A woman stands near a Ttareungyi bike rack near Seoul Station in downtown Seoul. The Seoul Metropolitan Government's public bike-sharing system topped Seoul City news this year. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



By Lee Kyung-min



Ttareungyi, a bike-sharing system introduced by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, topped this year's city news, officials said Sunday.



The city conducted a survey of 121,929 citizens between Nov. 15 and Dec. 12, asking them to choose up to three out of 30 city-led policy initiatives that deserved to be this year's top 10 city news.



Of the 179,290 votes, Ttareungyi topped the list garnering 7.4 percent (13,293 votes). The eco-friendly system, introduced to ease traffic and curb pollution, has been used by over 6.56 million citizens since it was first introduced in October 2015. To better accommodate commuters, 1,028 rental sites have been set up near subway stations, bus stops and apartment blocks. The city plans to increase the number of rental sites and launch public campaigns to raise awareness of safety-oriented cycling including wearing safety gear.



The second-most-popular initiative was school restroom remodeling, which garnered 7.1 percent with 12,779 votes. About 800 restrooms at elementary, middle and high schools in the city have undergone major remodeling since 2015 with full participation of teachers, parents and students. This project came as an effort to shed the negative image long associated with bathrooms where school violence and deviant behaviors such as smoking have occurred.



Turning Oil Tank Culture Park in Mapo-gu, western Seoul, into a cultural venue was the third-most-popular initiative. Formerly occupied by five massive oil tanks managed by the state-run Korea National Oil Corp., the site was shut down in 2000 shortly before the World Cup Stadium was opened next door. Public access had been denied there for 41 years. About a decade later, the city invested 47 billion won ($43 million) to transform the area to provide citizens a place of rest.



Other popular initiatives include joint efforts by Seoul National University Center for Public Interests and Human Rights and the city in uncovering an 18-second video clip that features women presumed to be sex slaves of the Japanese military during World War II.



Opening to the public a 2.5-kilometer railroad-turned-walkway connecting Korea Military Academy in northern Seoul and the border between Seoul and Guri, Gyeonggi Province, also drew positive opinions.

Citywide efforts to curb fine dust was among the popular news, as well as organizing two-day evening markets every Friday and Saturday between July and October in select districts in the city including in Mokdong Stadium, Gwanghwamun and Dongdaemun.



Many remained supportive of the city's efforts to increase the numbers of jobs for young people, state-run daycare centers, as well as offering affordable housing for those in their 20s and 30s.



