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Gangdong-gu Labor Rights Center Offers Free Psychological Counseling and Healing Programs for Workers... Provides On-site and Night Counseling for Workers' Convenience

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] The Gangdong-gu Labor Rights Center (District Mayor Lee Jeong-hoon), which operates its psychological counseling services with substance and serves as a strong support for workers facing difficulties, will continue to offer free psychological counseling and nighttime consultations this year.

The Gangdong-gu Labor Rights Center opened in 2019 as the nation’s first directly managed and largest local government institution, providing comprehensive administrative services that address not only labor issues but also employment, welfare, housing, and finance all in one place.

The center is staffed with lawyers, labor attorneys, and psychological counseling experts holding national professional qualifications as dedicated public officials, allowing workers to receive psychological counseling whenever they need it.

This year as well, the center plans to continue its psychological counseling services to protect and restore workers’ mental health, designing various healing programs based on the results of demand surveys.

Workers residing in Gangdong-gu and those working at workplaces located in Gangdong-gu can receive up to 10 individual psychological counseling sessions, with free support also provided for various healing programs and stress education.

Last year, the Gangdong-gu Labor Rights Center conducted mental health screenings for 393 people, providing 93 individual counseling sessions to those identified as high-risk for mental health issues.

Additionally, the center held 25 sessions of mind-healing programs aimed at stress relief, with a cumulative participation of 301 people, receiving great positive feedback.

For workers who find it difficult to visit the center, a mobile psychological counseling service is operated, and considering workers’ convenience, the center expanded its operating hours to include nighttime counseling (Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 PM to 9 PM).

The main issues addressed in individual counseling were interpersonal relationship problems (33.3%), followed by emotional labor (20%) and workplace harassment (20%), with difficulties in emotional regulation coming next.

When satisfaction with individual counseling was surveyed, all participants expressed overall satisfaction (4.2 out of 5 points), evaluating that the counseling helped with problem-solving and self-understanding.

Some participants responded that they appreciated being able to share inner thoughts they could not tell friends or family and that it was a time to think about and see themselves more deeply.

The satisfaction survey for the mind-healing programs showed an overall satisfaction score of 4.8, with 100% of participants expressing a desire to join other healing programs.

Reflecting these results, the district plans to produce mental health guides that include topics such as emotional labor, stress symptoms and self-relief methods, and simple case studies on how to use psychological counseling, aiming to reduce workers’ burdens and prejudices regarding counseling.

Lee Jeong-hoon, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, stated, “It is necessary to lower the barriers and reduce the burden associated with psychological counseling. We will strive to provide beneficial programs and counseling education so that more people can use these services.”

For inquiries, contact the Gangdong-gu Labor Rights Center Labor Law Support Team at ☎3425-8714, 8716.