[Interview] Park Junhee, Gwanak District Mayor, "Building Solid Welfare, Culture, and Living SOC Hardware for Gwanak Residents"

Gwanak Family Happiness Center, (tentative) Gwanak-gu Disabled Center, and other welfare, cultural, and social facilities for vulnerable groups... 'Gwanak Youth Center,' a comprehensive youth activity hub befitting a recognized youth city, to be completed next year... Focus on establishing housing and living SOC facilities using vacant land in Nangok area

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] “During the 7th elected term, Gwanak-gu has been enhancing the city’s competitiveness and value by establishing welfare, cultural, and living SOC infrastructure to create a city where every day is a happy day in Gwanak.”

In an interview with this publication, Park Jun-hee, Mayor of Gwanak-gu, emphasized the establishment of spatial welfare infrastructure, stating, “We have focused on creating a space where everyone can be happy, considering that the life satisfaction of local residents living within Gwanak is as important as its external development.”

First, the district concentrated on expanding facilities that ensure no one is left out by strengthening welfare and cultural spaces where all residents can recharge their vitality, as well as policies supporting socially vulnerable groups.

In June, the district established Gwanak Family Happiness Center, the first family-friendly space in Gwanak-gu, located in Sinsa-dong with a total floor area of 3,999.8㎡, consisting of 2 basement levels and 6 floors above ground. It encompasses childcare, women’s services, and media, filled with various facilities such as a play experience center, a toy and library for infants and toddlers, women’s classrooms, and a village media center, offering enjoyment for infants, families, women, and residents alike.

Construction is also underway for a complex facility for the disabled to improve the rights of the hearing-impaired who have difficulty communicating and to support healthy and stable lives for families with disabled members. The (tentatively named) Gwanak-gu Disabled Center is being built on the current sign language interpretation center site in Cheongnyong-dong, with a total floor area of 785㎡, 1 basement floor, and 6 floors above ground. Floors 2 to 4 will house the sign language interpretation center and a resting place for the hearing-impaired staffed by sign language interpreters, while floors 5 and 6 will accommodate the Disabled Family Support Center. Construction is in full swing with a target opening in June 2022.

Additionally, to support healthy aging and leisure activities for local seniors and provide high-quality senior welfare services, the ‘Gang Gam-chan Daycare Center’ operated by the district opened in Daehak-dong last August.

Alongside this, in line with the era of longevity, the district has invested 7.4 billion KRW in the current Gwanak-gu Community Center site to build the (tentatively named) Senior Center and 50 Plus Center, which will support leisure activities for seniors and social participation for middle-aged and older adults. The project has commenced with plans to open in 2023. Mayor Park stated, “We will strive to create a comfortable and secure environment for seniors by providing high-quality and diverse home care services,” adding, “We will continue to promote various projects to deliver excellent senior welfare services.”

Moreover, Gwanak-gu, ranked first nationwide with a youth population ratio of 40.6%, is building the comprehensive youth activity hub ‘Gwanak Youth Center’ (1759 Nambu Sunhwan-ro), aiming for completion next year. With a total project cost of 13 billion KRW, the center will have a total floor area of 1,533.39㎡, spanning 1 basement floor and 7 floors above ground. It will serve as a comprehensive policy hub for youth facing social issues such as career breaks, employment difficulties, and housing, providing employment, job opportunities, welfare, psychological counseling, and community support.

In addition, the district is focusing on establishing residential and living SOC facilities by utilizing idle land in the Nangok area. On the site of the former Geumcheon Police Station (around 544 Sillim-dong), a complex will be built including a startup and business library, 276 units of rental public happy housing, a lifelong education center, an open childcare room, and a public parking lot, with 1 basement floor and 3 floors above ground.

Furthermore, on the idle land above Sinbong Tunnel (around 1569-20 Sillim-dong), plans include 280 units of rental public happy housing and a complex sports facility equipped with a swimming pool, multipurpose gymnasium, and fitness room. Notably, the idle land in Nangok is located within a 2 km radius of the Gwanak Family Happiness Center, Horim Museum, and 15 schools, which is expected to create optimal synergy effects through the linkage of education, culture, and welfare facilities in the future.

Besides these, various life-centered welfare spaces have been established and received favorable evaluations, including the ‘Nature Learning Center for Infants’ linked with urban forest spaces, the ‘Gwanak Mother Center I-rang,’ a shared childcare and open childcare space, and the ‘Happy Mama Restaurant,’ a village community space remodeled from an old gas pressure station. These efforts earned the district the Excellence Award at the ‘Korea Spatial Welfare Awards’ last year. Mayor Park Jun-hee stated, “During the 7th elected term, Gwanak-gu has thoroughly built solid welfare, cultural, and living SOC hardware to create a daily life where everyone can be happy,” and added, “We hope residents will continue to enjoy a happier life in a pleasant and safe environment.”