Yeongdeungpo-gu Mayor Cha Hyeon-il Discusses Current Issues with Local Chinese-Korean Community Leaders and Resident Representatives

To Support Healthy Independence and Social Adaptation of Youth, 'Youth Autonomous Cultural Space 5th Branch' Opened in Daerim-dong on the 1st

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] On the afternoon of the 5th, Chaehyunil, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo District, held a meeting with local Chinese-Korean community leaders at the YDP Future Lifelong Learning Center to gather opinions.

At the meeting, Mayor Chaehyunil of Yeongdeungpo District, National Assembly member Kim Min-seok, local Chinese-Korean community leaders, and resident representatives attended to share information on COVID-19 quarantine measures in foreign resident areas, multicultural local issues, and discuss future development directions.

Mayor Cha said, “I sincerely thank the members of the Chinese-Korean community organizations and local residents who are working hard to prevent community infections through joint COVID-19 prevention campaigns and disinfection activities,” adding, “The district will also focus all efforts on proactive responses and thorough quarantine measures to overcome COVID-19, striving to create an open Yeongdeungpo where both Koreans and foreigners live well together.”

Meanwhile, Yeongdeungpo District announced that it opened the ‘5th Youth Autonomous Cultural Space’ in Daerim-dong on the 1st to support healthy independence and social adaptation of youth.

The ‘Youth Autonomous Cultural Space’ is a youth-exclusive space created to support rest, play, communication, and socializing for local youth.

Yeongdeungpo operates four autonomous cultural spaces in Yeongdeungpo-bon-dong, Yeoui-dong, Yangpyeong 2-dong, and Mullae-dong, and newly established the 5th branch in Daerim 1-dong, which began full operation on the 1st.

The district explained that the 5th branch, Daerim Play, was opened to provide a counseling-specialized space for at-risk youth facing difficulties such as instability and social maladjustment, and to support the formation of a healthy culture and communication by allowing any local youth to freely visit and interact.

The 5th branch is located on the 2nd floor of 450 Digital-ro, Daerim-dong, and is a spacious area totaling 94 pyeong (approximately 310 square meters).

Daerim Play has counseling staff certified as youth counselors who provide one-on-one counseling on various adolescent concerns such as academics and career paths, and if more in-depth management is needed, it also supports linkage with specialized programs at the Yeongdeungpo Counseling Welfare Center.

Additionally, there are spaces for various leisure and cultural activities such as a VR experience area, photo booth, and book caf?, as well as a terrace rest area and multipurpose room where peers can enjoy fun play and group activities.

Youth aged 9 to 24 can use the facility free of charge. It operates from 1 PM to 9 PM Tuesday through Friday, and from 10 AM to 6 PM on Saturdays.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the number of users is limited by time slot, and operating hours may change depending on quarantine conditions, so users are advised to inquire in advance at Daerim Play before visiting.

Mayor Chaehyunil of Yeongdeungpo District said, “I hope ‘Daerim Play’ will become a cozy hideout space where our youth can freely enjoy themselves and rest comfortably,” and added, “We will do our best to discover and operate youth support policies so that young people can dream and plan their futures in a healthy and safe environment.”