2024-06-28

Online One-stop Refinancing of Loans

2024-06-28

Ancestral Land Searching Service

2023-12-29

Color traffic lane markings on road

2023-12-29

First In Korea Drive-through Screening Stations

2023-12-29

First in Korea Priority Signaling for Emergency Vehicles.

2023-12-29

First In Korea Digital Vaccination Certificate (COOV)

2024-06-28

Public Postpartum Care Centers

 The Songpa Maternity Care Center is the nation’s largest public postpartum maternal care center, holding 27 maternity rooms. The center acquired the nation’s first KS(Korean Industrial Standards) service certification in the postpartum care center service field with its pleasant environment, various health enhancement programs, and systematic operation.   ContentThe Songpa Maternity Care Center, external view ⓒ Songpa Maternity Care Center √ Overview√ Launch and Operation√ Distinction√ Onwards■ The Nation’s Largest Public Postpartum Center, where Mothers are Lining Up.      With recent low birth rates being a rising social issue, the government and individual municipalities have announced various support policies. In particular, the establishment of public postpartum care centers are high in demand, as they provide direct health and safety assistance to mothers and newborns, while also providing economic relief though saved expenses. The Songpa Maternity Care Center, located in Jang-Ji Dong, Songpa District, boasts the largest scale of facilities among all public postpartum care centers in the nation (27 maternity rooms and 30 newborn beds). Furthermore, it is prepared with various facilities, including nursery rooms, breastfeeding chambers, skincare rooms, a cafeteria, and resting garden, etc. In addition, it is operated as a One-stop maternal health enhancement center that combines existing postpartum care centers with various health enhancement programs.Various Amenities at the Center ⓒ Songpa Maternity Care CenterThe center is gaining popularity as it boasts outstanding facilities that compare favorably to even private postpartum care centers, while a regular maternity room is priced at 1.9 million won for 2 weeks of use. This rate is lower than half the mean cost of private postpartum centers in Seoul, recorded at 4.19 million won.■ Introduced in 2014, Operated as a One-stop Maternity Care Center.      The Songpa Maternity Care Center, opened in 2014, was the second to open in the nation. In the case of Seoul, private postpartum care centers are becoming more upscaled and luxurious, with costs skyrocketing without any limits. The Songpa District Office is operating the center with 100% district funds to provide ordinary citizens with the best healthcare services at a low cost.The Songpa Maternity Care Center, while being low cost, is equipped with facilities that would give other high-cost Gangnam centers a run for their money. Above all else, the center is implementing customized programs that assist the health and safety of mothers and newborns, and aid in the nurturing process.Once a mother joins the center, they must stay in a mother-child joint room (the process of the mother and newborn living in the same space). This system is implemented in accordance with article 15 of the “Mother and Child Health Act”, which dictates that “operators of postpartum care must make an effort to provide mother-child joint rooms adequately to prevent infection and sickness”.Newborn care at the center is also professional and systematic. The nursery rooms are operated with a 3-shift system, with each shift consisting of 5 professional personnel including a charge nurse and an assistant nurse.Participating mothers have expressed extremely high satisfaction, as the maternal education programs are also directly conducted by charge nurses, Songpa District Public Health Center personnel, and specialist doctors of pediatrics and obstetrics, separated from any association with ordinary infant cosmetics companies or massage providers, etc.The facility consists of 2 basement floors and 5 above-ground floors. A ▲ public postpartum care center, a ▲ “Mom’s Clinic”, a ▲ medical expenses support office, and a ▲ custom exercise clinic, etc., are all located in the building, with the nation’s first “Mother and Child Health Project” implementation department also present. Thanks to this suite of facilities, all support policies of each step, from pre-pregnancy to post-birth, can be conveniently registered, one-stop, at this location.■ The Only Center to Receive 4 Consecutive KS Certifications in the Postpartum Care Center Service Field.              The Songpa Maternity Care Center is the first and only public center in the nation to receive KS (Korean Industrial Standard) certification in the postpartum care center service field. Conducted by the KSA (Korean Standards Association), KS certification for postpartum care service is awarded to outstanding institutions, following strict evaluation of national quality adequateness in categories of service quality management, operation systems, human resources, and facility safety management, etc. The Songpa Maternity Care Center has received the certification four consecutive times following its firs certification in 2017.   [Left] KS Certification ⓒ Songpa Maternity Care Center    [Right] KS Certification PR video ⓒ Songpa Facilities Management Corporation Youtube ChannelIn addition, the center boasts being certified as an “Outstanding Indoor Air Quality Facility” (Awarded by the City of Seoul, 2023), and installing and operating a temperature and humidity incubation system (2014) to control and manage temperature and humidity in the nursery room.Based on these facilities, the care center conducted a poll for 521 of its users in 2023, with satisfaction rates reaching 96%. As the maternity care center is the first in the nation to hold the capacity for “One-stop Mother and Child Health” in action, several cities and provinces in Korea, and even overseas universities, have reached out to benchmark the center. ■ Comprehensive Maternity Health Management, and Pregnancy Prep Support for the Public     The Songpa District, with the highest newborn count among Seoul’s 25 municipal districts, not only operates the best public postpartum care center in the nation, but also makes efforts to provide high-quality “mother and child” health services. The district has further plans to form interactive experience programs where the public can participate in various ways for each step of pregnancy, from preparatory to postpartum.First of all, for antepartum education, “Safe Delivery Lamaze Breathing” programs, that increase mothers’ understanding of childbirth through theory classes and ease anxiety through breathing methods, are conducted. For Mothers past at least 20 weeks of pregnancy, the “Beginner Mom Nursing in Action” program is conducted. The program includes prior instruction on inner wrapping, bathing, burping etc for newborns utilizing baby dolls, and also handles breastfeeding methods. Anyone registered with the postpartum assistance support project can also access the materials with online videos.Furthermore, the District Public Health Clinic’s dentists conduct a “Songpa Maternity Dental Class” program that provides professional knowledge of oral care for mothers and infants, such as prevention of pregnancy gingivitis. philanthropy, bettering both our bodies and hearts. Even right now, Ddareungi is riding forward to construct a healthier and safer bike city.  Interactive experience programs for each term of pregnancy ⓒ Songpa District Office

2024-06-28

Public Bikes

 Ddareungi is an unmanned rental service for public bikes that has been operated by the City of Seoul since 2010. It began as a solution to Seoul’s traffic congestion and soaring oil prices, and an attempt to enhance the public’s quality of life. In 2023 alone, bike usage counts hit 4.49 million, with daily averages reaching 120,000 uses. proving Ddareungi as a means of travel adored by Seoul’s citizens.   ContentDdareungi ⓒ Seoul Facilities Corporation √ Overview√ Introduction√ Results√ Development■ The Charm of Ddareungi, making Seoul City healthier                       If asked about what has visibly changed in the city of Seoul, many would mention Ddareungi. Ddareungi is an unmanned bike rental service operated by Seoul City. A green means of transport that is connected with the public transportation system, it was first implemented to relieve traffic congestion in Seoul and solve air pollution, while contributing to the health of Seoul Citizens.Ddareungi’s largest advantage lies with its absence of personal maintenance needs and convenience in returning after use. Individuals can simply visit a nearby rental station, use a bike, and return it to a rental station close to their destination, leading to continued interest from not only commuters but also students and the general public. The usage fee, as of June 2024, is a relatively low 1000 won per hour, allowing usage without much pressure on your budget.Ddareungi as a green means of transportation has rental stations installed in the vicinity of population-focused subway stations, bus stations, schools, and government facilities. Bikes stand as the best means of convenient transport for distances not fit for public transport, or when you are burdened with luggage.Ddareungi is rather simple to use. Download the Ddareungi app in your mobile app store, and register to gain access to available bike counts, rental station locations, and payments. With Ddareungi video manuals available for all ages, anyone can easily use bikes, from installing the app to returning after use.Ddareungi User Tutorial ⓒ Ddareungi, the Seoul Bike■ Ride Freely, Ride Fun, in Seoul, a “City for Fun Bike rides”.                    Starting services in November 2010, Ddareungi, Seoul’s public bike service, is a means of public transport rightfully nicknamed “the Citizens’ Legs”. Seoul’s public bike rental system adopted the model of the “BIXI (BIcycle + taXI)” public bike system of Montreal, Canada, and “Vélib” public bike system of Paris, France, to begin its pilot project, and has continued development to this day.With rising user volumes, Ddareungi has annual accumulative use counts of over 40 million! Seoul City continues to upgrade the specifications of Ddareungi. As part of these efforts, beginning in 2020, Ddareungi units with stronger, reinforced frames were introduced, while 5,000 smaller units called “Saessak (Sprouter) Ddareungi”, designed for individuals with smaller builds such as adolescents and the elderly, were also introduced.  New Ddareungi and Saessak Ddareungi ⓒ Ddareungi WebsiteFurthermore, by accepting installation proposals from citizens who have been inconvenienced by faraway rental stations, Seoul has opted to install stations where the public need bikes the most. Individuals are also rewarded cash-like milage benefits if they return bikes to rental stations that lack bike units during commuting hours. Seoul continues efforts to allow the public to conveniently utilize Ddareungi.Website for Ddareungi, Seoul’s public Bike.■ Looking for Fixers. More Ddareungi Units, More Work for Small Businesses.              People riding Ddareungi are a common sight at riversides and parks on the weekend. Korea has a different name for public bikes for each region in the nation. Seoul has “Ddareungi”, Daejeon has “Tashu”, Sejong has “Eoulling”, Changwon has “Nubija”, Yeosu has “Yeosurang”, and Suncheon has “Onnuri”. Of course, Seoul has the highest number of bike units, rental stations, and usage volume.Bike and rental station count for Seoul’s Ddareungi have increased each year, reaching 45,000 units and 2,762 stations in 2023. Ride volume has also increased each year, more than doubling from over 1,907,000 cases in 2019 to 4,490,000 cases in 2023.With rising interest from the Seoul public as a means of transportation, Ddareungi has also experienced an increase in maintenance demands. Last year alone, over 240,000 cases of maintenance were performed. In response to the growing need of maintenance for Ddareungi, and also to revive small businesses, the Seoul Facilities Corporation has recruited additional “Ddareungi shops” (Ddareungi + Neighborhood stores/shops).“Ddareungi shops”, private bicycle shops supporting Ddareungi repair work, have been operated since 2019. Last year, as part of Seoul’s “Together Policy with the Socioeconomically Disadvantaged”, two regional self-sufficiency promotion centers were added as Ddareungi repair spots. This year, Seoul plans to continue to provide safe and convenient services to users of Ddareungi, by forming “maintenance cooperation work agreements” with regional self-sufficiency promotion centers and rapidly meeting maintenance demands.Seoul Ddareungi shops, your warm neighborhood companions ⓒ Seoul Facilities Corporation■ Ride Green with Ddareungi, for Discounts and Donations                       In an effort to boost usage of Ddareungi, a green means of transport, and enhance accessibility for citizens, Seoul City connected Ddareungi service with TmoneyGO. Individuals transferring from public transportation to Ddareungi are now provided with cash-like rewards. Recently, with the introduction of the “Climate Card”, a monthly subscription product for infinite rides inside the city and on Ddareungi, the number of accumulative users has increased further.[Tmoney] Mobile/ Cards Launch the Climate Card ⓒ TmoneyIn March, 2024, Toss extended its platform to allow the rental and return of Ddareungi on its app. By accessing the “Ride Ddareungi” menu under the “Transportation” category of the Toss app, Individuals can both find the closest Ddareungi station around and check the number of rentable bikes, based on their location.Toss Launches its Ddareungi Riding Service ⓒ Toss.Ddareungi continues its sound path forward. Last April and May, Ddareungi conducted the first season of its campaign with the Korea Energy Agency (KEA), Gbike, and the Seoul Energy Corporation. This campaign, set to be conducted twice, each in the spring and the fall, plans to collect the total distance ridden by participants throughout season 1 and 2, and donate 1 won per 1 km ridden to local social welfare centers. Through such attempts, the public can participate in a campaign for greenhouse gas reduction and heartwarming philanthropy, bettering both our bodies and hearts. Even right now, Ddareungi is riding forward to construct a healthier and safer bike city.Ddareungi, Riding and Donating Energy. ⓒ Korea Energy Agency

2023-12-29

Best In Korea: Self-requested Location Tracking for People in Need of Assistance

 The Korean National Police Agency (NPA) newly developed a ‘Visual 112’ (112 is the emergency police service number for Korea) from the existing ‘Vocal 112”.  Even when speaking is not an option, the caller’s cellphone dispatches on-site conditions to the emergency situation room, allowing more precise reports, and faster police dispatch!   Content√ Overview√ Introduction√ Results and Expansion■ An Idea On Site, Now a Safety Measure for the Public.                       [Real Life Emergency Call Cases]  · (Case 1) After a small child stated they were “lost in the mountains” right before their emergency call was cut off, the ‘Visual 112’ system confirmed video footage and coordinates of the location, allowing a police vehicle to be dispatched and safely rescue the child. (2022.07.27. / Incheon Police Agency, Police situation room) · (Case 2) After an individual reported only seeing “mountains and river” while lost at the Ara Canal, the ‘Visual 112; system, utilizing real-time video and location systems, tracked the registration number for a telephone pole, leading to the caller’s rescue. (2022.09.17. / West Incheon, General 112 Situation Room for Public Safety) · (Case 3) After reports that an individual was “continuously depositing 50,000 won bills at an ATM”, the police realized the possibility of voice phishing in action. Using ‘Visual 112’, the police confirmed the onsite situation in real-time, including the description of the individual in question, arriving at the location within 5 minutes and apprehending the suspect. (2022.10.05. / North Jeolla Police Agency, General 112 Situation Room for Public Safety)Just like the cases above, when the calling party may have difficulty explaining the onsite situation or are in a difficult position, there was a need for a system that allows police officers receiving such calls to further clarify the callers’ situation, and pinpoint locations.The NPA, in 2019, had been developing the ‘Visual 112 Emergency Call Support System’ as a research project of the Police Lab* 1.0, a national R&D endeavor of cooperation between the NPA and the Ministry of Science and ICT(MSIT) to create a customized call report system on site for the 112 emergency call system.  * A research and development project implemented to find solutions for intelligent crime in the field of public safety, with cooperation between the NPA and the MSIT,After approximately 20 months of efforts from emergency call system departments at the NPA, R&D departments, policemen in the field, and researches, the ‘Visual 112’s impact was confirmed in 2021 following primary onsite demonstrations from the Seoul NPA’s Gwanak Police Station and expanded demonstrations with the Jeju NPA.Existing 112 emergency calls, much like depictions on TV series, had to rely on the audio coming from the other end of the call to assess the situation onsite, including the caller’s location and status. ‘Visual 112’ allowed the situation onsite to be transmitted through the caller’s phone, allowing police forces to quickly and precisely assess the situation onsite, even when the caller was unaware of their location or was unable to speak due to situations of crime, accidents, and natural disasters.■ ‘Visual 112 Calls’ for Dangerous and Urgent Situations.                   The ‘Visual 112’ service was simple to use. When an individual makes a 112 emergency call in a crisis situation, receiving police officers send a text message to the caller’s phone. Once the caller accesses the URL provided in the message, their location and video footage onsite is transmitted to the police situation room.The ‘Visual 112’ has the advantage of not requiring installation of a separate app. Once the caller accesses the URL provided by the police and agrees to provide permission for location and camera functionality on their phone, the ‘Visual 112’ system is accessible. The receiving officer (City or Provincial NPA), the commanding party (local police station), and the dispatched officer can all confirm the location of the caller in real time, without the need to request location search to the mobile carrier. The precision of the location information is high, as the service receives location information stored with the caller’s phone directly, unlike the existing Location Based Service (LBS) provided by mobile carriers.Furthermore, a chatting system was provided for the caller to communicate to the receiving office without having to speak, in consideration of the caller’s safety. A secret mode was also provided, enabling onsite footage and audio recordings to be sent to the police, alongside secret chatting functionality, allowing communication to be hidden from any suspects onsite.■ The ‘Visual 112’ Call System is Protecting the Lives of the Public!                              According to the NPA, the ‘Visual 112’ service was used over 3000 times within 2 weeks of introduction nationwide. In 2022 alone, it was utilized 17,517 times for callers, and 22,029 times for onsite police officer use. Domestic violence victims with no caller response were rescued, and children lost in the mountains could be rescued rapidly with video footage and location confirmation. A caller lost at the Ara Canal, unable to describe their exact location, could be safely rescued using the ‘Visual 112’ system, and a voice phishing criminal in action could be rapidly apprehended with a witness onsite providing information.[From an interview with Inspector Park, Hong-kyun of the Seoul Gwanak Police Station’s 112 Public Safety Situation Room] · (Q) How is the Visual 112 system helping out in the field?· (A) When you take a look at the calls that the situation room receives, there had been many cases where the caller, in a panic, is unable to provide their precise location. They may have suffered from a disaster, or may be unable to state their location due to being kidnapped and blindfolded. The ‘Visual 112’ system is a tremendous help, as it has allowed us to view the onsite situation through the caller’s camera, allowing faster location confirmation and situational awareness, and ultimately faster police dispatch within the golden hour.  ▲ Inspector Park, Hong-kyun, demonstrating the ‘Visual 112 emergency call’ system at the 112 situation room, Seoul Gwanak Police station, on May 28th, 2020■ We Will Safely Protect the Precious Lives of Our Public!                                The Korean Police are innovating, even today, to find solutions to fight ever evolving forms of crime. We vow to make further efforts to create innovative policies and services that protect the public, much like the ‘Visual 112’. 

2023-12-26

Crosswalk Canopies (Excellent Utilization Category)

 The ‘Seoripul Wondoomak’ (A combination of Seoripul, Seocho District’s namesake, and Wondoomak, a Korean hut or gazebo of sorts), installed by the Seocho District, appeared in 2015 as Korea’s first heat-wave-fighting cover, and has been praised as the best in the field of shade canopies.The shade canopy is now a popular summertime facility that can be commonly seen around the nation. Content√ Overview√ Introduction√ Results and Expansion■ The Seoripul Wondoomak, an Oasis in the Scorching City.The ‘Seoripul Wondoomak’, leading the popularity of shade canopies across the country, is a fixed shade canopy that began from a small act of consideration: Let’s provide shade for people waiting to cross the road under scorching sunlight.After installing shade canopies at the Yangjae station intersection and the St. Mary’s Hospital intersection for the first time in the nation in June 2015, the Seocho District of Seoul has continuously improved the UV-blocking capabilities, safety and design of the ‘Seoripul Wondoomak’.  ※ While the Dongjak District of Seould did install tent-type canopies first in August of 2013, tent-type canopies were not accepted as official facilities (road facilities) due to their potential to endanger pedestrian safety.  [Left] The initial installation of the Seoripul Wondoomak, the original crosswalk canopy ⓒ Seocho District, Seoul,  [Right] A Tent-type canopy installed in Dongjak District, Seoul ⓒ Dongjak District, SeoulFollowing explosive reactions from citizens, the Seoripul Wondoomak has not only been installed at key street corners of road crossings and traffic islands, but has also expanded to parks and cultural facilities, totaling 222 install locations all over Seocho District (as of April 2023). ■ Once just a shelter during Heat Waves, now a place of Rest and Leisure.               From its first installation, the Seoripul Wondoomak was met with rave reactions from citizens. “It’s a great idea, a shelter to not only avoid the sun, but also provide a moment of rest!”. “We’re thankful for being able to avoid the heat at road-crossings, even for the briefest moment.”. Countless compliments and words of support followed.Seocho District, with its particular affection and pride for their Seoripul Wondoomaks, continued with various efforts to transform the canopy into a more convenient and useful facility. During springtime and fall, the canopies were decorated with seasonal flowers to enhance the beauty of the city streets, and when the canopies were folded for the winter, their designs were reformed as Christmas trees (Seoripul Trees), forming a holiday season atmosphere.  The ‘Seoripul Wondoomak’ enhanced canopy utility through various transformations ⓒ Seocho DistrictFurthermore, rest benches were installed beneath canopies for the transportation-vulnerable, and the regional government distributed ice water to citizens at the canopies on days of high heat wave indexes, with the help of volunteers. On the 30th anniversary week for the opening of the Seocho District Office, regional musicians held ‘Flowerbed Concerts’ visiting the 40+ canopies in the district, transforming the Seoripul Wondoomaks into cultural and artistic spaces to connect and enjoy with the public.■ Canopies in the city, transforming into various ‘Smart Shelters’ of the public’s lives.   In the beginning years of its enterprise, the Seoripul Wondoomak faced controversy regarding its compatibility with road legislation.However, with strong support from citizens and positive feedback from public design specialists, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) accepted the ‘Fixed Parasol-type Canopy’ (only the Seocho District canopy case) as an official ‘road facility’ in accordance with road legislation.The City of Seoul created a “Canopy Installation Guideline” in December of 2017, and distributed it to each regional district. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety, modelling after the Seoripul Wondoomak, released the ‘Guidelines on Installation and Management of Canopies in preparation of Heatwaves’ in April 2019, standardizing canopy installation standards and providing regional governments a basis to systemically manage canopies.Each regional government’s canopy, benchmarking off the Seoripul Wondoomak, has continued to develop and innovate. The Buk (North) District in Busan selected ideal locations to install the canopies utilizing big data, and installed canopies not only capable of providing cover from sunlight, but also equipped with upgraded functions such as cooling fogs. Cheonan City in the South Chungcheong Province operates canopies based on the needs of each location, installing yellow canopies in school zones that match the color of the yellow roads to maximize their visual impact, or adding a double-function of circular resting benches to canopies installed in areas where there are more senior citizens.In the case of the Jung (Center) District of Daejeon, the selection of installation locations took the public’s opinions into consideration, and ‘smart’ canopies capable of sensing wind speeds, temperature, and sunlight were installed to enable efficient management. In Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, night time security lights were added to smart canopies, allowing safer streets for the public after sundown. Pohang of the North Gyeongsang Province, utilized the canopies as locations to promote regional tourist attractions, setting canopy locations as ‘experience zones’ for the “Twelve Must-see Views of Pohang”.The various shade canopies operated by regional governments. ⓒ Jung District of Daejeon (Left), Cheonan (Center), Buk District in Pohang (Right)The Seoripul Wondoomak, the origin, and now standard of Korea’s shade canopies, has expanded to a public design that embodies rest and safety, and can be found in every corner of the nation.

2023-12-26

Volume-based Waste Bag

The City of Seongnam, in Gyeonggi Province, has improved public satisfaction through the implementation of a custom volume-based waste bag that applied green materials and greatly improved functionality and design. We look to the comfort of our citizens, and the future of our planet.ContentSeongnam’s volume-based waste bag, newly designed after 27 years ⓒ Seongnam√ Overview√ Introduction√ Results and Expansion■ ‘For the Environment, and the Convenience of the Public!’ This waste bag had a purpose for change. Korea operates volume-based waste management, nation-wide. The policy for waste management aims to increase recycling rates and reduce indiscriminate waste disposal by applying fees according to the volumes of waste disposed. Waste is only disposed through the purchase and use of required sizes of ‘volume-based waste bags.’ The correct disposal of waste through specified waste bags, and the correct practice of recycling are the first steps towards protecting the environment.However, there is a difference in prices or disposal methods for these waste bags between each municipal region. Even the seemingly identical designs of waste bags have their minor differences. The city of Seongnam decided to listen to the voice of the public to enhance the correct use and convenience of volume-based waste bags. In particular, the city has been given high praise for providing a waste bag with improved sizes and designs. This large accomplishment has come from a small change of listening to the people, and seeing them eye to eye.■ ‘The Smallest Inconveniences shall be Seen’. Seongnam’s green intentions for waste management.Ever had to worry about getting food waste on your hands because of the narrow openings of waste bags? The city listened, adjusting* the specifications of the 1 Liter and 2 Liter food waste disposal bags. By widening the body and shortening the height of bags, wider openings could be formed.  * ylaws initiated on July 1st, 2020. [Comparison of food waste bags] Before(National Standard): W 15cm x H 29.5cm 》 After (Seongnam): W 20cm x H 26.5cm Moreover, the city of Seongnam, in May 2022, cut down on the crowded text printed on waste bags, and substantially increased information clarity with visual designs. The existing bags did have information on waste management companies for large waste disposal and regional collection, but separate inquires on the same information proved the message was hardly getting across to the public. Considering this, the city of Seongnam decided to emphasize visual designs that would allow users to easily understand disposal information. Waste elements that were not permitted were marked with pictograms, and clear ‘not allowed’ illustrations. Waste bags for incineration were made a faint green (formerly red) so that prohibited items could stand out, while reusable waste bags were switched from the existing light blue to a light gray for color.Waste bags, before and after the change ⓒ  SeongnamIn order to raise public consciousness of environmental protection, green messages were added to the waste bags. For the first time in the nation, waste bags had Carbon emissions (CO₂) quantified for each size, measured in planted pine trees. Furthermore, to reduce the environmental impact of the bags, environmentally friendly waste bags with added calcium carbonate* were produced. * The benefit of calcium carbonate: Neutralizes toxic gases during incineration, and prevents the acidification of soil and water.Also, taking in public opinion that reusable bags with handgrips were being used more than waste bags made for incineration, all volume-based waste bags were produced with handgrips. The existing title of ‘incineration-only volume-based waste bag’ was also simplified to ‘incineration waste bags’ to only note necessary information. There was also the added detail of English and Chinese translations of titles added to waste bags, in consideration of the language issues and confusion faced by the rising foreigner population within the city. √ Raise disposal convenience: Add a handgrip instead of the existing tie-line. √ Bettering public image of bags: Remove the word ‘waste’ and emphasize the bags’ purpose of ‘separating’ waste √ Pictograms included: Correct waste separation is expected, as prohibited items are visually displayed for anyone to understan      d. √ Marking Carbon Emissions (Improving awareness): As the first case of marking carbon emissions for CO2 reduction, reductions in waste and resource cycling is expected. √ Multilingual marking: English and Chinese markings for foreigners residing in the city. √ Color Change: Green colors that harmonize with the cityscape (incineration waste bags changed from red to green, re-usable bags switched from light blue to light gray)■ Made in Seongnam, but spreading nationwide for the good of the public! The city of Seongnam has shown a successful case of developing a public design service that is customized to the needs of those who use volume-based waste bags in everyday life. Marked as a best practice example for other municipalities, with regions like the city of Siheung in the same Province, and Jongro District of Seoul asking for cooperation in benchmarking the implementation, and regions like Haenam County in the South Jeolla Province requesting designs. The city of Seongnam is currently reviewing a free-of charge contract for Haenam to implement their waste bag design.The City of Seongnam, collecting the public’s opinions, plans to continue its improvements in design, and apply efforts so that users can separate and dispose of waste in a more convenient and correct way. Even during the production of handgrips for the bags, a discovery in difficulty of tying the grips led to longer grips being implemented. Various opinions from the public will be further considered and reflected in design, much like a recent change in the Chinese wording on the bags following internal consultation, resulting from a public petition suggesting a more natural wording of instructions. 

2023-12-22

Immigration Screening

The Immigration Screening Service, provided by the Ministry of Justice’s Incheon Immigration Office, was awarded the highest honor in its field for the World Airport Awards 2023, reaffirming its status as the world’s best service.CONTENT The Immigration Screening stations at Incheon International Airport. ⓒ Ministry of Justice Incheon Immigration Office.√ Overview√ Introduction√ Results and expansion■ From Arrival to Farewell, Guaranteeing Happiness and Satisfaction!Immigration screening is a government’s process of confirming the identity of individuals entering and exiting the nation for the purpose of border control, and stands as a strict process due to its direct connection to national security. Meanwhile, strict screening processes are unfavorable for users, as it results in complicated and stringent steps and long waiting times. Particularly for foreign visitors, the immigration screening process often defines the first impression of a nation, as it is the primary experience they face upon entry.Immigration screening is a government’s process of confirming the identity of individuals entering and exiting the nation for the purpose of border control, and stands as a strict process due to its direct connection to national security. Meanwhile, strict screening processes are unfavorable for users, as it results in complicated and stringent steps and long waiting times. Particularly for foreign visitors, the immigration screening process often defines the first impression of a nation, as it is the primary experience they face upon entry.   * A world-class award given by Skytrax, a consultancy focused on air travel service evaluation that evaluates the airports of the world. The 2023 awards targeted 472 airports around the world for three months between November 2022 and January 2023.The Immigration Screening Service, with its innovative systems and high-level services, greatly contributed to Incheon International Airport being ranked 1st place in Airport Service Quality (ASQ, held by Airports Council International) for more than a decade, even amidst its rapid growth*.* Due to Governmental support and continuously rising demand of air travel (Increasing flight numbers for low-cost airlines, large expansions of airlines), annual air travelers using the airport rose 400% from approximately 17 million when it opened in 2001, to 70 million in 2009.■Endless Innovation, Again and Again, until we are the Best in the World! Air travelers are most sensitive to waiting time when it comes to immigration screening services. The Incheon Immigration Office, in an effort to effectively handle the rapidly rising traveler count, has automated the screening process utilizing state-of-the-art technology, while also focusing on policy innovationFirst, the Immigration Office, by acutely reforming the organization, broke down the existing inefficiency of human resource management that divided entry and departure screening processes. In 2006, the existing fixed schedule system for screening officers was transitioned into an “adjustable shift system” that allocated officers in traveler-focused times and regions. By allocating screening officers to where passengers actually were, active officer reinforcement was raised by 30%, while waiting times for immigration services were reduced by 40%Furthermore, a multi-faceted innovation, including the introduction of the automatic passport verification system* (2005), the operation of automated immigration screening gates** (2008), the exclusion of arrival/departure report forms for citizens (2006), the omission of immigration screening stamping on entry for citizens (2011), and the omission of immigration stamping on departure for citizens (2016), further brought significant reductions to the waiting-time of immigration screening.  * A system that automatically verifies and stores both personal and photographic information of passports, stepping away from the existing method of immigration officers manually inputting and searching for the personal information of travelers ** A state-of-the-art immigration screening system that verifies traveler identification without face-to-face contact, utilizing passport information and bio information (fingerprints and facial recognition), and capable of replacing screening officer processes  👇 Howe We Innovated Automated Immigration Screening👇√ Efforts to expand target traveler numbers capable of using automated screening tables.First introduced in 2008 to Korean citizens of or over the age of 19, the automated immigration screening gate has expanded its user base to underage citizens and registered foreigners (As of May 2023, foreigners who have an address of residence in Korea, and have stayed for longer than 90 days) in 2016. The target base was further expanded to short-term visitors in 2019, to underage registered foreigners in 2023.  √ Efforts to improve convenience by removing pre-registration steps.Starting in 2017 for Korean citizens, and 2018 for registered foreigners, individuals can use the automated immigration screening gates without prior registration. 👉 60% of Incheon International Airport traffic uses the automated immigration screening gates. (161 gates, currently used in 2023)The Incheon Immigration Office has also innovated its systems and processes in order to understand and manage security risks, such as by introducing the ‘Passenger Information Pre-analysis system’ that provides prior analysis and actions of passenger information before flight arrival. Such efforts have led to faster and simpler immigration screening services for regular passengers and improvement of customer satisfaction.  √ Passenger Information Pre-analysis system (May, 2005): Receives passenger information and conducts pre-analysis prior to arrival, providing screening officers with any screening results deemed unfit for entry and utilizing it for immigration screening.  √ Passenger Pre-verification policy (April 2017): The Ministry of Justice’s immigration system is connected with reservation and ticketing systems at airlines, allowing for potential criminals to be blocked from boarding based on passenger information.  √ K-ETA – Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (May, 2021): A policy that allows foreigners eligible to enter Korea without a VISA to pre-screen their eligibility online. As the world’s best immigration screening service would be felt best by passengers at the airport when they are face-to-face with screening officers, the Incheon Immigration Office conducts training, once a month for all employees. With selections of ‘Best Screening Officer’, further encouragement is provided for officers to voluntarily provide thoughtful services. Moreover, there are continuous efforts to ease issues of passenger concentration during school holidays and popular overseas vacation seasons, with special solutions including overtime and supplemental shifts for screening officers.■ Korea’s immigration screening services, praised around the world.Incheon International Airport’s immigration screening system’s distinction has been noted by various awards. √ Grand Prize(President’s Award) at ‘Government Innovation Brand Presentation Awards (2006) √ UN Public Administration Award at the 7th Global Forum (June, 2006) √ √ Ranked World’s best Airport for ASQ (Airport Service Quality), hosted by the ACI (Airports Council International), for twelve consecutive years (2005~2016), based on maintained top rankings in the immigration screening category √ Awarded World’s Best Airport Immigration (2014, 2023) by Skytrax  The Incheon Immigration Office’s automated immigration screening service has expanded implementation to all airports and seaports of the nation, including Jeju International Airport, and supports convenient arrival and departure for citizens and foreign visitors alike.Furthermore, Korea’s immigration screening system has led the advancement of airport systems by being set as a benchmark by surrounding nations. Government officials of related agencies from multiple nations, including Mongolia, the Philippines, Laos etc. have visited Korea to set our advanced immigration management system as a benchmark, and Chinggis Khaan International Airport of Mongolia has implemented Korea’s automated immigration screening services for its modernization efforts for immigration management.