[Seoul District News] Seodaemun-gu and Seodaemun-gu Youth Counseling Welfare Center Established by Residents' Will, Composed of 30 Members Including University Students, Parents, and Local Residents... Dongjak-gu Reopens 9 Moms Heart Cafes from the 22nd, Limiting Users to 30% of Playground Capacity; Reservations Required via Dongjak-gu Childcare Comprehensive Website for Preschool Children Living in Seoul... Mapo-gu Delivers 15 Items Including Side Dishes, Instant Rice, Instant Soup, Coffee, and Ramen to 1,375 Low-Income Elderly... 'Songpa Ssaem Level-Up Learning Center' to Offer Humanities, Economics, Career, and Education Courses Starting October
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Moon Seok-jin) announced on the 22nd that the 'Digital Owl Monitoring Team' recently held an online inauguration ceremony and began activities to protect youth from digital sex crimes.
The monitoring team was launched with the cooperation of the district office, Seodaemun-gu Youth Counseling Welfare Center, and residents, consisting of 30 members including university students, parents, and local residents.
Members monitor posts related to sex crimes exposed online through SNS and the internet, and report them to related organizations such as the Korea Internet Self-Governance Organization (KISO) and the Korea Communications Standards Commission to delete and block such content.
They also plan to hold campaigns to prevent sex crimes and raise awareness, producing and distributing related card news.
Seodaemun-gu and the Seodaemun-gu Youth Counseling Welfare Center have been continuously working to prevent digital sex crimes, raise awareness, and spread a proper culture of gender equality.
In May and June this year, a survey on sexual awareness was conducted targeting 606 5th and 6th graders from four elementary schools in the district, and based on the results, webtoons and video content will be produced for education.
In August, the 'Seodaemun-gu 1388 Youth Support Group,' a private organization for discovering and supporting at-risk youth, won the grand prize in the university division at the Seoul Metropolitan Council's Youth Ordinance Legislation Competition with the 'Youth Digital Sex Crime Prevention and Awareness Improvement Ordinance.'
This ordinance includes provisions such as the 'Establishment of a Digital Sex Crime Awareness Improvement Center' and the 'Designation and Operation of an Annual Sexual Awareness Improvement Day.'
Moon Seok-jin, Mayor of Seodaemun-gu, said, "The launch of the Owl Monitoring Team is meaningful as it was achieved through the voluntary participation of citizens to create a safe online environment," adding, "I hope it becomes a small stepping stone for youth to grow up in a world free from sex crimes."
Inside the Moms Heart Cafe in Sangdo 2-dong, located in the management building of Lotte Castle Apartment (220 Yangnyeong-ro, Dongjak-gu)
Dongjak-gu (Mayor Lee Chang-woo) announced that the indoor children's playground 'Mom's Heart Cafe,' which had been temporarily closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, resumed operations from the 22nd.
Mom's Heart Cafe is a space designed to provide play areas for children and shared parenting spaces for parents, supporting childcare programs and parent gatherings.
Since the 6th term of the local government, the district unified the names of three indoor children's playgrounds as Mom's Heart Cafe, starting with the new opening of Mom's Heart Cafe in Heukseok-dong in 2017, creating a total of nine locations, aiming for one per neighborhood to expand indoor children's playgrounds.
With the operation of nine Mom's Heart Cafes reopening from this day, it is expected to alleviate the childcare burden of parents struggling with home care due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the social welfare facility response guidelines for the 4th stage of social distancing in the metropolitan area, the number of users is limited to 30% of the playground's capacity, and self-help group rentals and play programs will be operated stepwise according to government quarantine guidelines and the trend of confirmed cases.
Operating hours are ▲1st session (10:00 AM to 11:30 AM) ▲2nd session (1:30 PM to 3:00 PM) ▲3rd session (4:00 PM to 5:30 PM). Preschool children residing in Seoul can make reservations and use the facilities by logging into the Seoul Dongjak-gu Childcare Comprehensive Support Center website and booking on the 15th (for usage from the 1st to 15th of the month) and the 30th (for usage from the 16th to the end of the month) of the previous month.
The usage fee is 2,000 KRW per person, and guardians are free of charge.
Additionally, the district relocated the Roya Toy Library from Sangdo 1-dong to the management building of Lotte Castle Apartments in Sangdo 2-dong and began operation from the 22nd. It operates by online reservation according to distancing guidelines, and with an annual fee of 10,000 KRW, users can borrow one large or two small toys for up to two weeks.
Kim Kyung-ok, Head of the Childcare Division, said, "The reopening of Mom's Heart Cafe is expected to help relieve the burden of child-rearing," adding, "We will do our best to create a Dongjak where children, parents, and childcare workers are all happy through demand-centered customized childcare policies."
Mapo-gu (Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun) will deliver 'Love Sharing Packages' to comfort the elderly who have been having a hard time due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and to support their daily lives.
Every October, the district has held senior citizen banquets to commemorate Senior Citizens' Month, but this year, due to social distancing measures, it prepared 'Love Sharing Packages' containing 15 items such as side dishes, instant rice, instant soup, coffee, and ramen.
The packages will be delivered to 1,375 low-income elderly living alone who have difficulty securing meals due to the suspension of senior meal centers caused by COVID-19. Along with food items, encouragement cards conveying messages of comfort and hope during the pandemic will be included.
To prepare these packages, a production event was held on the afternoon of the 21st on the 4th floor of the Uri Mapo Welfare Center.
The event was attended by Yoo Dong-gyun, Mayor of Mapo-gu, members of the Daeheung-dong Community Security Council, and about 10 volunteer camp members, who personally packed 75 packages to be delivered to elderly living alone in Daeheung-dong.
The 'Love Sharing Packages,' made through voluntary citizen service, will be delivered to low-income elderly in Daeheung-dong starting from the 21st.
Subsequently, packages will be sequentially delivered to low-income elderly in 15 neighborhoods, with visits also checking on the well-being of the elderly.
Since the end of September this year, the district has distributed one massage chair to each of 155 senior centers in the area, and in August, visited homes of elderly living alone aged 70 or older to distribute 50 masks each and check on their well-being, making various efforts to support elderly welfare who are relatively vulnerable during COVID-19.
Yoo Dong-gyun, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, "I thank those who participated in making the sharing packages for neighbors who are more in need during these difficult times," adding, "I hope these sincere efforts will be delivered to the elderly as warm comfort."
Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) will conduct the 'Visiting Fair Trade' program with residents from the 22nd of this month to the 12th of next month to promote ethical consumption.
This program, held over seven sessions, involves fair trade product sellers and related organizations (companies) in Seongdong-gu such as The Fair Story, Jerry Bag, About M Cooperative, and Soyoung's Store, offering various themes including fair trade 'one-day classes' and fair trade 'experience booths.'
Using fair trade sugar, participants can make 'coffee scrubs,' 'pouches' with Namibian embroidery patches, and 'petit scarves' with African patterns, among other hands-on activities. Related products such as sugar, nuts, and protein bars, which are easy to incorporate into daily life, will be introduced through experience booths to allow participants to experience fair trade.
Additionally, information on nearby sales locations and tips for using fair trade products will be provided to attract participants' attention.
Previously, the district declared its intention to promote fair trade cities in 2019, and within two years, achieved all five criteria including the enactment of related ordinances and certification of fair trade practice institutions, receiving fair trade city certification from the Korea Fair Trade Village Committee in August.
Through events such as the 'Fair Trade Talk Concert,' fair travel, and campaigns under the theme 'A Fair World We Connect,' as well as 'Visiting Fair Trade Schools' and fair trade experience events like 'Soyoung's Market' in local events, the district has continuously worked to lead ethical consumption in the community.
Focusing on actively promoting the fair trade village movement so that more residents can empathize with and practice fair trade, the district plans to continue enhancing understanding of the somewhat unfamiliar concept of fair trade through various hands-on experiences using related products and to build social consensus.
This 'Visiting Experience' event accepts 10 participants per class on a first-come, first-served basis, and participation is free. Since September, a 'Fair Trade SNS Challenge' has also been underway to promote ethical consumption, open to any residents interested in or practicing fair trade. Fair trade kits will be provided through a draw in mid-November. For more details, please refer to the Seongdong-gu official website.
Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, "I hope this event will be an opportunity for more residents to empathize with and practice fair trade," adding, "We will continue to support the realization of a sustainable fair trade city."
Gangseo-gu, Seoul (Mayor Noh Hyun-song) announced that it was selected as the top local government in the Urban Environment category at the '2021 Korea Urban Awards' and received the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Award.
This is a remarkable achievement, winning the award for two consecutive years following a special award last year.
The Korea Urban Awards evaluate 229 local governments nationwide over the past year on urban sustainability and living infrastructure levels, awarding cities that have made efforts to improve citizens' quality of life and urban competitiveness.
Evaluations were conducted on 72 indicators across four categories: urban society, urban economy, urban environment, and support systems, including document and presentation assessments. Gangseo-gu ranked first nationwide in the urban environment category.
In particular, the district received high scores for projects such as ▲Gonghang-dong Urban Regeneration Revitalization Project ▲Gaehwasan Ecological Park Creation ▲'Nonsalrim Project' utilizing rice paddies and wetlands ▲Pedestrian safety improvement projects and bicycle road maintenance.
The 'Gonghang-dong Urban Regeneration Revitalization Project' targets the 60-28 area of Gonghang-dong, which had been subject to various regulations, aiming for balanced regional development.
The district implemented various projects such as ▲repairing old houses ▲resident-led urban regeneration contest projects ▲energy consumption environment improvement for vulnerable groups ▲urban regeneration illustration and photo contests, improving the urban environment and restoring community cohesion, earning favorable evaluations.
The 'Gaehwasan Ecological Park Creation Project' was recognized as a case leading urban environment improvement by utilizing lost resources. The district drew groundwater discharged in Gaehwasan to maintain basic forest functions such as habitats for organisms and transformed the area into a resting space for residents, balancing environment and convenience.
Additionally, the 'Nonsalrim Project' utilized Seoul's only rice paddy wetland to conduct rice farming along with monitoring and educational programs on paddy organisms, actively responding to climate change by leveraging local conditions, receiving positive evaluations.
Noh Hyun-song, Mayor of Gangseo-gu, said, "We will continue to expand living infrastructure and pursue people-centered urban policies for balanced regional development," adding, "We will do our best to create a more convenient and pleasant city that residents can be proud of."
Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Sung-soo) announced that it will operate the 'Songpa Teacher Level-Up Learning Center' by utilizing idle spaces in schools for elementary, middle, and high school students and youth in the district to support after-school activities.
As part of the 2021 Songpa Innovation Education District project, the 'Songpa Teacher Level-Up Learning Center,' launched for the first time this year, was planned to expand and support after-school activities for youth by preparing professional and diverse after-school programs through cooperation between schools and the local community.
First, the district publicly recruited educational professional corporations, institutions, organizations, and instructor teams to participate in after-school education, selecting a total of six educational professional organizations. Then, an explanatory meeting for schools was held, resulting in the participation of eight schools (three elementary and five middle schools).
On the 6th, matching between eight schools and local education experts was completed, and the 'Songpa Teacher Level-Up Learning Center' project was launched to discover and utilize idle spaces in each school and operate after-school programs linked with local education experts.
This year's 'Songpa Teacher Level-Up Learning Center' consists of five centers: two 'Happy Learning Centers' providing education to cultivate democratic citizens with humanities literacy, and three 'Future Learning Centers' offering integrated education in four areas: economy, relationships, health, and career. The program will run until December.
Specifically, the 'Happy Learning Centers' include 'Dalgurak Workshop,' which conducts upcycling craft work, and 'World Youth Vision,' which learns about local communities through films. The 'Future Learning Centers' offer classes such as 'Cheongmimo,' a youth future planning program; 'Parents' Love Parent Professional Instructor Association,' which helps create personal books and learn about self-understanding and relationships with others; and 'Value Promoters,' which study private economy, fair trade, environment, and dietary life.
For more information, contact the Education Cooperation Division of Songpa-gu Office.
Park Sung-soo, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, "The 'Songpa Teacher Level-Up Learning Center' will be an opportunity to strengthen public education through cooperation between schools and the community and expand after-school activities for youth," adding, "In particular, by discovering idle spaces within schools and linking and utilizing local education experts, it will contribute to revitalizing the autonomous educational ecosystem of the community."
Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Jung-hoon) announced that it has transformed the entrance road to the Amsa-dong archaeological site into a cultural and artistic street called 'The Road to the Prehistoric Era,' preserving 6,000 years of history.
The newly created 'Road to the Prehistoric Era' features sculptures and artworks inspired by the prehistoric era installed along the pedestrian path from Seonsa Elementary School (837 Olympic-ro, Gangdong-gu) to the Amsa-dong archaeological site (875 Olympic-ro, Gangdong-gu), providing residents with a unique and enjoyable experience on their way to the site.
In the 138 area of Amsa-dong, where an old protective fence had created a deteriorated landscape, the artwork 'Dual Existence - Space' by artist Park Eun-sun, inspired by the prehistoric hut as a residential space, expresses perspectives and insights on the essential value and meaning of past and present, space and existence.
Residents passing by can encounter a giant wall of time at the gateway to the Amsa-dong archaeological site, serving as a connecting passage between past and present, reality and virtuality, rather than a boundary.
Directional and guide signs have been installed to help visitors easily find the Amsa-dong archaeological site, applying Gangdong-style public design elements such as ribbon green fences to street facilities, creating a harmonious and calm street atmosphere.
In the plaza of the Amsa-dong archaeological site, underutilized spaces have been newly arranged with platforms and benches, creating public spaces where visitors can enjoy the artworks and rest. Lighting has been installed to allow use at night.
Lee Jung-hoon, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, said, "The Amsa-dong archaeological site is a representative historical resource of Gangdong-gu and is accessible on foot from Amsa Station," adding, "Through the newly created cultural and artistic street 'The Road to the Prehistoric Era,' residents visiting the site on foot will be able to enjoy a unique cultural and artistic experience and beautiful scenery."
Guro-gu (Mayor Lee Sung) has launched a publicity campaign to reduce residents' inconvenience following the full ban on illegal parking and stopping in school zones.
Following the revision of the Road Traffic Act in May to strengthen children's traffic safety, enforcement began on the 21st to crack down on illegally parked vehicles throughout all 54 school zones in the district. Fines have been increased to three times the amount for general roads, with 120,000 KRW for passenger cars and 130,000 KRW for vans.
Additionally, Guro-gu plans to conduct intensive enforcement with the Guro Police Station during school commuting hours, focusing on accident-prone areas where many child traffic accidents occur. Parking violations will be met with a zero-tolerance policy, fines will be imposed, and vehicles will be towed immediately if necessary.
To minimize inconvenience for students commuting from distant locations, the district will exceptionally operate 'Safe Boarding and Alighting Zones for School Vehicles in School Zones,' allowing temporary stops for designated pick-up and drop-off.
Currently, 16 locations including daycare centers, kindergartens, and elementary schools in Guro-gu are designated as 'Safe Boarding and Alighting Zones for School Vehicles in School Zones.' Stopping is only allowed where blue guide signs are installed, and must not exceed five minutes.
A Guro-gu official said, "We will actively promote the new system through the district website and SNS to reduce residents' confusion," adding, "We ask for residents' active cooperation with the full ban on parking and stopping in school zones to ensure children's safety on school routes."
Gwanak-gu has been honored with the Special Award in the Smart City category at the '2021 Korea Urban Awards.'
Hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Korea Urban Awards evaluate local governments nationwide on urban sustainability and living infrastructure levels, awarding those with outstanding achievements.
The district was recognized for creating a city where women, including single-person households, can live safely and securely by utilizing smart technologies, a core technology of the 4th Industrial Revolution, and was selected as a recipient of the Special Award in the Smart City category for excellent policies.
Notably, the district's efforts included ▲establishing customized plans reflecting the city's characteristic of having the highest proportion of single-person female households nationwide (26.5%) ▲organic cooperation linking crime-free safe cities and smart cities ▲establishing a comprehensive smart city plan for female safety using big data and spatial analysis ▲nation's first support for 'Safe Home Sets' for single-person female households ▲nation's first rental of illegal filming camera detection equipment ▲resident-led project discovery from the planning stage such as Smart Living Labs ▲development of autonomous patrol robots for crime-prone areas ▲installation of AI and selective surveillance 'Smart Safety Lighting' and maintenance of 'Women Safe Return Paths,' among various efforts contributing to the creation of 'Gwanak, a Safe and Secure Smart City for Single-Person Female Households.'
A district official said, "We are implementing various projects to solve urban problems beyond women's safety by utilizing 4th Industrial Revolution technologies," adding, "We will continue to improve residents' quality of life through systematic and effective smart projects, including establishing a mid- to long-term master plan for smart cities."
Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) decided on the 22nd through a two-day written review by the Living Wage Deliberation Committee held from the 13th to 14th that the 2022 living wage will be 10,766 KRW per hour.
This is an increase of 64 KRW (0.6%) from the 2021 living wage of 10,702 KRW.
The living wage is a wage system calculated comprehensively considering housing, education, culture, and medical expenses to supplement the institutional shortcomings of the minimum wage and enable workers to maintain a minimum decent life. Dongdaemun-gu enacted the Living Wage Ordinance in July 2015 and has implemented the living wage system since 2016.
The living wage decided this day is 1,606 KRW higher than next year's minimum wage of 9,160 KRW. Based on the statutory working hours of 209 hours, the monthly salary amounts to 2,250,940 KRW, which is 335,654 KRW higher than the minimum wage of 1,914,440 KRW.
The confirmed living wage will be applied from January 1, 2022, to approximately 192 fixed-term workers affiliated with Dongdaemun-gu and Dongdaemun-gu Facilities Management Corporation and other invested and funded institutions. However, it excludes workers under private consignment and temporary hires supported by government ministries and Seoul city budgets.
Yoo Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, said, "We will do our best to gradually improve the living wage for low-wage workers working in Dongdaemun-gu and continuously find ways to provide practical help."
Dobong-gu (Mayor Lee Dong-jin) will hold the 2021 Dobong Youth Festival 'Dobong Youth, Dobong Does' at 4 PM on the 23rd.
Now in its fifth year, the 'Dobong Youth Festival' is a youth-led festival where young people themselves become the main actors, planning and executing the event. It aims to encourage voluntary participation of youth in the local community and create a network base where diverse young people in the area can interact.
The festival will be held online to prevent COVID-19, and can be watched live on Dobong-gu's official YouTube channel 'Dobongbong TV.'
This year's 'Dobong Youth, Dobong Does' was planned by the youth festival planning team and prepared with Social Workshop, a professional company combining ESG and cultural planning. Youth members of the planning team planned the event and served as MCs, staying true to the youth-led festival concept. Artists active in the Dobong area will perform, and a music video created with the participation of Dobong youth will be screened, presenting a 'festival made together.'
The festival stage will feature performances by ▲World Beatbox Champion Mighty ▲rapper Sapo from SHOW ME THE MONEY 2 ▲three-member sugar pop band Marishu ▲DJ TUMP spinning hope ▲musician Jang Yu-kyung, winner of the Yoo Jae-ha Music Contest Encouragement Award ▲best-selling author Kim Min-seop of 'I am a Part-Time Lecturer at a Local University.'
Notably, rapper Sapo and artist Jang Yu-kyung will debut unreleased new songs at this festival and have prepared various events such as quiz giveaways and impromptu rap performances in YouTube comments. At the end of the festival, singer-songwriter Jang Yu-kyung will sing 'A Day in Dobong,' a song she composed herself, against a video background depicting the daily lives of Dobong youth, adding meaning to the festival made together.
Lee Dong-jin, Mayor of Dobong-gu, said, "It is unfortunate that we cannot provide opportunities for youth to gather in person due to COVID-19, but I hope this festival offers a moment of recharge for Dobong youth who are each pioneering through difficult realities."
Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon) announced that it will hold the village autonomy festival week 'Ppom' from the 25th to the 29th.
The village autonomy festival week 'Ppom' is an event to share the achievements of village community activities with residents and create a space for mutual learning and sharing through support and encouragement. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, it will be held online via the Geumcheon-gu Village Community Support Center's YouTube channel and Zoom.
The event will start with an opening ceremony at 2 PM on the 25th, followed by 'Village 100 Degrees Celsius,' highlighting village activists through stories of people who have energized the village, the resident proposal village forum 'N Tables' discussing major village issues and disputes, and 'Village Community Mini Lectures' showcasing the activities of project managers.
On the 28th, the 'Project Manager Network Party' will share a year's worth of village community activities, and on the last day, the 29th, the village film 'Wakjajikkeol Nanjangpan' will be screened to conclude the event.
Yoo Sung-hoon, Mayor of Geumcheon-gu, said, "I thank village project managers, village leaders, and village support activists who have participated in village community projects, village education, and various network activities with neighbors despite the difficult environment due to COVID-19," adding, "We will continue to support and encourage village community activities so that residents' diverse needs and demands can be well connected to policy projects."
For more information, contact the Geumcheon-gu Village Community Support Center or the Village Autonomy Division of Geumcheon-gu Office.
Gangbuk-gu (Mayor Park Gyeom-su) will conduct online humanities lectures in November under the theme 'Environment and Parent Education.'
The district plans to post lecture videos by science communicator Lee Seon-ho on the official Gangbuk-gu YouTube channel from November to December, under the theme 'Are we eating a credit card's worth of plastic every week?' A 'science communicator' refers to someone who popularizes scientific knowledge and delivers science easily and interestingly to students, the general public, and various audiences.
Lee Seon-ho has conducted various lectures on environmental topics, mainly focusing on the marine environment's status and pollution solutions. This humanities lecture will present practical measures to prevent the 'plastic disaster' caused by increased disposable product use.
This lecture is a pilot project as part of the 'Three-Year Comprehensive Democratic Citizenship Education Plan.' The district planned this lecture on the theme of 'environment' to establish a foundation for democratic citizenship awareness to take root in daily life.
Parent education will be posted on the official Gangbuk-gu YouTube channel from November 22 to December 21 under the theme 'How to Restore Parents' Mental Health.' It will include content helpful to parents and caregivers raising children, such as child abuse prevention measures.
The lecturer, psychiatrist Jung Woo-yeol, is active on YouTube as 'Psychiatrist Jung Woo-yeol.' His major works include 'Parenting Emotions Felt Because You're a Mom,' 'Children Are Different When Dad Steps Up,' 'Balanced Parenting,' and 'I'm Curious About Your Mind.'
Park Gyeom-su, Mayor of Gangbuk-gu, said, "Due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, the use of disposable products has surged, and parents are exhausted from spending more time with their children at home," adding, "I hope this lecture raises awareness about plastic use and provides empathy and comfort to many parents."
Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Sun-gap) donated ginkgo nuts harvested from ginkgo street trees in the district to the Gwangjin Food Market Bank on the 21st.
The district has been harvesting and donating ginkgo nuts early since 2017 to resolve complaints about the foul odor caused by ginkgo nuts and to share the medicinally used nuts with neighbors in need.
This year, from September 27 to 30, nuts were harvested from ginkgo trees in the district, and after about 20 days of initial peeling, a total of 20 kg was delivered to the Gwangjin Food Market Bank. The donated nuts will be provided free of charge to low-income groups.
In addition, the district annually donates summer vegetables grown in small gardens, and this year, they were delivered 15 times to 18 social welfare facilities and 57 households of elderly and disabled people in need.
Kim Sun-gap, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, said, "We harvested early to resolve complaints about the foul odor of ginkgo nuts and create a pleasant walking environment," adding, "We are also transforming ginkgo nuts, once considered an autumn nuisance, into autumn gifts by sharing them with neighbors in need."
The Gwangjin Food Market Bank accepts goods directly by visiting donors or organizations upon sponsorship requests. For details on donations and sponsorships, contact the Welfare Policy Division of the district office or the Gwangjin Food Market Bank.
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