Busan is good

Smiles Along the Way to School: Busan’s 15-Minute City Completes a Safe School Route Project around Hyorim Elementary School

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□ Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced today (the 12th) the completion of the “Hyorim Elementary School Area Linear Park Development Project,” a representative project of the Sinpyeong–Jangnim living zone under the Second Happy Challenge of the 15-Minute City initiative.

□ This project aims to create a safe and pleasant pedestrian environment where children and parents can commute to and from school with peace of mind by expanding school routes in areas with concentrated pedestrian traffic during school hours near Hyorim Elementary School (located in Jangnim-dong, Saha-gu), establishing safe pick-up and drop-off zones for children, and enhancing green and rest areas.

○ The project includes the following components:
▲ Expansion of sidewalks through road dieting along a 150-meter section of the main school commuting route
▲ Creation of streetside gardens
▲ Establishment of safe pick-up and drop-off zones to prevent traffic congestion and accidents
▲ Development of shared rest areas to encourage communication and interaction among parents and local residents

□ With the project’s completion, it is expected to enhance children’s safety on their way to and from school and to contribute to the revitalization of the local community.

□ To improve both the necessity and effectiveness of enhancing pedestrian environments along school routes, the City formed the “15-Minute City Safe Routes to School Consultative Body” in October and held its first meeting.

○ Through this consultative body, Busan Metropolitan City plans to develop measures to improve school commuting environments that take into account Busan’s unique geographical characteristics, comprehensively review various spatial types and project models, and create and expand safe school routes across the city.

□ Meanwhile, the Second Happy Challenge Sinpyeong–Jangnim living zone project is designed to revitalize the local community by creating people-centered streets, parks, and spaces throughout the area. It comprises a total of 14 projects with a budget of KRW 34.7 billion.

○ Busan Metropolitan City selected the Sinpyeong–Jangnim area as the site for the Second Happy Challenge in August 2023 and has since been implementing various policy initiatives in stages through expert consultations and the establishment of public–private governance partnerships.

○ In August of this year, the City completed a project to improve school routes and create streetside gardens near Borim Elementary School, providing residents with a safer school commuting environment and community spaces, and receiving strong positive feedback from the local community.

□ Lim Gyeong-mo, Director General of the City’s Office of Urban Innovation and Balanced Development, stated, “Creating a city where children can go to school safely and with smiles is one of our City’s key goals,” adding, “We will continue to expand projects that create safe living zones to realize a 15-minute city where citizens are happy.”