Newly replaced Wooden Deck on the Boardwalk 



Boongeobang Pond at SeoulTech is a central landmark that serves as a vital pedestrian path and recreational space for students, faculty, and even local residents. However, recent deterioration of the wooden deck has led to frequent maintenance work and subsequent walkway restrictions. This has sparked growing concerns over pedestrian safety, particularly during the semester, when foot traffic peaks due to the pond’s proximity to the Central Library, Annex Library, Student Union Bldg.1, and key academic halls such as Eoui Hall and Davinci Hall.

Despite its importance, ongoing maintenance during the semester has caused significant inconvenience for students commuting between lecture classes. According to the SeoulTech website, maintenance to replace deteriorating deck boards was conducted twice in 2025 alone—in July and November—indicating a rapidly shortening maintenance cycle compared with previous years. Beyond mere inconvenience, the dilapidated state of the deck poses a potential safety hazard.

To learn more about the management of Boongeobang Pond and its facilities, The SeoulTech interviewed Younghyeon Kang, Team Leader of the Division of Facilities Management.

Q. What is the current status of the boardwalk’s deterioration, and what is the standard process for regular safety inspections and repairs of damaged sections?

A. Boongeobang boardwalk has aged significantly, so my team performs partial maintenance whenever it is needed. Safety inspections for the decks are conducted three times a year: in summer, winter, and the thawing season.

Q. Students have raised concerns about inconvenience caused by walkway restrictions during maintenance. Are there any plans for fundamental improvements, such as a full-scale deck replacement or a transition to more durable materials?

A. We think full maintenance around the Boongeobang boardwalk—connected to Hyanghak-ro—will be needed once the new library construction is finished. At the moment, the maintenance is being interrupted because of the construction.

Q. Beyond the deck, Boongeobang involves complex management of landscaping, water quality, and surrounding facilities. What is the current status of the water purification system, and how is the annual landscaping maintenance scheduled?

A. We actually have medium-to-long-term plans for campus maintenance, but we don’t have an annual inspection schedule localized specifically to the Boongeobang facilities.

Q. Do you have any specific plans or alternatives to make Boongeobang a safer and more refreshing space going forward.

A. My team recognizes that facility improvements must be carried out in alignment with the completion of the new library. As mentioned earlier, while we have development plans for the campus facilities as a whole, there are currently no specific plans localized only to individual spaces like this one.

The Division of Facilities Management is currently conducting regular inspections and repairs of the Boongeobang boardwalk in response to its aging structure. While they stated that no future visions or development plans exist localized exclusively to Boongeobang, Kang’s team emphasized their commitment to enhancing student safety.

Reporter

Jaeho Lim

limjaeho4119@seoultech.ac.kr

Reporter 임재호

• 직책 :
• e-mail : limjaeho4119@seoultech.ac.kr