Opened 'Yeong(0)won Market' Where Economically Disadvantaged Yeongdeungpo Residents Can Take 30,000 Won Worth of Daily Necessities

Available to any resident facing economic difficulties... Food and daily necessities worth 30,000 KRW provided... Yeongdeungpo Food Bank & Market installed at 3 locations (Dangsan 1-dong, Singil 1-dong, Singil 6-dong)... Volunteer group 'Joeun Iutdeul' offers home delivery service for those with mobility issues

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Yeongdeungpo-gu (Mayor Chae Hyun-il) has installed and is operating the 'Yeongwon (0 Won) Market' at three Yeongdeungpo-gu Food Bank·Market locations starting from the 18th to support residents whose livelihoods are threatened due to the COVID-19 outbreak and other reasons.

Unlike the existing food banks that support emergency aid recipients, basic livelihood security recipients who have lost eligibility, and lower-income groups, the Yeongwon Market is distinctive in that any economically struggling resident can visit the market and freely take daily necessities worth about 30,000 won.

The district explained that the name ‘Yeongwon Market’ was chosen to mean ‘a market that Yeongdeungpo residents want’ and to convey that goods are provided at zero cost without payment.

The support items include ▲ food products such as rice and ramen ▲ daily necessities such as tissue paper, shampoo, and soap ▲ clothing and fashion accessories, all of which were prepared through donations and sponsorships from companies and individuals.

Additionally, the market has been installed at the same locations as the existing food markets: ▲ Food Market No. 1 at 80 Seonyu-dong 1-ro, Dangsan-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Annex ▲ Food Market No. 2 at 9-17 Dosin-ro 54-gil, Singil 1-dong ▲ Food Market No. 3 at 7 Singil-ro 8-gil, Singil 6-dong, to enhance convenience and accessibility for residents.

Furthermore, for those who wish to use the market but have severe disabilities or mobility difficulties due to old age, the volunteer group ‘Joeun Iutdeul’ (Good Neighbors) affiliated with the Yeongdeungpo-gu Social Welfare Council plans to provide a home delivery service by visiting applicants’ homes directly.

In line with the purpose of discovering welfare blind spots, submitting a simple consent form after visiting the market allows residents to receive customized welfare counseling linked with the local community center.

Also, when applying for social welfare benefits, depending on the investigation results, applicants can be registered as regular users of the food bank/market and receive various welfare benefits.

One of the staff members in charge of preparing the opening of Yeongwon Market No. 1 said, “We are doing our best to prepare for the opening with the hope of providing even a small help to residents facing economic difficulties due to COVID-19,” and added, “We will carefully attend to each person who courageously visits with a heavy heart to ensure timely customized welfare counseling and support services.”

Chae Hyun-il, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, stated, “Since the market is operated with relaxed eligibility conditions so that residents facing livelihood difficulties can freely use it, we ask for the cooperation of residents so that neighbors who truly need support can receive help,” and added, “We will do our utmost to discover households in crisis and eliminate welfare blind spots so that no resident suffers from hunger.”