[Seoul District News] Dobong-gu Climate Change Response Policy Advisory and Deliberation through First Regular Meeting on Comprehensive Climate Change Response Plan... Interim Report Advisory on 'Dobong-gu Climate Change Response Plan Establishment' Research Project... Gwanak-gu Wins Grand Prize at Ministry of the Interior and Safety's '2021 Alley Economy Support Project Best Practice Presentation'... Gwangjin-gu Provides Additional 8.4 Billion KRW Interest-Free and Guarantee-Free Support
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Dobong-gu (Mayor Lee Dong-jin) has formed a Climate Change Countermeasures Committee composed of 15 experts from various fields including buildings, transportation, energy, resource circulation, and environmental education to provide advice and deliberation on climate change response policies. The committee inauguration ceremony was held on the 14th at the CR Hall of the district office.
The committee members were appointed based on the ‘Ordinance on Climate Change Response in Dobong-gu, Seoul,’ enacted and promulgated at the end of last December. Experts with rich experience in related fields were recommended from various public, private, and academic institutions and organizations.
The newly formed committee will serve a two-year term and provide advice and deliberation on ▲matters related to establishing a foundation for the efficient implementation of the comprehensive climate change response plan ▲matters concerning the establishment, modification, and implementation of the climate change response plan ▲and other matters deemed necessary by the district mayor for promoting climate change policies.
Immediately after the inauguration on the 14th, the committee held its first regular meeting and provided advice on the interim report of the ‘Dobong-gu Climate Change Response Plan Establishment’ research project. The research project is a comprehensive plan that includes greenhouse gas reduction and climate change adaptation policies tailored to Dobong-gu’s regional characteristics and conditions to effectively promote carbon neutrality by 2050. It consists of ▲Part 1: Establishment of Dobong-gu’s annual greenhouse gas inventory ▲Part 2: 2050 Carbon Neutral Dobong-gu Climate Change Response Plan ▲Part 3: Detailed implementation plan for the 2nd Dobong-gu Climate Change Adaptation Measures.
Mayor Lee Dong-jin of Dobong-gu stated, “Dobong-gu set and announced the ‘2050 Dobong-gu Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy’ in September last year, becoming the first autonomous district in Seoul to do so, presenting a role model for proactive 2050 carbon neutrality at the basic local government level. The newly formed Climate Change Countermeasures Committee consists of individuals who have been active in climate change response in various fields, so I ask for much advice and encouragement to help Dobong’s climate change response policies develop progressively.”
Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) announced that it won the grand prize for the ‘Top 10 Alley Commercial District Creation Project’ at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s ‘2021 Alley Economy Support Project Best Practice Presentation Contest.’
The ‘Alley Economy Support Project Best Practice Presentation Contest,’ hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, is held annually to discover and share excellent cases of alley economy recovery and competitiveness support projects promoted by local governments nationwide. This year, 38 organizations participated nationwide.
Among them, nine organizations that passed the first round of document screening were evaluated on the institution’s efforts for project promotion, actual achievements, and sustainability. The final awardees were selected through a second round of presentation screening.
The district was highly evaluated for designating the top 10 alley commercial districts, which are the centers of residents’ lives, and providing focused support from merchant organization to road paving and sign replacement, presenting a successful model of alley commercial districts applicable nationwide.
Since the launch of the 7th local government administration, Gwanak-gu established the first dedicated department for local commercial district revitalization in 2018 among local governments nationwide and conducted a professional research project in 2019 to establish a comprehensive plan for local economic revitalization, designating the top 10 alley commercial districts that are the centers of residents’ lives.
This year, the district is providing more concrete and practical support for alley commercial districts through professional consulting for organization and business environment improvement and is exploring mid- to long-term development plans through master plan establishment for each commercial district.
Since the launch of the 7th local government administration, the district has actively promoted local economic revitalization policies including alley commercial districts. It invested 8 billion KRW in the Starlight Sinsari Commercial District Renaissance Project to revitalize the commercial district around Sillim Station, issued 62 billion KRW worth of Gwanak Love Gift Certificates, and focused on creating a co-prosperity and innovative economy that boosts small business sales and local consumption.
On the 14th, at the district office, the 'Gwangjin-gu - Woori Bank - Credit Guarantee Foundation Business Agreement Ceremony' took place. From the left: Kim Chang-hyun, Head of Eastern Sales Headquarters at Woori Bank; Kim Seon-gap, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu; Eom Chang-seok, Acting Chairman of Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation.
Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Seon-gap) signed a business agreement on the 14th at the mayor’s office with Woori Bank and the Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation to support interest-free loans for small business owners overcoming the COVID-19 crisis.
This agreement was prepared to continuously promote the ‘Gwangjin-type Interest-Free Loan Support for Small Business Owners’ implemented since last year and to support small business owners facing difficulties.
Through this agreement, the district and Woori Bank will additionally create a guarantee fund of 8.4 billion KRW with the Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation to provide interest-free and guarantee fee-free loans up to 20 million KRW for one year to local small business owners.
Previously, Gwangjin-gu created a total of 52 billion KRW this year, including a special credit guarantee of 49 billion KRW and a small and medium enterprise development fund of 3 billion KRW.
The special credit guarantee of 49 billion KRW was fully exhausted as of September 30, helping to alleviate financial difficulties for about 2,150 companies.
The loan support targets small enterprises and small business owners with business locations in Gwangjin-gu for more than six months, even if they have weak collateral.
Small business owners wishing to apply can inquire at six Woori Bank branches in Gwangjin-gu (Jayang-dong Financial Center, Konkuk University Station Branch, Technomart Financial Center, Walkerhill Branch, Guui-dong Branch, Gwangjang-dong Branch).
Repayment conditions are one year grace period followed by four years of equal installment repayment. After the one-year support period, an interest rate of 2.3% and a guarantee fee rate of 0.8% per annum will apply.
Mayor Kim Seon-gap of Gwangjin-gu said, “I thank Woori Bank and the Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation for their cooperation in ensuring that the interest-free and guarantee fee-free loan support for small business owners, which Gwangjin-gu proactively implemented from the early stages of COVID-19, can continue. I hope this will be of some help to small business owners in Gwangjin-gu who are facing difficulties.”
Yongsan-gu (Mayor Sung Chang-hyun) will live stream the ‘28th Yongsan Residents’ Day Commemoration Ceremony’ on the district office’s YouTube channel at 3 p.m. on the 18th.
The event will proceed for 40 minutes in the order of opening declaration, national anthem, commemorative video screening, resident award ceremony, commemorative and congratulatory speeches (video messages), and performance, with only the minimum number of people including Mayor Sung Chang-hyun, award recipients, and related officials (staff) present.
This year’s awardees include six individuals and five organizations. The recipients are ▲Ji Young-hwan (Good Deeds Volunteer Award) ▲Go Hae-seok (Model Family Award) ▲Park Sam-gyu (Culture and Arts Award) ▲Lee Young-seok (Sports Promotion Award) ▲CGNTV (Regional Development Award) ▲Kim Young-sook (Environmental Protection Award) ▲Park Byung-yong (Education Development Award) ▲Yongsan Fire Station Volunteer Fire Brigade (Safety Award) ▲LG Uplus, Seoul Veterinary Association Yongsan Branch, and Hope Sharing People Association (Special Awards).
A plaque engraved with the recipient’s portrait or company logo will be presented. No monetary prizes will be given due to election law.
The performance will be conducted by Mayor Sung Chang-hyun and Yongsan District Council Chairman Kim Jung-jae. They will create a puzzle-shaped sculpture wishing for the district’s 100 years of development together. The district plans to produce the sculpture in bronze and install it at the Yongsan History Museum, which will open in March next year.
The annual Hanmaeum Festival (performance) following the ceremony will be omitted this year.
Mayor Sung Chang-hyun of Yongsan-gu said, “The COVID-19 situation has not improved. Although it is regrettable that we cannot invite residents, I hope they will watch and take an interest in the district administration through YouTube.”
Yongsan Residents’ Day commemorates October 18, 1946, when the administrative district ‘Seoul Special City Yongsan-gu’ was first established. The district has held the ceremony annually around October 18 since 1994. This year, the ceremony guide video was produced using a metaverse format, attracting attention.
Guro-gu (Mayor Lee Sung) will operate a COVID-19 confirmed patient home treatment management team.
On the 15th, Guro-gu announced, “The home treatment system was established to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health of confirmed patients. To efficiently operate this system, a home treatment management team has been formed.”
The district created a health management team and an isolation management team according to COVID-19 home treatment guidelines and signed business agreements with two medical institutions, Guro Seongsim Hospital and Woori Children’s Hospital.
The health management team operates 24 hours in cooperation with medical institutions, monitors the health status of home-treated patients twice a day, and provides non-face-to-face medical treatment and consultations. In emergencies, it supports patient bed allocation and transfer.
The isolation management team guides living rules to pediatric and adult home-treated patients and their guardians (co-isolators), checks for violations using the self-quarantine safety protection app, and delivers self-treatment kits and daily necessities. The self-treatment kits include items for confirmed patients such as antipyretic syrup, oxygen saturation meter, thermometer, hand sanitizer, and for non-confirmed persons such as KF94 masks, vinyl gloves, face shields, and cleaning disinfectants.
Home treatment targets mild or asymptomatic confirmed patients without hospitalization criteria such as fever over 38°C or breathing difficulties. However, those living in vulnerable residential environments like boarding houses or with communication difficulties are excluded.
If health deteriorates during home treatment requiring hospitalization, patients are admitted to dedicated medical institutions or residential treatment centers.
Mapo-gu (Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun) is launching the ‘Single-Person Household Mapo Youth Support Project’ to provide practical help to young people living alone who have relatively weak self-reliance foundations.
This project is conducted through the Seoul Youth Center Mapo Orang, which the district entrusts and operates, and includes three programs: ▲support for convenience items for single-person households ▲support for organizing living spaces for single-person households ▲support for home repairs for single female households.
The ‘Support for Convenience Items for Single-Person Households’ program provides 100 people with AI speakers that bring vitality to their living spaces, smart outlets controllable remotely via smartphones, and six-month regular passes for Seoul’s shared bicycles ‘Ddareungi,’ widely used by youth for transportation and outdoor leisure activities.
The ‘Support for Organizing Living Spaces for Single-Person Households’ program offers space organization consulting by the professional company ‘Space Together’ to 25 young people living alone who have difficulty organizing their homes and cannot utilize their living spaces efficiently.
The ‘Support for Home Repairs for Single Female Households’ program provides up to 100 single female youth households with up to 100,000 KRW to use the home repair specialist company ‘Help: Jipda’ for installing or repairing household facilities.
Eligibility is single-person household youth aged 19 to 39 residing in Mapo-gu. Applications can be submitted by downloading the application form from the Seoul Youth Portal or Google Form and sending it with a resident registration certificate to the email (mp.orang450@gmail.com).
The application period is from October 30 to November 10. If applications exceed the number of recruits per project, selection will be made by lottery. Selected applicants will be individually notified on November 11.
For more details, inquiries can be made to Seoul Youth Center Mapo Orang.
Seoul Youth Center Mapo Orang, which opened near Hapjeong Station last December, provides youth-only spaces such as seminar rooms, counseling rooms, and shared kitchens, and offers various programs including counseling support, Doositiktok (various themed group activities), Maumirang (art and reading groups), and Saenghwalirang (sharing concerns about finance, housing, and health) for youth.
Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun of Mapo-gu said, “I hope the single-person household support project through Mapo Orang will provide new vitality to young people living in Mapo. We will continue to closely support youth during these difficult COVID-19 times.”
Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Jung-hoon) recorded the lowest suicide rate since 2017.
According to Statistics Korea data as of the end of September, the suicide death rate in Gangdong-gu was 21.7 per 100,000 people, lower than the national average of 25.7 and Seoul’s average of 22.7.
Among Seoul’s 25 autonomous districts, Gangdong-gu ranked 15th, a significant drop from 4th place in 2019, marking the lowest rank in the past 10 years. While Seoul’s average suicide rate increased compared to 2019, Gangdong-gu’s rate decreased by 4.4, which is a much larger decline than the national average decrease of 1.2.
This is analyzed as a result of various projects to discover potential depression risk groups and provide focused management for high-risk groups, despite the difficult situation where residents’ mental health was threatened due to increased depression and psychological difficulties after the COVID-19 outbreak.
The district operates the specialized ‘Life Respect Dodream Project’ to reduce the economic and psychological burden of psychiatric treatment for residents, enabling early detection of suicide risk groups and preventing progression to severe conditions. Additional budget was secured in the second half of this year to expand support.
Last year, Gangdong Mental Health Welfare Center improved its website to expand online self-diagnosis for mental health accessible to all residents. This year, it launched the KakaoTalk counseling channel ‘Maum Toktok’ to enhance accessibility to non-face-to-face mental health counseling.
Other initiatives include ▲installation of life-love shadow lighting to create a suicide prevention environment and life respect culture ▲life respect education and life keeper training by life cycle ▲emotional support services and mental health checkups and counseling cost support for the elderly ▲psychological quarantine kits to overcome COVID blues ▲holding meetings with related organizations and linkage projects.
Mayor Lee Jung-hoon of Gangdong-gu said, “While the national suicide rate is sharply increasing, the significant decrease in the district’s suicide rate is the result of various suicide prevention projects. We will continue to expand and strengthen suicide prevention programs to realize a happier Gangdong.”
Dongjak-gu (Mayor Lee Chang-woo) announced on the 15th that it secured 193 million KRW in national funds by being selected for the ‘2021 Second Half Smart Pilot Shopping District’ contest hosted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Small Enterprise and Market Service.
This contest aims to strengthen the self-sustainability and competitiveness of small business owners by introducing smart technology to shopping streets and traditional markets densely populated by small business owners. Following Seongdae Traditional Market’s selection last year, this year Sangdo Traditional Market (37 Sangdo-ro-gil) applied and was finally selected.
The district will invest a total budget of about 253 million KRW, including 193 million KRW in national funds and 65 million KRW in district funds, to support smart technology in Sangdo Traditional Market.
First, a mobile reservation, ordering, and payment smart order system will be established in 43 stores in the market, including restaurants, manufacturing and retail businesses, and service industries, providing consumers with easy non-face-to-face ordering and payment services.
Additionally, customized smart technologies such as kiosks, smart mirrors, and serving robots will be introduced by industry to improve management efficiency and services.
Furthermore, digital signage will be installed at the market entrance and exit, one each, to promote stores with photos and videos showing store locations, products, and local attractions, attracting many customers through customized advertisements and information.
Kim Jung-won, head of the Economic Promotion Division, said, “To respond to changes in non-face-to-face consumption trends, it is important to introduce smart technology to strengthen the competitiveness of traditional market small business owners. The introduction of smart technology in Sangdo Traditional Market will increase customer satisfaction.”
In December last year, the district introduced the traditional market online shopping system ‘Jangbom,’ enabling orders via QR code and URL. This year, the service expanded to five markets: Sangdo Traditional Market, Namseong Station Alley Market, Namseong Sagye Market, Seongdae Traditional Market, and Sadang 1-dong Food Alley Shopping District.
Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yoo Seong-hoon) will conduct the ‘On-the-Job Training Bootcamp’ to support youth employment competency enhancement.
The ‘On-the-Job Training Bootcamp’ is a project that supports young job seekers in gaining the most needed job experience. Participants perform online work tasks with on-the-job mentors who have 3 to 7 years of experience in each job for five weeks. The mentors provide one-on-one advice in this experiential job training program.
The program consists of seven courses with high demand among job seekers: public enterprise administration, marketing, software (SW) development, finance, big data, sales management, and semiconductor process technology. Additionally, Geumcheon-gu will provide practical employment lectures such as resume writing and interviews to help participants apply the job experience gained through education to actual job hunting.
Eligibility is youth aged 19 to 34, and the total number of recruits is 56, with eight per job course. Interested youth can apply by filling out the application form on the ‘Geumcheon-gu On-the-Job Training Bootcamp’ website by October 23.
Mayor Yoo Seong-hoon of Geumcheon-gu said, “Recently, companies consider job competency as the most important evaluation factor in recruitment. I hope young job seekers gain confidence and acquire the necessary skills for employment through the On-the-Job Training Bootcamp to realize their dreams.”
Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) will conduct a living condition survey for single-person households aged middle-aged and above living in housing-vulnerable areas from October to December for three months.
This aims to prevent solitary deaths caused by the rapid increase of single-person households and to provide timely necessary support to prevent welfare blind spots.
The survey targets residents aged 50 or older in the area who meet one of the following: ▲residents who have lived in rental housing for less than one year ▲residents living in basements or rooftop rooms ▲residents in boarding houses ▲long-term residents in lodging facilities. Notices will also be sent to lodging, jjimjilbang (Korean sauna), and bathhouse business owners to report single-person households staying long-term in these facilities.
Through face-to-face and non-face-to-face counseling with the identified subjects, the district will decide on support for customized welfare services according to crisis situations and establish a dense welfare safety net for housing-vulnerable single-person households in the area.
If there are housing-vulnerable middle-aged single-person households in need of help nearby, residents can report to the Health and Welfare Counseling Center or the local community service center.
Mayor Kim Soo-young of Yangcheon-gu said, “The number of single-person households has rapidly increased to exceed 31% of all households, but responses to social isolation are relatively insufficient. If there are people around who need help, please do not hesitate to inform the nearest community service center.”
Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Moon Seok-jin) will hold an online special lecture titled ‘Good Propagation Citizens’ from 7 to 8 p.m. on the 21st and 22nd to promote volunteer culture.
This special lecture is a joint cooperation project with the Environmental Foundation following a business agreement. On the first day, Professor Namgung In from the Emergency Medicine Department of Ewha Mokdong Hospital will give a lecture titled ‘Citizen Solidarity Facing the Pandemic and Sprouting Hope.’
On the second day, singer Sean (No Seung-hwan), well known for social service and donation activities, will give a lecture titled ‘Now Is a Gift.’
Anyone wishing to attend can apply through the Seodaemun-gu or Environmental Foundation website notices by the 19th of this month.
The lectures will be conducted via YouTube live, and gifts will be given by lottery among participants.
Avatars with a will for Gangseo development gather in one place.
Seoul Gangseo-gu (Mayor Noh Hyun-song) announced that it will hold the ‘Public-Private Cooperation Working Group Metaverse Workshop’ online on Wednesday the 20th to activate cooperation.
This workshop is designed to enhance communication skills among public-private cooperation committee members and build partnerships to smoothly promote next year’s community innovation plan.
Notably, this year the workshop incorporates the metaverse platform to keep pace with changes in the online environment.
The workshop includes various activities such as education, recreation, and performances for participating members. Members will participate by logging in as avatars on the metaverse platform ‘Engage.’
First, a lecture on ‘Communication and Conflict Management’ will be held to facilitate smooth public-private cooperation, covering communication methods to reduce conflicts that may arise during project implementation.
Additionally, programs to increase participants’ interest and intimacy are prepared. Fun recreational activities such as avatar-participated OX quizzes and a unique cultural performance of avatar gugak (traditional Korean music) will be conducted in the virtual space.
Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi) operates the ‘Major Exploration Class’ at the Bang Jeong-hwan Education Support Center for local high school first- and second-year students to explore their interested majors.
This aims to motivate students and assist in career exploration by allowing them to experience their desired major fields before entering university. The education covers science and architecture fields and is conducted mainly through experiments and practical activities in cooperation with the Seoul Science Museum and Jeongnim Architecture Culture Foundation.
The science program runs five sessions from October 16 to December 18. Professional instructors from the Seoul Science Museum teach topics such as rock and mineral observation (earth science), Newton’s laws of motion exploration (physics), and water flea observation and exploration (biology). Students participate directly in experiments using equipment like spectrophotometers and microscopes.
The architecture program is held on November 20. Students learn about the architectural structures of the famous Spanish architect Gaudi and build structures together with professional architects.
Education takes place in the program room on the 5th floor of the Bang Jeong-hwan Education Support Center. Interested students can apply on the center’s website. Currently, 15 students per session, totaling 90, are recruited on a first-come, first-served basis.
Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi of Jungnang-gu said, “Experiencing majors directly will help students set concrete career goals. The Bang Jeong-hwan Education Support Center operates various programs to support students’ career and academic planning, so we ask for much interest.”
Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) will hold the ‘Self-Directed Learning Jeomjeom Camp with Kookmin University’ three times every Saturday from October 30 to November 13 to improve self-directed learning ability.
This camp is designed for middle school students struggling with self-study due to increased remote classes caused by COVID-19.
Jeomjeom Camp, operated in cooperation with Kookmin University, is a program with a three-dimensional composition aiming at self-understanding, learning habit management, and confidence enhancement.
Before the program starts, psychological tests will be conducted for participants. Based on the results, master’s and doctoral-level educational psychology and counseling specialists will provide customized one-on-one learning consulting considering students’ tendencies. The program will include group cooperative activities and experiential programs to increase participation and interest.
Additionally, programs on effective parenting and communication methods will be offered to parents of participating students to ensure continuous learning habit formation after the course ends.
Mayor Lee Seung-ro of Seongbuk-gu said, “As learning loss due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic becomes an issue, the importance of self-directed learning ability is emphasized again. I hope this camp helps students check their learning habits and find learning strategies suited to them to regain confidence in their studies. The district will actively support various programs to motivate learning and improve basic academic skills.”
The ‘Self-Directed Learning Jeomjeom Camp with Kookmin University’ will begin accepting applications from 10 a.m. on the 14th on the Seongbuk-gu website’s ‘Online Lecture Application’ section for middle school students and their parents in Seongbuk-gu on a first-come, first-served basis.
For details, contact the Seongbuk-gu Education Support Division, Seongbuk Youth Future Support Center, or check the ‘Recruitment Lectures’ on the Seongbuk-gu website.
Jung-gu (Mayor Seo Yang-ho) signed a business agreement on the 8th with Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital (Director Gu Ho-seok) to establish a rapid and systematic medical support system for abused children.
Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital is a secondary medical institution with 21 departments including pediatrics, emergency medicine, psychiatry, and internal medicine, capable of providing one-stop integrated medical services for abused children.
Last year, the number of child abuse reports nationwide was 42,251, of which 30,905 were classified as abuse cases. Parents accounted for 25,380 cases (82.1%) of abuse perpetrators. There were 43 child deaths due to abuse, with 27 (62.8%) being children under 1 year old (less than 24 months).
Although the disciplinary authority clause in the Civil Act, which allowed guardians to discipline children for protection or education, was abolished in January, abuse by parents still accounts for the largest proportion, making the public role in spreading a culture of non-violent parenting urgent.
At the business agreement ceremony held at Jung-gu Office on the 8th, Mayor Seo Yang-ho and Director Gu Ho-seok signed the agreement in the presence of Jung-gu Public Health Center Director Yoon Young-duk and others. The agreement includes ▲physical and mental examination, diagnosis, and treatment of abused children ▲post-payment of medical and psychological treatment expenses for abused children ▲provision of medical care and diagnosis within legal limits even without guardians’ accompaniment, and opinions on circumstantial evidence of abused children ▲information exchange and mutual support for those needing assistance.
The district previously formed the ‘Child Abuse Response Information Linkage Council’ with Namdaemun Police Station, Jungbu Police Station, Jungbu Education Support Office, and Child Protection Agency to maintain a constant cooperative system for immediate response to abused or suspected children.
In July, the district established the ‘Jung-gu Case Decision Committee’ composed of seven members including doctors, lawyers, and psychological experts to discuss child abuse prevention, protection plans, and management plans for abused children, including admission and discharge from care facilities, return to original families, restriction of parental rights, and appointment of guardians.
Additionally, the district strengthens expertise through regular case management in cooperation with related agencies such as child protection agencies and enhances customized support for aftercare of abused children and family relationship recovery in abusive families.
The district also makes multifaceted efforts to eradicate child abuse through publicity and education to improve awareness of children’s rights and child abuse.
Mayor Seo Yang-ho of Jung-gu said, “Preventing child abuse and strengthening aftercare require close cooperation among public, private, and police sectors. This business agreement has unified the process from report reception and dispatch to medical services, enabling faster and more systematic response. I express my gratitude to Paik Hospital.”
Gangbuk-gu (Mayor Park Kyum-soo) will provide free flu vaccinations to workers at long-term care institutions until November 15.
The district launched this project to guarantee the improvement of long-term care workers’ treatment and prevent infectious diseases among the elderly they care for.
The vaccination targets about 3,000 long-term care workers aged 64 or younger (born after January 1, 1957) working at 151 long-term care institutions in Gangbuk-gu. They will receive reimbursement for quadrivalent vaccine vaccination costs.
Workers must get vaccinated within the period because applications are not accepted after the date on the hospital bill. They can get vaccinated at their preferred hospital at their own expense and then claim the cost from their institution. The district pays the institution, which then transfers the cost to the applicant’s account.
Alternatively, workers can use affiliated hospitals. In this case, the affiliated hospital bills the institution, and the district pays the institution, which pays the hospital.
For inquiries, contact the Elderly Welfare Division of Gangbuk-gu Office.
Mayor Park Kyum-soo of Gangbuk-gu said, “Protecting the health of care workers who provide face-to-face services to the elderly, a vulnerable group to infectious diseases, is the top priority to protect the elderly’s health. We will continue to do our best to improve the rights of long-term care workers and the quality of welfare services.”
Gangnam-gu (Mayor Jung Soon-gyun) confirmed the presence of ‘Common Nawab Butterfly’ and ‘Musk Swallowtail Butterfly’ in the Japanese honeysuckle along Yangjaecheon Stream in August. This is the first time these two butterfly species have been found in Yangjaecheon, indicating that their habitat environment is well established.
Accordingly, the district designated four Japanese honeysuckle habitats along Yangjaecheon as protected areas. Japanese honeysuckle, a protected species by the Korea Forest Service, is the only food plant for these butterflies and mainly inhabits areas near streams. Most disappeared after farmland was cleared since the 1990s but were restored through Gangnam-gu’s persistent efforts to create an ecological stream.
The district plans to expand food plant habitats along Yangjaecheon to increase various butterfly populations. It will also plant prickly ash trees, the food plant for tiger swallowtail and long-tailed swallowtail butterflies, to create ecological experience education sites throughout Yangjaecheon.
Kim Hyun-kyung, head of the Parks and Greenery Division, said, “The discovery of larvae of the Common Nawab and Musk Swallowtail butterflies proves that Yangjaecheon is an excellent natural ecological stream. We will continue efforts to create ecosystems where various organisms can live.”
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