Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Complex Library in Sindebang-dong, Dongjak-gu

[Seoul District News] Dongjak-gu Plans Library Opening by July Next Year with 1 Basement to 4 Above-Ground Floors, Combining Childcare Center and Library to Meet Demand; Yangcheon-gu Completes Renovation of Neopdeul Children's Park; Gwangjin-gu Builds 'Slow Safety Road' at Side Street Intersections to Prevent Traffic Accidents; Yeongdeungpo-gu Installs Solar-Powered Benches in Parks; Guro-gu and Geumcheon-gu Host 2021 Second Half G-Valley Top Companies Online Job Fair Until 29th

Exterior construction underway ahead of the opening of Heukseok-dong Complex Library this December

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Dongjak-gu (Mayor Lee Chang-woo) has begun construction this month on the Shindaebang-dong Complex Library, a hub for residents' reading culture.

The construction of the Shindaebang-dong Complex Library is one of the pledges of Dongjak-gu's 7th elected administration, established to address the demands of residents in the Shindaebang area who have been underserved by library services and to improve regional imbalances in public libraries.

Scheduled to open in July next year, the Shindaebang-dong Complex Library (686-48 Shindaebang-dong) will have a total floor area of 1,850㎡, with one basement floor and four above-ground floors, combining a daycare center and library into a community cultural space for residents.

The district held a design competition to build a safe and user-friendly public building, reviewing the usability and convenience of the space through advisory meetings composed of experts, residents, and operators of the library and daycare center.

In July, a naming contest was held among residents to select a creative and friendly library name, with "Shindaebang Nuri Library" finally chosen.

The basement floor 1 will be a parking lot for visitor convenience, and the first floor will house a daycare center to meet the insufficient childcare demand in Shindaebang-dong. It is expected that childcare services will expand through linkage with the nearby Shindaebang-dong Moms Heart Cafe.

The 2nd to 4th floors will include ▲children and infant materials rooms ▲general materials room ▲program rooms for reading culture programs ▲club rooms to support reading clubs.

Jung Jong-rok, Director of the Education Policy Division, said, "The Shindaebang-dong Complex Library will serve as a cultural playground for residents and an open library for all age groups, playing a role in balanced educational and cultural infrastructure. We will do our best to ensure that all residents can receive life-oriented public library services."

Meanwhile, the Heukseok-dong Complex Library (340-1 Heukseok-dong), which began construction in February last year, is a complex facility including a library, daycare center, and indoor children's park with two basement floors and five above-ground floors, scheduled to open this December.

Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) announced that the Neopdeul Children's Park in Sinjeong 3-dong has been renovated into a "wide and three-dimensional play space" and opened from October 1.

Neopdeul Children's Park, adjacent to Jihyang Elementary School, is loved as a route for children to commute to school and a resting place for local residents. However, due to aging facilities and the danger of proximity to roads, there has been a need to recreate it as a safe and pleasant children's park.

Accordingly, Yangcheon-gu renovated Neopdeul Children's Park with a new "mounding form" design to create a "wide and three-dimensional play space" befitting its name. To create a space tailored to residents, user surveys and local resident opinion collection were conducted. Based on this, the old Neopdeul Children's Park was reborn as a dream space boasting open views and bright colors.

The district expects children to freely run and play using various experiential equipment in this nature-inspired play space that stimulates imagination.

Additionally, for the elderly using the park, the existing old jokgu (foot volleyball) court inside was remodeled into a small-scale complex court where jokgu and gateball can be played together.

Furthermore, Yangcheon-gu is renovating five other children's parks this year, including Eumgol, Donggaeul, Gyeongin, Kkulbeol, and Jeongmok. Through this, the parks will be transformed from monotonous play facilities into specialized spaces that are safe and enhance children's creativity.

For more details on the children's park remodeling, contact the Parks and Greenery Division of Yangcheon-gu Office.

Yangcheon-gu Mayor Kim Soo-young said, "We want to create parks where our children can play safely and residents can communicate together. We will continue to carry out delicate renovations to make children's parks suitable for a happy, respected, and child-friendly city, Yangcheon."

Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon) announced that from October 14 to 29, an autumn crop experiential learning program will be held at the Geumcheon Eco-friendly Urban Farm established on idle land in the district.

This program targets children's groups such as daycare centers and elementary schools in Geumcheon-gu and will include harvest experiences at the Anyangcheon Urban Agriculture Experience Center, Rural Scenery Trail, Ecological Rice Paddy, and Gwangmyeong Weekend Farm, along with simple ecological education related to autumn crops. The program runs from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Participating children will directly harvest autumn crops such as sweet potatoes, taro, yacon, turmeric, and rice, experiencing the joy of farming and harvesting. The crops harvested by the children will be donated to social welfare facilities within Geumcheon-gu, allowing them to experience the joy of sharing.

Applications for each session are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis by institution through the Geumcheon-gu Office website. Detailed information can be found on the Geumcheon News bulletin board. Applications open from 10 a.m. on October 12.

Geumcheon-gu limits participation to 25 people per day and will conduct the program following COVID-19 prevention guidelines, including temperature checks and hand sanitizer provision.

Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon said, "Through this experience, I hope children can feel the joy of harvest, the importance of farming, and the joy of sharing at the beautiful Anyangcheon and the rural scenery-rich Gwangmyeong Weekend Farm on a clear autumn day. We will continue to operate various ecological experience programs so that children in the district can grow healthily in nature."

Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Sun-gap) has completed the construction of "Slow Safety Roads" within backstreet intersections to prevent traffic accidents.

"Slow Safety Roads" were established on backstreets where pedestrians and vehicles coexist and where the recent increase in delivery motorcycles has heightened accident risks. Unique road surface designs featuring Gwangjin-gu's characters, Gwang-i and Jin-i, were applied to secure pedestrian safety.

The district selected project sites based on traffic accident data from the past four years, focusing on ▲major accident locations ▲complaint hotspots ▲areas lacking traffic safety facilities ▲places with relatively few pedestrian-inducing facilities.

As a result, slow safety zones totaling 1,385 square meters were established at two locations in Junggok 3-dong, one each in Guui 1 and 2-dong, one each in Jayang 3 and 4-dong, one in Gunja-dong, and one in Hwayang-dong. The road surface design uses the district's characters to draw attention from both pedestrians and drivers.

The district expects that the completion of these roads will induce speed reduction of approaching vehicles, secure pedestrian safety, and reduce accidents and complaints.

Gwangjin-gu Mayor Kim Sun-gap said, "Backstreets often lack traffic facilities and drivers' attention can be distracted, making them high-risk areas for accidents. We hope that the construction of Slow Safety Roads will allow both drivers and pedestrians to travel safely."

Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) announced that at the '26th Eunpyeong Residents' Day Ceremony' held on the 6th, it awarded the '41st Eunpyeong Award' to exemplary residents who have devoted themselves in various social fields and serve as role models for residents.

The 'Eunpyeong Award' is the most prestigious award in Eunpyeong-gu, established in 1981. This year marks its 41st ceremony, with a total of 161 recipients to date.

From August 2 to 31, the district collected nominations from various sectors, and after strict evaluation and voting by the Eunpyeong Award judging committee, six recipients were finally selected.

The awardees by category are ▲Filial Piety Award: Jeong Jin-heon ▲Volunteer Award: Lee Young-man ▲Businessperson Award: Lee Kwang-hee ▲Beautiful Donation Award: Hwang Sang-won ▲Special Award: Kim Byung-moo and Ahn Sung-min.

Jeong Jin-heon, recipient of the Filial Piety Award, has cared for his physically challenged parents for over 20 years, personally assisting with meals, bathing, and toileting, earning a reputation as a rare filial son. He also leads volunteer activities and resident autonomy association efforts, serving as a role model in the community.

Lee Young-man, recipient of the Volunteer Award, as chairman of the Korean Freedom Federation Eunpyeong Branch, has led national movement activation and national security efforts. Utilizing his skills as a dentist, he has participated in various community volunteer activities, including implant treatments for the underprivileged, contributing to a warm Eunpyeong-gu.

Lee Kwang-hee, recipient of the Businessperson Award, as senior vice president of the Eunpyeong Chamber of Commerce, has contributed to the joint development of local merchants, mutual cooperation among entrepreneurs, and promotion of knowledge exchange. He has also led social responsibility activities such as support for the underprivileged and volunteering at facilities for the disabled, contributing to a neighborly Eunpyeong-gu.

Hwang Sang-won, recipient of the Beautiful Donation Award, has quietly practiced sharing for a long time, especially leading medical donation activities for low-income residents in Eunpyeong-gu and establishing a local medical network, greatly contributing to the spread of donation culture in the district.

The two Special Award recipients are Kim Byung-moo, chairman of the Eunpyeong Resident Participation Committee, and Ahn Sung-min, who has long volunteered his talents for the welfare development of disabled people in Eunpyeong-gu.

Kim Byung-moo has shown exceptional passion and dedication for Eunpyeong-gu, notably working to improve the district's poor transportation and cultural facilities through activities such as the National Literature Museum and the Shinbundang Line Northwest Extension Promotion Committee.

Ahn Sung-min has contributed greatly to expanding Eunpyeong-gu's positive influence by volunteering his diverse talents for the welfare of disabled residents and spreading the benefits of sharing to acquaintances, encouraging many residents to participate in sponsorship.

Mayor Kim Mi-kyung said, "On behalf of Eunpyeong-gu, I express deep gratitude to the six Eunpyeong Award recipients who have helped those in need and worked for regional development. I hope this award will be a reward for their efforts."

Yangcheon-gu Mayor Kim Soo-young attended the commendation ceremony for exemplary seniors on the 25th Senior Citizens' Day held on the afternoon of the 7th at the Yangcheon Digital Media Center on the 3rd floor of the district office and awarded commendation certificates to 21 seniors.

This commendation ceremony was held to express gratitude to exemplary seniors who contributed to the welfare of the elderly and to encourage their efforts.

Mayor Kim Soo-young congratulated the awardees and pledged to work harder to make Yangcheon-gu a place where seniors can live happily.

Seocho-gu (Mayor Cho Eun-hee) has achieved the result of connecting all 23 graduates of the 'Seocho AI College' to internships at related companies by operating the program from March to September this year to open employment opportunities amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

After signing an agreement with KAIST SW Education Center in 2019, the second 'Seocho AI College' was conducted with KAIST's specialized curriculum. It consisted of three stages from basic introduction to advanced and team projects, taught by KAIST faculty.

Among 300 unemployed youth participants, outstanding students were selected at each stage. Especially in the final project stage, the focus was on practical, specialized education applying students' ideas to the field. One-on-one career coaching helped participants set employment paths and directions, enhancing their competitiveness. This year, 23 participated in the project stage, with 20 non-majors among them.

A participant who completed the Seocho AI College, Mr. Lee (pseudonym), said, "I was interested in IT, so I quit my previous job and joined Seocho AI College. Thanks to the excellent KAIST curriculum, I was accepted as an intern at a company I had long desired. I am grateful to Seocho-gu for providing equal opportunities for ordinary mothers like me to study and work."

Another participant, Mr. Kim, said, "It was not easy to work on projects with participants of various majors and ages, but everyone participated with passion, so we could finish successfully. I want to gain experience as an intern at an AI company and use that experience to start a business." He shared his thoughts on completing the six-month AI College program.

The related companies that decided to hire interns said, "We are pleased to hire talents who completed the final stage of Seocho AI College as interns. We plan to hire them as regular employees based on performance." The interns will start working from October for three months as personnel leading the 4th industrial revolution.

In addition to AI College, the district has operated seven courses including Robot Coding College and Blockchain College to nurture talents tailored to the 4th industrial era. The district has put effort into linking education programs with internships by matching internship applicants with companies in the AI Yangjae Hub, providing 3 to 5 interview opportunities per youth to open paths to internships.

The district also supports companies with labor and education costs during the three-month internship and carefully manages follow-up. It plans to provide various support measures so that interns can gain practical experience through the 'Seocho 4th Industrial College' and eventually connect to regular employment.

Seocho-gu Mayor Cho Eun-hee said, "We will continue youth partnership projects that allow young people to dream of a bright future by establishing an educational ecosystem suitable for changing times."

Kangseo-gu Mayor Noh Hyun-song held the 'Local Finance Disclosure Review Committee Meeting' on the afternoon of the 7th at the district office's large conference room and presented appointment letters to nine civilian committee members.

The Local Finance Disclosure Review Committee advises and reviews financial operations, including local finance impact assessments and financial investment project reviews. The chairperson is a civilian member, and the term is two years.

At the meeting, along with the appointment letters, four agenda items were reviewed, including ▲establishment of Kangseo-gu Culture, Sports, and Electric Complex Energy Charging Center ▲construction of the Hwagokbon-dong Market Customer Support Center.

Mayor Noh Hyun-song said, "I expect the committee members, composed of experts from various fields, to play a significant role in enhancing the efficiency and transparency of Kangseo-gu's finances. We will do our best to build a trustworthy Kangseo-gu through transparent budget execution."

Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Sung-soo) will hold the 'Songpa Arts Group Special Exhibition' from October 1 to 20 along the Songpa Dullegil, Seokchon Lake, Seokchon-dong Tumuli, and Pungnap Baekje Cultural Park to commemorate the '21st Hansung Baekje Cultural Festival Daebaekje Exhibition.'

This special exhibition is a large-scale outdoor event featuring about 700 members of local arts groups (writers, artists, photographers, calligraphy associations) and sculptors and installation artists based in Songpa. It displays excellent works of local cultural artists in everyday spaces frequently visited by residents, offering the fun of freely viewing art throughout Songpa.

First, the Songpa Dullegil and Seokchon Lake area, where the 'Daebaekje Light Festival' is in full swing, attract visitors with diverse artworks such as poetry, calligraphy, photography, and sculpture harmonizing with light installations.

Along the recently opened Tancheon Trail of Songpa Dullegil, visitors can enjoy ▲poetry (Songpa Writers' Association) ▲calligraphy (Songpa Calligraphy Association) displayed throughout the walking path, as well as ▲installation art (by artist Kang Hyo-myung) and ▲sculpture (by artist Joo Hoo-sik) at the resting area under Gwangpyeong Bridge. Additionally, works by Jeon Dong-min, who expresses Seoul's nightscape in ink wash, and Song Ki-jae, who artistically interprets fairy tale images, can be seen on art walls. At the Jamsil Retention Basin Observatory, a new landmark on the Tancheon Trail, installation art by Choi Byung-soo is exhibited, blending nature and art.

Moreover, poetry and photography are exhibited around Seongnae 6-7 Bridge and Mulbit Square on Seongnaecheon Trail and Jangji Neighborhood Park on Jangji Stream Trail, providing more attractions.

At Seokchon Lake's 'Cultural Experiment Space Lake' and 'Seokchon Lake Atelier,' small works exhibitions by the Songpa Artists Association and media kinetic art exhibitions are held. The Seokchon Lake West Lake waterfront stage features a massive art cube composed of works by about 200 photographers including Jung Ji-hyun and the Songpa Photographers Association.

Various genre exhibitions are also held at the Seokchon-dong Tumuli and Pungnap Baekje Cultural Park, which preserve the history and culture of Hansung Baekje. At Seokchon-dong Tumuli, ceramic works shaped like Chiljido made by about 100 residents and about 100 calligraphy works by the Songpa Calligraphy Association are displayed. Pungnap Baekje Cultural Park is transformed into a sculpture park filled with works by artists Kim Won-geun, Kim Byung-kyu, Park An-sik, Baek Jae-hyun, Ahn Chi-hong, Jo Young-chul, and Joo Hoo-sik.

Songpa-gu Mayor Park Sung-soo said, "To provide residents who find it difficult to enjoy cultural life due to COVID-19 with cultural experiences, we expanded the festival stage into everyday spaces. We hope residents enjoy the diverse and safe attractions throughout Songpa and create unforgettable memories."

Yeongdeungpo-gu (Mayor Chae Hyun-il) announced that it has installed 'solar-powered smart benches' equipped with nighttime LED lighting and wired/wireless mobile phone charging capabilities at four popular neighborhood parks.

The 'solar-powered smart bench' has solar panels installed on the seating area, storing solar energy in batteries during the sunny daytime to power LED lights at night and provide wired and wireless charging for electronic devices such as smartphones, making it an eco-friendly facility.

Since last year, the district searched for public facilities with more than 3.5 hours of sunlight and expected high resident usage. As a result, four parks were selected where residents can comfortably rest and bench maintenance is easy.

After on-site inspections in April and close consultations with related departments and companies, the district installed a total of nine solar benches: two at the children's playground and one at the plaza in Yeongdeungpo Park, two in front of the fountain at Dangsan Park, and two each at Mullae-so Park and the Yeongdeungpo-dong Central Children's Park walking path.

The benches measure 190 cm in length, 36 cm in width, and 45 cm in height, producing up to 60W of energy per hour.

The upper side of the bench includes a wireless charger with a built-in coil and a USB port for wired charging, while the lower part has LED landscape lighting that provides about 24 hours of wired/wireless charging and about six hours of lighting after sunset.

The district expects that the installation of these solar smart benches will provide convenience to many park visitors, improve nighttime scenery and safety, raise public awareness of renewable energy production and use, and promote future development potential.

Yeongdeungpo-gu Mayor Chae Hyun-il said, "We will actively maintain and manage the solar smart benches so that residents can rest safely and comfortably. We will continue to do our best to discover and operate eco-friendly policies that residents can feel, such as utilizing renewable energy and introducing smart technology."

Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Jung-hoon) announced on the 6th that it signed a business agreement with six companies moving into Goduk Biz Valley Autonomous Block 1 for 'priority hiring of Gangdong residents and regional development.'

Through the agreement, Gangdong-gu and the resident companies promised to discuss and cooperate on ▲administrative support for early settlement of companies ▲job creation centered on Gangdong residents ▲implementation plans for regional contribution.

This agreement was promoted to provide quality jobs to residents and foster mutual growth between the region and companies by signing a business agreement for priority hiring of Gangdong residents and regional development with resident companies.

The consortium of Green Store (health food manufacturing, biological research), Aju Design Group (interior design), Hunesion (software development and supply), Hanssak (information security technology development), Donghae Comprehensive Technology Corporation (engineering services), and Welkips (pharmaceutical manufacturing) is currently undergoing procedures for building permits.

Gangdong-gu Mayor Lee Jung-hoon said, "I hope this agreement will be an opportunity for companies moving into Goduk Biz Valley to take an interest in and practice job creation and regional development. The district will continue to work with companies to make Goduk Biz Valley a model business city where the region and companies coexist."

"Excellent company recruitment information at a glance!"

The '2021 Second Half G-Valley Excellent Companies Online Job Fair' is being held until the 29th of this month.

Guro-gu (Mayor Lee Sung) announced on the 7th, "To provide youth with opportunities to get jobs at excellent companies in G-Valley, we are holding a job fair in cooperation with the Korea Industrial Complex Corporation, Seoul Gwanak Employment Welfare Plus Center, and Geumcheon-gu."

This online job fair features 60 companies from IT/software, manufacturing, and service industries.

Recruitment information such as company details, financial analysis, working environment, and employment status is disclosed on the Job Korea website (jobkorea.co.kr/Theme/Gvalley), and matching services between companies and job seekers are provided.

Additionally, resume writing consulting and civil complaint counseling services are available for job seekers.

Job seekers wishing to participate can access the specialized recruitment hall through the recruitment information section on the Job Korea website. For more details, contact Job Korea at 02-3466-5364.

A Guro-gu official said, "We hope for much interest and participation in the 'G-Valley Excellent Companies Online Job Fair,' which provides good jobs for youth and excellent manpower for companies."

Yongsan-gu (Mayor Sung Chang-hyun) is attracting attention by training 10 live commerce sales experts in cooperation with Lotte Outlet Seoul Station, a local business.

Participants conducted a total of five live broadcasts, achieving cumulative sales of 20 million KRW, about 7,000 viewers, and 80,000 likes.

In September, the district recruited 10 members for the Yongsan Youth Business Exploration Team and operated a live commerce sales expert training course. On the 7th, they toured Lotte Outlet Seoul Station and received theoretical education, followed by practical training on live broadcast planning and presentation on the 8th and 10th.

The Business Exploration Team participated as show hosts in one live broadcast each among five Naver N Shopping live broadcasts, selling ▲10 men's clothing items (17th at 5 p.m.) ▲11 women's autumn clothing items (14th at 7 p.m.) ▲15 men's and women's shoes (16th at 5 p.m.) ▲26 women's autumn clothing items (16th at 7 p.m.) ▲12 women's outerwear items (28th at 6 p.m.).

The district issued certificates of completion for the live commerce sales expert training course to all Business Exploration Team members who completed the entire process, achieving a 100% completion rate.

Kim Su-jin (pseudonym, 24), a participant, said, "Education can be paid for, but there is no place that provides on-site experience or practice even if you pay. This opportunity to feel the vivid live broadcast scene became a precious career experience for me, a job seeker."

Kim (pseudonym) added, "It was not easy to conduct projects with participants of various majors and ages, but everyone participated passionately, so we could finish successfully. I want to gain experience as an intern at an AI company and use that experience to start a business." He shared his thoughts on completing the six-month AI College program.

The district plans to recruit the second Business Exploration Team for live commerce sales expert training in October. The target is job seekers aged 18 to 34 residing in Yongsan-gu or university students in the district. Detailed schedules will be announced on the Yongsan-gu website.

Yongsan-gu Mayor Sung Chang-hyun said, "This project reaffirmed that youth have infinite potential, even if they lack opportunities. We will continue to promote experiential projects that can become career experiences for job seekers."

Yongsan-gu's youth employment projects in 2021 include ▲job experience internships ▲employment support programs ▲youth job creation subsidies ▲expert training-linked employment support ▲public-private cooperation job creation contests.

Jongno-gu (Mayor Kim Young-jong) is holding the 1st Young Gugak Artist Creative Gugak Competition "Gugak Tomorrow" and accepting applications until the 11th.

This event aims to provide a platform for young gugak (traditional Korean music) artists to showcase their original compositions and introduce fresh creative gugak works to the public.

Eligibility includes performance teams or individual artists with more than half of the members playing traditional Korean instruments. All participants must be under 29 years old, with a total of six or fewer members. There are no restrictions on education or experience.

Works must be unpublished original compositions in free form, based on gugak's emotions, rhythms, and melodies. Performance time is limited to six minutes. Applications are accepted by downloading the performance support form from the Jongno Cultural Foundation website and submitting it with a performance video and score via email by the 11th.

The district will conduct document and closed live performance evaluations this month and hold the final competition on October 30 at the Woori Sori Library. Winners will receive prizes of 5 million KRW for the grand prize, 3 million KRW for gold, and 2 million KRW for silver, along with opportunities for profile photography, performances, and commemorative music production. For more details, contact the Jongno Cultural Foundation.

Donhwamun-ro area historically housed major gugak institutions, including the predecessor of the National Gugak Center, Iwangjik Aakbu, and today hosts many masters, transmission centers, related shops, and research institutes.

Jongno-gu has continuously held projects such as the 'Gugak Road Gugak Festival' and 'Gugak Concert Shinpan Nolhee' to promote beautiful Korean sounds as part of its Han culture revitalization efforts.

In December 2017, the district established the gugak-specialized space 'Woori Sori Library' (30-gil 47, Samil-daero) to highlight the beauty and history of gugak.

With advice and cooperation from the National Gugak Center, National Intangible Heritage Center, and Gugak Broadcasting, the library collects and provides access to audio recordings. It houses a wide range of gugak-related and general books, establishing itself as a 'reading space where gugak flows.'

Mayor Kim Young-jong said, "The Gugak Tomorrow creative gugak competition will be a stage for young gugak artists to fully express their diverse works. We look forward to the interest and participation of young gugak artists who will lead new trends in the gugak world."

Seoul Gangseo-gu (Mayor Noh Hyun-song) announced that it will operate a 'free bicycle washing service' to make bicycle maintenance easier for residents.

According to Seoul City, among the 25 autonomous districts in Seoul last year, Gangseo-gu had the highest number of rentals of the city's shared bicycles, 'Ddareungi,' indicating high bicycle usage by residents.

Accordingly, the district established a bicycle washing station at the entrance of the Gangseo-gu Tow Truck Storage Facility.

It is close to the Han River and adjacent to a bicycle road, providing good accessibility. Operating hours are Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The washing uses a high-pressure, high-temperature steam cleaner, which uses less water and no detergent, making it eco-friendly.

The bicycle washing service is free and available to all residents without prior reservation by bringing their bicycles.

The district plans to expand the service location next year after a pilot operation period until November. It is also implementing various projects to promote bicycle use, including bicycle road maintenance, mobile bicycle repair centers, and bicycle crosswalk installations. It won a special award in the urban environment category at the 2020 Korea Urban Awards hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Gangbuk-gu (Mayor Park Kyum-soo) is supporting safety kits for single-person households to create a safe residential environment free of crime.

The safety kit is divided into a home security item set and a safety door-keeper service. The item set includes a door safety hook, portable safety bell, and smart doorbell as basic components. Additionally, one of either a window guard or security window can be installed. The cost is fully covered.

The safety hook acts as a double lock, the safety bell sounds an alarm when pulled, and the smart doorbell sends visitor video to a smartphone. Applicants must be women living alone in the district in rental housing with a deposit under 200 million KRW.

The door-keeper service is provided regardless of gender to residents living alone in rental housing. Upon application, a smart device-linked entrance CCTV and indoor emergency bell are installed.

Residents can check the situation at the door in real-time via camera or have two-way voice communication with visitors. They can press an emergency button or use a mobile app to request security personnel dispatch. The service requires a 1,000 KRW user fee, with the district subsidizing the remaining 8,900 KRW for one year.

Applicants must submit a service application and a copy of the lease contract via email. Applications are accepted continuously until supplies run out. For details, check the district website (news section) or contact the Women's and Family Division.

Gangbuk-gu Mayor Park Kyum-soo said, "The safety kit is an essential home security facility for residents living alone. We will create a safe living environment so that residents can live comfortably without residential anxiety."

Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Moon Seok-jin) announced that two women-owned startups moved into the 'Startup Room' within the newly remodeled Seodaemun Women's Room Center, which reopened last month.

The Startup Room consists of single-person independent spaces, two-person collaboration spaces, shared meeting rooms, and rest areas.

During the two-month application period, prospective and early-stage women entrepreneurs from various fields such as manufacturing, education, health, environment, publishing, content development, and lifestyle applied. After document and face-to-face evaluations, the first batch of 2021 resident companies was selected.

The final selected company 'Bibi Care' develops capsule-type hand sanitizers. CEO Kim Sun-hwa expressed her ambition, saying, "I will strive to grow with the Room Center and become a company that goes far."

Another selected company, 'Gureumson,' develops and produces educational content for pet adoption. CEO Lee Yoon-hyun expressed expectations, saying, "We will lead a proper pet adoption culture."

Resident companies in the Startup Room use affordable rental office space and furniture and receive support such as internet access, employment and startup consulting, and community networking.

Seodaemun-gu Mayor Moon Seok-jin said, "We hope many prospective and early-stage women entrepreneurs will show interest in the recruitment for the second batch of Startup Room residents, which will select two single-person and two two-person companies by the end of next month."

Located in the basement of Seodaemun Cultural and Sports Center (39 Baekryeonsa-gil), the Seodaemun Women's Room Center was remodeled over seven months and reopened last month. It was formerly the 'Seodaemun-gu Women's Center,' operated since 1999.

While the previous center focused on hobby and cultural lectures, the Women's Room Center has expanded its functions to support employment, startups, and serve as a women's network hub.

For more information, refer to the Seodaemun Women's Room Center blog.