subsidy Support Projects to create pleasant residential environments for citizens living in apartment complexes within the city.

The apartment complex subsidy targets apartment complexes (excluding rental apartments) that have passed 5 or more years since occupancy inspection and covers 31 projects including △road repair within complexes △exterior painting △replacement of aged elevators. The support amount is 60% or less of total project costs, with a maximum support limit of 50 million won.

For apartment complexes with fewer than 200 units, support of up to 90% is possible when the total project cost is 5 million won or less.

Guri City Mayor Baek Kyung-hyun stated, "We will do our utmost in promoting projects to ensure Guri citizens are guaranteed safe lives," and added, "We will carefully attend to small safety measures in daily life so that Guri City can be safe anytime and anywhere."