Achieving a Happy Dongdaemun-gu for All Residents Based on Kindness, Integrity, Communication, and Safety... Faithfully Advancing Seven Key Areas Including Top Childcare, Education, Welfare & Health, Economy, and Growth
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) is taking more vigorous steps to become the central city of northeastern Seoul.
To this end, it will actively pursue policies centered on seven major areas: △Top Childcare and Education City △Welfare and Health City △Economic City △Growth City △Cultural City △Environmental City △Living Safety City.
◇Top Childcare and Education City
This year, the district allocated about 75.1 billion won for childcare-related budgets, an increase of 6.3 billion won from last year. The budget will be focused on improving the local childcare environment.
First, the snack expenses will be expanded so that children using daycare centers can receive balanced and safe meals and snacks. Until last year, infants (0-2 years old) were supported with 12,500 won per person, but from this year, children aged 3-5 will also receive 10,000 won per person per month.
Through the ‘Dongdaemun-gu Eco-friendly Urban-Rural Win-win Public Meal Center,’ which began operation last year, efforts will be made to supply fresher and safer ingredients to local public meal facilities. Free education and meals, previously provided only to high school seniors, will be expanded to include high school juniors this year.
Additionally, support for education expenses for elementary, middle, and high schools will be increased to 6.6 billion won, ranking third among Seoul’s 25 autonomous districts, thereby supporting the academic improvement of local students.
◇Welfare and Health City
The construction of a ‘welfare city that shares and enjoys together’ will also be actively promoted. The ‘Welfare Community Bodeumnuri Project,’ involving about 1,500 Hope Welfare Committee members from each neighborhood, 170 religious and private organizations, and about 1,300 district office staff, will be operated more solidly to minimize welfare blind spots in the area.
In line with the aging society, the district will expand public daycare centers and promote the establishment of the Dongdaemun Senior Club. Furthermore, operating expenses for senior centers will be supported at the highest level in Seoul to help the elderly live healthily and comfortably.
◇Economic City
The youth job stabilization and traditional market revitalization projects centered on the ‘Gyeongdong Market Youth Mall’ will continue without setbacks.
A youth community space called ‘Zero Gravity Zone Dongdaemun’ will be created in the Cheongnyangni Station plaza, and efforts such as fostering social economy enterprises and regularizing the Itda Market will be promoted to revitalize the local economy.
In particular, the ‘Dongdaemun-gu Love Gift Certificate,’ issued starting on the 17th of this month with a total amount of 5 billion won, will be continuously monitored to support residents’ daily lives and contribute to increasing sales of local small business owners.
◇Growth City
The district aims to improve local infrastructure and enhance residents’ quality of life through urban regeneration projects underway in areas such as Jeongidong Godaeap Village and Jeongidong Gamcho Village near Cheongnyangni General Market.
Along with this, the district plans to build a public parking lot and a Dong Office complex facility on the site of Heungmyeong Industrial Company in Imun-dong, and relocate the Cheongnyangni-dong Community Center to the reconstructed Miju Shopping Center without delay to improve residents’ convenience.
◇Cultural City
The ‘Baebongsan Forest Library,’ which opened last year, will be nurtured as a healing space in nature, and the construction of one ‘Neighborhood Library’ per neighborhood will be promoted so that all residents can easily access books.
The recently renovated Dongdaemun-gu Sports Center will operate more diverse programs to allow more residents to use the facility.
Additionally, traditional festivals such as the ‘Visiting Cultural Yard,’ which offered residents a moment of relaxation from daily life, and △Seonnong Daeje △Cheongryong Cultural Festival, where local traditions can be vividly experienced, will be enriched further.
Yoo Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, attending the opening ceremony of Baebongsan Forest Library, is having a conversation with the residents.
◇Environmental City
To help residents find leisure amid their busy lives, the district will expand resting spaces. An urban agriculture experience learning center will be operated on the banks of Jungnangcheon Stream, and a flower garden with various seasonal flowers will be created.
Old parks that had become hazardous due to aging facilities will be thoroughly renovated, and a street tree growth environment improvement project will also be promoted.
Moreover, the district will strengthen the management of household and food waste to create a cleaner residential environment.
◇Living Safety City
To prevent traffic accidents in child protection zones, the district will expand speed cameras and speed bumps and continuously crack down on illegal parking.
In addition, to prevent seasonal disasters, the district will operate a task force in a timely manner and run the CCTV integrated control center 24 hours a day to protect residents’ lives and property.
Also, following last year, the district will subscribe to ‘Living Safety Insurance’ again this year to help residents reduce economic burdens in case of disasters, accidents, or other unforeseen incidents.
Yoo Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, stated, “Last year, we made great efforts to communicate with residents and implement district administration that meets their expectations. This year, together with all staff, we will focus solely on residents to make Dongdaemun-gu an even better place to live.”
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