Seongdong-gu, What Is the Secret Behind Winning the Job Award for 7 Consecutive Years?

On the 6th, honored as 'Seoul's first to win 7 consecutive years,' securing 70 million KRW incentive project funds... Created 10,349 jobs, exceeding the 7,500 job target by 138%, with high evaluation for social venture company support

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, celebrating Seoul's first 7 consecutive years of winning the Job Award

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jeong Won-oh) was selected for the ‘2021 National Local Government Job Awards’ on the 6th of this month, earning the honor of being the first in Seoul to win for seven consecutive years.

The National Local Government Job Awards, hosted by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, comprehensively evaluate job policies of 243 local governments nationwide (17 metropolitan, 226 basic) to select and award outstanding local governments. In this evaluation, the district won the ‘Excellence Award’ and simultaneously secured 70 million KRW in incentive project funds.

Accordingly, Mayor Jeong has solidified his position as the ‘Job Mayor’ by winning the Job Award for three consecutive years during the 7th local government term, as well as during the four years of the 6th term.

Through last year’s comprehensive job measures, the district created 10,349 jobs, exceeding the target of 7,500 jobs by 138%, achieving remarkable results. The number of insured employees under employment insurance also increased to 178,296 from 176,916 the previous year.

In particular, the district consecutively promoted major job-related projects such as the Seongsu-dong social venture ecosystem creation project, customized youth job projects reflecting local industry characteristics, Seongsu handmade shoes promotion specialized projects, ‘No Gentrification, COVID-19 Out: Operation of Seongdong Safe Shopping District,’ and expansion of social service jobs for vulnerable groups, thereby laying a solid foundation for job creation and receiving favorable reviews as differentiated excellent policies compared to other districts.

Especially last year, with the establishment of the ‘Seongdong Impact Fund’ of 2 billion KRW, strengthening private investment attraction capabilities through the Startup Development Center, supporting business development costs through innovation contests, providing office space and manpower support through safe shopping district operations, and supporting market access through expos, the district made all-round efforts to support social venture companies that simultaneously create social value and economic performance, laying the foundation for sustainable social innovation jobs.

Remarkable achievements were also made in improving job quality.

Last year, the district became the first nationwide to enact and promulgate the ‘Ordinance on Protection and Support for Essential Workers,’ naming workers who perform face-to-face tasks risking infection to maintain the normal functioning of society during the COVID-19 crisis as ‘essential workers.’ Along with various support and protection policies such as providing quarantine supplies, flu vaccines, and psychological counseling, the district launched the ‘Thank You Essential Workers’ campaign. Through various forums, media promotions, and awareness improvement campaigns, efforts to expand the policy led to the passage of the ‘Essential Workers Protection Act’ in the National Assembly plenary session last May, becoming the first case where a local government ordinance related to essential workers was legislated into law.

Based on the comprehensive job plan of the 7th local government term, the district announced this year the creation of ‘7,800 jobs that make residents happy.’

With three core strategies?establishing the Seongdong innovative economy foundation, creating mutually beneficial jobs, and providing customized employment support through field communication?along with nine major tasks and over 160 detailed job projects, the district plans to realize Seongdong as an inclusive job city.

Jeong Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “I am very pleased to have won the Job Award for seven consecutive years, which highly evaluates and widely publicizes our district’s efforts and achievements in job creation. In these difficult times due to COVID-19, we will continue to strive to prepare job measures that empower local residents, and we will do our best to create various jobs through communication and cooperation with the central government and related organizations.”