Seongdong-gu Solves Apartment Complex Issues Through Social Economy

Three Apartment Complexes Selected for the '2020 Apartment Co-Living Project' Securing 150 Million Budget to Establish Childcare Systems and Collaborate with Social Economy Organizations Including Social Economy Enterprise Operations to Identify and Solve Issues Within Apartment Complexes

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jeong Won-oh) is officially launching the ‘2020 Seoul Metropolitan Government Apartment Co-living Project,’ which collaborates with social economy organizations to solve problems within apartment complexes.

The ‘Apartment Co-living Project’ is a program where residents of apartment complexes identify daily life issues themselves and work together with social economy organizations to create a better living environment. The project will be carried out over three years, from 2020 to 2022.

The district selected three apartment complexes: Ten’s Hill 1 Complex in Hawangsimni-dong, Shingeumho Park Xi in Geumho-dong 2-ga, and Seongsu Geumho Bestville 3rd Complex in Seongsu-dong 1-ga. A total of 150 million KRW in Seoul city funds will be provided.

Ten’s Hill 1 Complex will address the most urgent issue within the complex, childcare. They will establish a communal childcare system, create after-school childcare facilities, and set up a school and academy pick-up system.

By linking with local social economy enterprises, various classes and educational content will be developed and utilized to operate a ‘Three-Generation Learning Center’ program targeting seniors, parents, and children.

The other complexes will focus on revitalizing community through social economy enterprise operations.

Shingeumho Park Xi operates a cafeteria called ‘Sinpa Jassi Co-living,’ providing resident capacity-building education such as barista training and marketing education, and promotes community activation through planned weekend pop-up events and a residents-only caf?.

Seongsu Geumho Bestville 3rd Complex runs ‘Seongsu Mom Food,’ a social economy enterprise specializing in side dish delivery, and dedicates efforts to creating community within the complex through various education, support projects, and job creation.

The Seongdong-gu Social Economy Support Center participates as a local support institution, dispatching coordinators to closely support each complex’s projects.

Additionally, the project plans to actively utilize various social economy organizations in the area to connect tailored social economy organizations to each complex and support the project through diverse methods.

To officially launch the project, resident briefing sessions for each target complex will be held in May, followed by workshops at each community center starting in June. These workshops will include education related to social economy and discussions on local issues and solutions through connections with social economy enterprises.

Jeong Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, stated, “Interest in community revitalization based on apartment complexes is increasing recently, and efforts by residents to solve daily life problems on their own continue. We hope that solving apartment complex issues using social economy organizations such as cooperatives will establish a new sustainable model of social economy.”