Nowon-gu Operates Psychological Stability Program for Self-Quarantined Individuals Exhausted by COVID-19

'Visiting Pottery Experience' and 'Companion Plant Delivery' for Self-Quarantined Individuals... 'Safe Book Loan Service' Allows Up to 5 Books per Person with a Maximum Loan Period of 3 Weeks... 'No.1 Drive-in Theater' Extended Screening at Nohye Neighborhood Park in Junggye-dong from 17th to 19th

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) is operating psychological stabilization programs to relieve depression and stress among self-quarantined individuals caused by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

There are four types of programs: ‘Visiting Pottery Experience,’ ‘Companion Plant Delivery,’ ‘Safe Book Loan Service,’ and ‘Drive-in Theater Operation.’

First, a program has been prepared for self-quarantined individuals who may experience stress and depression from being alone at home due to restrictions on going out. This is a pottery-making experience linked with the Choansan Pottery Experience Center (33, Deokneung-ro 60ta-gil, Nowon-gu).

Self-quarantined individuals can apply by calling the district office (☎2116-0543~0547), and a pottery experience kit (300g clay, scraper, sign file, water cup, sponge, instruction manual, etc.) will be delivered to their home.

At home, they can make a pottery flowerpot by following an easy-to-understand instruction manual divided into 13 steps with photos. For convenience, a video of the pottery-making process has been posted on YouTube. Search for the ‘Ceramin Happy Channel’ on YouTube. The approximately 13-minute video titled ‘Making a Succulent Flowerpot’ allows individuals to easily follow along alone.

The flowerpots made by the self-quarantined individuals will be fired at the pottery experience center, and once completed, plants will be planted and delivered to their homes after the quarantine period ends.

The district office distributed ‘Visiting Pottery Experience Program Guides’ to about 500 self-quarantined individuals for promotion. It is expected to help relieve stress by allowing participants to feel comfort and satisfaction through the soft texture of the clay, the main material of pottery, and the process of completing their work.

Next is the ‘Companion Plant Delivery.’ This is for the emotional stability and psychological recovery of self-quarantined individuals. The plants distributed are hydrangeas in two colors: red and pink. Priority is given to newly self-quarantined individuals and those with more than 10 days remaining in their quarantine period. Companion plants will be distributed starting from the 14th of this month with the consent of the self-quarantined individuals.

Distribution is carried out by four teams of two people each, placing the plants in front of the self-quarantined individuals’ homes and notifying them via text message. A sticker with care instructions for hydrangeas is attached to the back of the pots to provide plant care tips.

The pottery experience fees and companion plants are supported by COVID-19 donations collected by the Nowon Education Welfare Foundation.

The ‘Safe Book Loan Service’ started on the 7th of this month to prevent depression caused by COVID-19. The participating libraries are five public libraries in the district (Nowon Information Library, Nowon Children’s Library, Wolgye Cultural Information Library, Sanggye Cultural Information Library, and Bulam Library).

Anyone with a library membership card can use the service. Up to five books can be borrowed per person for a maximum of three weeks. Each library accepts 60 people per day on a first-come, first-served basis, totaling 300 people.

To use the service, applicants must receive a registration number from the Safe Loan section of the short-term program on the Nowon-gu public library website between Tuesday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., then write their desired books on the Safe Book Loan bulletin board.

The requested books can be picked up the next day during either the first session (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) or the second session (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.) at a dedicated locker on the first floor of the library by entering the provided password. Books requested on Sundays can be picked up on Tuesday. All loaned books are disinfected using a book sterilizer before lending, and mask-wearing is mandatory when receiving books.

Lastly, the ‘No.1 Drive-in Theater’ is operated. To accommodate residents with limited daily activities, a giant screen was installed in a park, creating a dedicated screening area of 3,270㎡ that can park 100 vehicles. It was operated at Nohae Neighborhood Park in Junggye-dong from 7:30 p.m. on weekends between the 28th of last month and the 5th of this month. With a cumulative attendance of 810 vehicles so far and strong public response, screenings have been extended to the 17th through the 19th.

Admission is free, and online advance reservations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for 100 vehicles per day. Applications can be made through the Nowon Cultural Foundation website or the foundation’s cultural business department.

To prevent COVID-19, the dedicated theater is disinfected before screenings, and operating staff check temperatures and require hand sanitization when vehicles enter.

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, “The extension of social distancing has pushed residents’ mental fatigue to the limit,” adding, “We will continue to prepare various support measures for residents until COVID-19 completely disappears.”