[Seoul District News] Comfortable Testing Inside Cars Amid Heatwave from August 2... Gangdong-gu Installs Shade Shelters, Provides Ice Packs, and Lends Parasols at Temporary Screening Centers for Heatwave Measures... Seocho-gu Officially Launches 'Our Neighborhood Good Restaurant' Program
Eunpyeong-gu to Operate Temporary Drive-Through Screening Clinic at Seoul Innovation Park from August 2
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) announced that to respond to the rapidly increasing demand for COVID-19 testing amid the heatwave, it will establish and operate a temporary drive-through screening clinic at Seoul Innovation Park (684 Tongil-ro) starting August 2.
Drive-through testing minimizes contact between waiting individuals and allows families to be tested safely and comfortably even in extreme heat, making it highly preferred by residents. However, due to limitations in vehicle movement and securing testing space, installation has been challenging.
Seoul Innovation Park has a large site area and is located along Tongil-ro, a main road in the northwest area, making it more convenient for drive-through users to get tested.
With this, Eunpyeong-gu will operate a total of four COVID-19 testing sites. The existing locations are ▲Public Health Center screening clinic ▲Eunpyeong Peace Park (Exit 4 of Yeokchon Station) ▲Gupabal Artificial Waterfall Meeting Plaza (Exit 1 of Gupabal Station), and from August 2, the temporary drive-through screening clinic at Seoul Innovation Park will be added. This additional operation is a response to the increasing testing demand amid the ongoing heatwave.
Mayor Kim Mi-kyung of Eunpyeong-gu said, "When I visited the drive-through screening clinic at the Eunpyeong Municipal Hospital in Eungam-dong last year, a resident who came with an elderly mother said they were able to get tested comfortably thanks to the drive-through." She explained, "The drive-through method allows multiple people in one vehicle to be tested at once and has the advantage of shorter waiting times."
The Seoul Innovation Park drive-through temporary screening clinic will be staffed by a total of 18 personnel, including 5 medical staff and 13 administrative staff. Operating hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, Saturdays, and public holidays (closed on Sundays). Visitors can complete registration, consultation, and specimen collection while remaining in their vehicles. Specimen collection takes about 10 minutes per person, and test results are sent via text message. Additionally, the Seobu Police Station and Eunpyeong Police Station will provide traffic support near Gugi Tunnel and Tongil-ro to ensure smooth traffic flow.
Meanwhile, the district has installed cooling fog machines, shade tents, parasol rentals, sun caps, and stocked cold water at the temporary screening clinic to assist residents waiting for tests in the heatwave.
Gangdong-gu Implements Full Heatwave Measures Including Shade Tents, Ice Packs, and Parasol Rentals at Temporary Screening Clinics
Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Jung-hoon) is making every effort to prevent heat-related accidents among medical staff and test waiters at COVID-19 temporary screening clinics by implementing various preventive measures and focusing on special COVID-19 quarantine during the heatwave.
The district currently operates the Gangdong-gu Public Health Center screening clinic and two temporary screening clinics at ▲Amsa (Amsa Station Park Parking Lot) and ▲Godeok (Outdoor Parking Lot next to Onjo Daewang Culture and Sports Center).
Among these, the Godeok temporary screening clinic was additionally established and has been operating since the 12th as part of the metropolitan area special quarantine measures.
To ensure the safety and health of medical staff and on-site workers at the temporary screening clinics during the ongoing heatwave, the district has set up separate rest areas equipped with air conditioners, large fans, and ice vests to cool down the heat. Work shifts are arranged to allow staff to work in rotation for 30 minutes to 1 hour, ensuring sufficient rest time.
Additionally, at the Amsa temporary screening clinic, shade tents for sun protection have been newly installed, and 100 ice packs and parasols have been provided to alleviate residents' discomfort while waiting in the heat.
In August, a queue management system will be introduced at the Godeok temporary screening clinic. Residents can leave their phone numbers on a tablet PC at the clinic and receive updates on waiting status and their turn via their mobile phones, which is expected to reduce inconvenience caused by long waits. After a pilot operation, this system will also be introduced at the Amsa temporary screening clinic.
Mayor Lee Jung-hoon of Gangdong-gu said, "We will not let our guard down in protecting residents safely from COVID-19," and added, "As all district employees are fully committed to COVID-19 prevention, we ask residents to proactively undergo diagnostic testing and strictly follow quarantine rules such as wearing masks and social distancing."
The Amsa temporary screening clinic operates Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (disinfection time: 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.), and the Godeok temporary screening clinic operates extended hours on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (disinfection time: 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.). Operating hours, disinfection times, and non-operating days vary by clinic, so visitors should check in advance.
Nowon-gu Offers Family-Oriented Experience Education for Careful Dog Adoption
Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) is running a pre-adoption experience program called ‘Naega Halgae’ to foster a proper pet care culture.
The ‘Naega Halgae’ program aims to prevent abandonment and relinquishment caused by adopting dogs without prior information and preparation. It provides practical information and experiences to instill a sense of responsibility for life and increase adoption success rates.
Participants are families who do not yet have dogs but are interested in adoption. Two classes, each with one family, will be accepted on Saturdays and Sundays for a pilot operation, with plans to gradually expand the number of participating families.
The classes, held at the Nowon-gu Pet Culture Center ‘Daengdaeng House,’ consist of a three-week course with weekly sessions. Experts teach basic topics such as greeting dogs and animal behavior, environmental preparation for pets, and pre-adoption preparations. Participants can also engage in practical activities like play education and basic walking training with shelter dogs at the center.
In the final week, a role assignment class involves the whole family to create a responsible care plan. There is also a pet-loss class to help participants emotionally prepare for the eventual loss of their dogs by understanding pet illnesses and death.
Additionally, Daengdaeng House plans various programs for August. New classes include basic home care for dogs covering grooming and hygiene management, and a handmade snack-making class where participants create healthy treats for their dogs. The popular dog behavior correction class will continue as well.
Those wishing to enroll in Daengdaeng House’s August programs can apply on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 10 a.m. on August 3 via the official Daengdaeng House website.
The participation fee is 5,000 KRW per class. Detailed information about schedules and other inquiries can be obtained through the website or Daengdaeng House.
Since its opening in October last year, Daengdaeng House has become a hub for pet culture in Nowon-gu. It provides shelter for abandoned animals, education, and pet-friendly facilities, serving nearly 1,000 pet owners in the first half of the year alone. Notably, the behavior correction education for 90 families received a 100% satisfaction rate in participant surveys, with 97% reporting positive changes in problem behaviors such as biting, barking, and separation anxiety after the training.
Mayor Oh Seung-rok of Nowon-gu said, "30% of Nowon-gu’s population keeps pets," and added, "We will foster a mature and proper pet culture, reduce abandoned dogs, and create a Nowon where humans and animals coexist happily."
Professor Kim Nuri of Chung-Ang University to Give Lecture on 'Educational Revolution in the Post-COVID Era'
Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) will provide an online special lecture to offer practical support for parents of elementary, middle, and high school students in raising their children.
On August 18, Professor Kim Nuri of Chung-Ang University will deliver a lecture titled ‘Educational Revolution in the Post-COVID Era.’
‘Occasional Parents’ is part of the Dongdaemun Innovation Education District project, inviting experts from various fields monthly to provide quality educational programs to parents residing in Dongdaemun-gu with children in elementary, middle, and high school.
The August 18 lecture will focus on education changes following the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, including the history and dignity of education in South Korea and the future direction the country should take.
Applications for 80 participants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis from August 2 to 13. Interested individuals can register via Google Docs or by phone.
The lecture will be conducted in real-time online format with interactive communication to prevent infectious disease spread. Participants can join via an invitation link sent by text message on the day of the lecture. For more details, contact the Dongdaemun-gu Education Support Division.
Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol of Dongdaemun-gu encouraged participation, saying, "We invited Professor Kim Nuri to provide a quality educational program that parents can relate to. The lecture on the interesting topic of education in the post-COVID era will be held, so we hope many parents with children in elementary, middle, and high school will participate."
Seocho-gu Launches 'Our Neighborhood Good Restaurant' Program
Seocho-gu (Mayor Cho Eun-hee) will actively promote the ‘Our Neighborhood Good Restaurant’ sharing project from August to provide free warm meals to children from low-income families suffering from nutritional imbalance worsened by COVID-19.
The ‘Our Neighborhood Good Restaurant’ project was designed to help alleviate nutritional disparities among low-income children, whose nutrition problems have deepened due to household financial difficulties caused by COVID-19 and school meal suspensions due to remote learning.
This project is also part of Seocho-gu’s focused ‘Walking with the Vulnerable’ initiative.
The program started with eight local restaurants providing free meals to low-income children. Through promotions by the district office, community service centers, and the Seocho branch of the Korea Foodservice Industry Association, 60 restaurants have voluntarily expressed their intention to participate.
Children who present their meal cards at participating restaurants can receive free meals. If a child has difficulty dining alone, meals are also provided to accompanying guardians, showing warm consideration at each restaurant.
One restaurant owner participating in the program said, "I want to help children in need as much as possible, but during busy lunch hours when office workers flood in, I worry that children might not get enough attention and could feel hurt. If they come during less busy times, we can take better care of them," expressing cautious concern.
Going forward, the district plans to continue recruiting participating restaurants so that children can easily access ‘Good Restaurants’ near their homes and schools. Various supports, including store design improvements, will be provided to ensure the program’s sustainability.
Details about participating restaurants and stores can be found on the Seocho-gu website.
Last year, the district raised meal costs to a nationwide top level of 9,000 KRW per meal to support the health of children at risk of food insecurity. Additionally, the number of meal card affiliated stores expanded from just 379 at the beginning of this year to 5,214, enabling children to comfortably use their meal cards near home and school.
Mayor Cho Eun-hee of Seocho-gu expressed sincere gratitude to restaurant owners participating in the ‘Our Neighborhood Good Restaurant’ sharing project and said, "We will continue to work actively with the community to help low-income children grow up healthy."
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