A Warm Jongno Where Residents Help Residents

Jongno-gu, Our Neighborhood Neighbor Project Underway

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Jongno-gu (Mayor Kim Young-jong) is promoting the 'Our Neighborhood Neighbors Project' to create an environment where neighbors care for each other by forming networks of sharing and caring among residents within the community.

The 'Our Neighborhood Neighbors Project' is a program that establishes a resident-led care welfare community where neighbors look after each other, building a locally driven sharing network in which small business owners voluntarily support neighbors in need. It consists of the 'Sharing Neighbors Project' and the 'Sharing Stores Project.'

The Sharing Neighbors Project is a program where groups of residents called 'Sharing Neighbors,' formed around the common themes of sharing and care within the community, watch over and support neighbors who need care.

Currently, a total of 23 Sharing Neighbors clubs operate in eight neighborhoods including Pyeongchang-dong, Jongno 1·2·3·4-ga-dong, Ihwa-dong, and Hyehwa-dong, engaging in various activities such as companionship for the elderly, side dish support, bathing volunteer services, and academic mentoring.

'Sharing Nest,' composed of local merchants from Jongno 1·2·3·4-ga-dong, conducts activities reflecting the area's characteristics with many low-income single-person households, such as making kimchi and delivering it to low-income elderly living alone and middle-aged single-person households.

In particular, 'Somang-i,' made up of residents living in the Donui-dong Goshiwon village, usually care recipients themselves, also act as Sharing Neighbors who spread warmth of sharing to neighbors in need.

Since 2017, the Sharing Neighbors group 'Areumdri House Repair Volunteer Team' in Ihwa-dong has been carrying out wallpapering, waterproofing, electrical repairs, and exterior wall maintenance for low-income households in need of repairs due to aging.

While the Sharing Neighbors Project was previously conducted only at the local community centers, from this year it will also be carried out by the Welfare Support Division of the district office. The district expects to expand the discovery and operational support of Sharing Neighbors clubs to deliver warm sharing to more residents.

The Sharing Stores Project is a sharing community activity where local shops and academies help neighbors in need by directly sharing their own goods or services rather than donations. Currently, 140 Sharing Stores are active, providing support such as meals for low-income elderly living alone.

Among the Sharing Stores, the Korea Traditional Food Research Institute in Jongno 1·2·3·4-ga-dong provides holiday meals for elderly people spending holidays alone; the JCC Talent Culture Foundation in Hyehwa-dong shares cultural life; and the Seoul Vocational School in Sungin 2-dong offers beauty and hairdressing volunteer services.

Mayor Kim Young-jong said, “Although neighborly affection has decreased, during this difficult time for everyone due to COVID-19, many heartwarming stories of donating masks and other items to neighbors living in even more difficult circumstances have been shared, which makes me think our society is still a warm world full of affection.” He added, “I hope that through voluntary sharing, our community will become a warmer and better place to live.”