Suncheon City, Public Officials 1:1 Partnership Project Happiness Dream Team Spreads Happiness Virus

Effective Partnership Between 642 Grade 6 and Above Public Officials and Low-Income Elderly

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Suncheon City (Mayor Heo Seok) announced on the 27th that the 1:1 pairing Happy Dream Team project for public officials, which has been promoted since 2015, is offering comfort to the paired recipients during the COVID-19 era.

The Happy Dream Team project pairs 642 public officials of grade 6 or higher, including Mayor Heo Seok and Vice Mayor Lim Chae-young, with low-income households in the district on a 1:1 basis, visiting at least once a month to check on their well-being.

The main targets are households facing difficulties such as elderly living alone, people with disabilities, grandparent-headed families, and low-income families that do not receive practical help. This month, 642 public officials visited their paired households to deliver rice cake soup rice cakes for the Lunar New Year.

Due to social distancing measures implemented because of COVID-19, visits were conducted strictly observing mask-wearing and maintaining a 2-meter distance while checking on the paired households.

Mayor Heo Seok also personally visited the home of a paired recipient the day before to deliver rice cake soup rice cakes and listen to their difficulties.

An elderly paired recipient said, “I was lonely because I couldn’t go out due to COVID-19, so I am very grateful that you came to visit like this.” He added, “Thinking that you consistently care for me makes my heart feel much warmer.”