[Photo] Dobong-gu Mayor Lee Dong-jin Appears on Local MBC Co-Produced Special Lecture at Autonomy and Decentralization University

Discussion on 'Roles of Local Autonomy and Heads of Organizations' with Dobong-gu Mayor Lee Dong-jin ▲ Views on Local Autonomy and Decentralization ▲ Reflections and Responses to the Complete Revision of the Local Autonomy Act ▲ Importance of Establishing Decentralization in Finance... Gangdong-gu Deploys 5 Water Sprinklers to Combat Road Heat... Yeongdeungpo-gu Mayor Chae Hyun-il Listens to Issues of Residents in Yeongdeungpo Station Area Goshiwon... Yongsan-gu and Hope Sharing People Sign MOU for Hope Sharing Movement... Gwangjin-gu Supports Outdoor Workers like Sanitation Workers with Cooling Items (Ice Necklaces, Cool Packs, etc.)...

Dobong-gu Mayor Lee Dong-jin appeared in the special lecture "Knock Knock, It's Autonomy and Decentralization," a joint project by local MBC, filmed on July 22 at The Book Company Tove Hall. (Photo by Lee Dong-jin, first from the right)

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Lee Dong-jin, Mayor of Dobong-gu (Chairman of the Association of Autonomous Local Governments), appeared in the special lecture "Knock Knock, It's Autonomy and Decentralization," jointly planned by 16 regional MBC stations.

The special lecture is scheduled for a total of 10 episodes, with one episode broadcast weekly through regional MBC channels.

The Autonomy and Decentralization University is a citizen education program operated by the Association of Autonomous Local Governments to expand the base and raise awareness of resident autonomy and decentralization.

Lee Dong-jin, Mayor of Dobong-gu, Seoul, currently serves as the chairman of the Association of Autonomous Local Governments and was inaugurated as the first president of the Autonomy and Decentralization University on April 15.

The filming on July 22 featured Mayor Lee Dong-jin of Dobong-gu and Mayor Lee Sung-moon of Yeonje-gu, Busan, as panelists. Following Mayor Lee Sung-moon's lecture titled "Which Comes First, Law or People?" a panel discussion ensued.

In the discussion on "Local Autonomy and the Role of Heads of Local Governments," Mayor Lee Dong-jin stated, "Local autonomy and decentralization cannot be achieved individually by each local government but can be accomplished when local governments nationwide unite and cooperate." He shared his views on autonomy and decentralization, including his convictions, reflections and responses to last year's full revision of the Local Autonomy Act, and the importance of establishing decentralization in the financial sector.

This filming corresponds to the 9th episode out of 10 and is scheduled to be broadcast for about one hour on regional MBC channels in August. Existing broadcast videos and post-broadcast footage will also be available on YouTube.

Chae Hyun-il, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, Visits Residents of the Shantytown near Yeongdeungpo Station to Hear Their Difficulties

On the afternoon of the 28th, Chae Hyun-il, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, visited the shantytown located near Yeongdeungpo Station to communicate with residents and listen to their difficulties.

On this day, Mayor Chae visited the shantytown counseling center to receive a briefing on the current situation, then went to the shantytown site to meet residents suffering from the dual hardships of consecutive heatwaves and COVID-19, hearing their concerns.

Yongsan-gu and Hope Sharing People Sign MOU for Hope Sharing Connection Movement

Yongsan-gu (Mayor Seong Jang-hyun) and the nonprofit organization Hope Sharing People (Chairman Kim Jeong-an) signed a business agreement for the "Hope Sharing Connection Movement" on the 28th at the Yongsan-gu Office's main conference room.

The signing ceremony lasted 30 minutes, including introductions, greetings, signing the agreement, and commemorative photos, attended by 10 people including Mayor Seong Jang-hyun and Chairman Kim Jeong-an.

The purpose of the agreement is to support children and adolescents from low-income vulnerable groups. Both organizations will select 25 scholarship students locally and provide scholarships and computers. The agreement period is two years.

Mayor Seong Jang-hyun of Yongsan-gu said, "Last month, Hope Sharing People donated toys worth 300 million KRW, which were distributed to grandparent-headed families, multicultural families, and social welfare facilities. We will spare no support to ensure the smooth progress of the Hope Sharing Movement."

Hope Sharing People is a social public interest corporation supporting children who cannot realize their dreams and hopes due to difficult family environments. They conduct various projects such as scholarships, scholarship books, cultural experiences, and healing camps for vulnerable children.

Moon Seok-jin, Mayor of Seodaemun-gu, Visits Nongol Cultural Center Senior Citizens' Center to Check on the Elderly

On the afternoon of the 28th, amid ongoing heatwave warnings across Seoul, Moon Seok-jin, Mayor of Seodaemun-gu, visited the Nongol Cultural Center Senior Citizens' Center in Hong Eun 2-dong to check on residents while reviewing their 'Vaccination Completion Cards.'

The district issues its own 'Vaccination Completion Cards' to residents aged 75 and older who have completed their second vaccine dose. Although this card cannot replace the official vaccination certificate, it is used as proof of vaccination when using senior centers or welfare facilities.

Additionally, on the 26th of this month, the district resumed operating heatwave shelters at local senior centers, allowing those who have completed their second vaccination to use the facilities at up to 50% capacity on weekdays from 1 PM to 5 PM. However, the shelters operate only as cooling spaces, with no programs, eating, or cooking allowed. Under the responsibility of each senior center president, guidelines such as visitor logs, temperature checks, mask and hand sanitizer use, and regular ventilation are enforced.

Mayor Moon Seok-jin said, "Although the operation of shelters was suspended due to the elevation of social distancing to level 4 in the metropolitan area, we decided to resume them under strict quarantine rules to protect elderly residents vulnerable to heatwaves."

Kim Soo-young, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, Attends Rice Donation Ceremony by Dance Cooperative Federation

On the afternoon of the 28th at 2 PM, Kim Soo-young, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, encouraged officials including the chairman of the Dance Cooperative Federation who donated 960 kg of rice to support vulnerable groups at the Yangcheon-gu Office Open Participation Room.

The 960 kg of rice (worth approximately 26 million KRW) donated by the Dance Cooperative Federation through the Yangcheon Love Welfare Foundation will be used to support vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, disabled persons, and low-income families.

Gwangjin-gu Supports Cooling Supplies (Ice Necklaces, Cool Packs, etc.) for Outdoor Workers

Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Sun-gap) is providing heatwave kits to prevent heat-related illnesses among outdoor workers amid prolonged heatwaves.

The heatwave kit recipients include 391 workers such as environmental cleaners and park workers who mainly work outdoors but have been overlooked.

The heatwave kit consists of one ice necklace and two cool packs.

Previously, the district provided cooling supplies such as cool sleeves and cool vests to staff at Gwangjin-gu screening clinics and temporary screening centers who have been struggling with the heatwave.

Mayor Kim Sun-gap of Gwangjin-gu said, "Due to a shorter rainy season than usual, heatwave warnings have been prolonged, causing great hardship for outdoor workers. We carefully monitor workers who have been overlooked among the support targets and provide heatwave kits to prevent various heat-related illnesses."

Dobong-gu (Mayor Lee Dong-jin) has expanded road water cleaning from the 23rd until the end of the heatwave this summer, anticipating a severe heatwave comparable to 2018 (with a maximum temperature of 39.6℃ in Seoul).

In addition to the district office's own road water cleaning vehicles, Dobong-gu is deploying additional water cleaning vehicles such as privately operated sprinklers using emergency funds allocated by Seoul City, increasing vehicle operation time and frequency.

The number of vehicles has increased from 4 to 8, and the operation time of road water cleaning vehicles, which previously ran from 9 AM to 4 PM on weekdays, has been extended by 2 hours to 6 PM. The number of runs has also increased from 2 to 3 times.

Mayor Lee Dong-jin of Dobong-gu stated, "We will focus water cleaning on major arterial roads, health centers, and screening clinics with high traffic, especially between 12 PM and 4 PM during the peak daytime temperature hours, to do our best to reduce the heat."

Meanwhile, according to the Health and Environment Research Institute, cooling effects have been confirmed, with road surface temperatures dropping by 6.4℃ and surrounding sidewalks by 1.5℃ after road water cleaning.

Gangdong-gu Mobilizes 5 Sprinkler Trucks to Combat Road Surface Heat

Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Jung-hoon) is making every effort to respond to the heatwave by intensively operating road surface sprinkler trucks in the district to cool down the heat amid continuous heatwaves.

Currently, the district is mobilizing all five of its sprinkler trucks to strengthen road watering operations. Additionally, in August, four private sprinkler trucks will be rented, bringing the total to nine trucks dedicated to road water cleaning.

Especially, to help residents waiting for COVID-19 tests escape the heat, sprinklers are operated mainly around screening clinics and temporary screening centers.

According to a survey by the Seoul Health and Environment Research Institute, spraying water on roads during peak daytime temperatures reduces road surface temperature by 6.4℃ and surrounding temperature by 1.5℃. The operation of sprinklers is also expected to reduce fine dust on roads.

Mayor Lee Jung-hoon of Gangdong-gu said, "By expanding the operation of road surface sprinkler trucks amid ongoing heatwaves, we expect to provide visual relief to residents exhausted by the heat and help create a comfortable road environment. We will continue to do our best to minimize heatwave damage so residents can safely get through the hot summer."

Gangnam-gu Deploys 23 Sprinkler Vehicles to Combat Heatwave

Gangnam-gu (Mayor Jung Soon-gyun) has mobilized 23 sprinkler vehicles to respond to the heatwave warning caused by record-breaking heat.

The district operates the largest number of sprinkler vehicles among Seoul's autonomous districts and sprays 1,100 tons of water daily over 730 km of roads during the heatwave alert period.

Spraying water on roads during peak daytime temperatures has been shown to reduce road surface temperature by 6.4℃ and surrounding temperature by 1.5℃.