[Seoul District News] From November 1, 2-week Mobile Touring Performances in 20 Seongbuk-gu Areas Featuring Local Art Groups and Seongbuk Street Art Troupe Busking; Special Shows on October 30 'Geumnan-sae's Classic Lounge' and November 6 'Mallo's Jazz Lounge'... Gangbuk-gu Hosts 2nd National April 19 Revolution Creative Pansori Contest... 6th Chungmuro Film Festival - Director's Week Held... Jongno-gu Completes Bukhansan Bibong-gil Hiking Trail... Gwanak Love Gift Certificates Issued Additional 15 Billion Won During Korea Sale Festa... Yangcheon-gu, Mok
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongbuk-gu and Seongbuk Cultural Foundation will hold the mobile touring performance "Seongbuk Pop-up Concert," visiting 20 areas in Seongbuk-gu for two weeks starting November 1. It was prepared to provide cultural enjoyment opportunities to residents who have faithfully participated in long-term social distancing and to offer a stage for local art groups to communicate with audiences.
Participating art groups include Minyesuldan's music concert, Yadanbeopseok's percussion concert, TS Company's b-boying, A-Friends' animation film music concert, Noldanggabseo's percussion performance, and Hangyeol A&C's popera performance, among others. Various genres of performances can be experienced on a mobile trailer stage.
The event will be held at Kkumbit Theater (20 Gireum-ro 7-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, Seoul Seongbuk Media Culture Maru), which attracted much attention last August with the traditional Korean music festival "Pungnyu Machi."
The first special performance of "Seongbuk Pop-up Concert" is "Geumnan-sae's Classic Lounge." Starting at 5 p.m. on October 30, "Geumnan-sae's Classic Lounge" features conductor Geumnan-sae and the New World Chamber Orchestra, a string ensemble composed of principal and associate principal players of the New World Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor Geumnan-sae, after placing in the 1977 Karajan Competition, served as music director and chief conductor of the European Master Orchestra, conducted the Moscow Philharmonic and German Chamber Orchestra, and held positions as full-time conductor of the KBS Symphony Orchestra and chief conductor of Suwon Philharmonic, Gyeonggi Philharmonic, and Incheon Philharmonic, delivering diverse and rich music.
This performance will include string ensemble renditions of Holst's "St. Paul's Suite No. 1," Karl Jenkins' "Palladio," and Respighi's suite "Ancient Airs and Dances" including "Passacaglia." Vivaldi's "Winter" from "The Four Seasons" will be performed by violinist Kim Hye-ji; Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach's "Flute Concerto in D minor, 3rd movement" by flutist Baek Yang-ji; James Moody's "Bulgarian Wedding Dance" by harmonica player Lee Yoon-seok; and Piazzolla's "Libertango" by saxophonist Kim Tae-yeon in collaboration.
"Geumnan-sae's Classic Lounge" will be broadcast simultaneously online and offline and can be viewed live on YouTube Seongbuk TV.
The second special performance of "Seongbuk Pop-up Concert" is "Mallo's Jazz Lounge." Starting at 5 p.m. on November 6, "Mallo's Jazz Lounge" features jazz vocalist Mallo and guest gypsy guitarist Park Joo-won. Mallo captivates audiences with a rich and deep tone and passionate scat singing, combined with Park Joo-won's mesmerizing fingerwork on the gypsy guitar, allowing audiences to fully experience the passion and freedom of jazz.
Admission to "Seongbuk Pop-up Concert" is free. For the special performances "Geumnan-sae's Classic Lounge" and "Mallo's Jazz Lounge," tickets (two per person) will be provided through an online and offline lottery after prior application to encourage participation in social distancing.
For more detailed information about the performances, inquiries can be made via the Kkumbit Theater website, Kkumbit Theater's social media (Instagram, Facebook), or by phone.
Gangbuk-gu (Mayor Park Gyeom-su) will hold the 2nd National "April 19 Revolution National Creative Pansori Competition" in a non-face-to-face format.
Participants will compete with creative pansori or danga (short pansori songs) composed within 5 minutes. They must choose one theme related to Korean democracy or the April 19 Revolution. Anyone who loves traditional arts, regardless of age or region, including foreigners, can participate. However, groups are not allowed. The pansori competition is divided into three categories: elementary/middle/high school students, newcomers, and general. Foreigners can only participate in the newcomer category.
Applicants can apply by October 29 on the April 19 Revolution National Cultural Festival website. Afterward, creative lyrics and video recordings of the work must be sent by email by November 3. The video must be recorded in one take without editing.
Judging will be conducted via online videos. Judges recommended by the National Gugak Center and others will score in categories such as skill, pitch, rhythm, and lyrics. The grand prize, excellence award, and merit award winners (one person each) will receive 2 million won, 1 million won, and 500,000 won respectively. Three encouragement awards and six effort awards will receive 300,000 won and 200,000 won respectively, and ten popularity awards will receive souvenirs.
After the competition, the grand prize, excellence, and merit award winners will have separate filming sessions. Their works will be available on Gangbuk-gu's YouTube channel. Winners can be confirmed on November 8 on the district office website.
Mayor Park Gyeom-su of Gangbuk-gu said, "This competition has great meaning in reflecting on the April 19 Revolution by singing in our own melody and sometimes telling stories. I hope creative pansori will be passed down as a resonance of democracy like Chunhyangga and Simcheongga for a long time."
Seoul City, Jung-gu (Mayor Seo Yang-ho), CJ Cultural Foundation, and the Korean Film Council sponsor the 6th Chungmuro Film Festival - Directors Week (The CMR-Directors Week), jointly hosted by Jung-gu Cultural Foundation and the Directors Guild of Korea (DGK), which will be held online and offline for nine days from the 22nd.
The 6th Chungmuro Film Festival - Directors Week is the only domestic 2-in-1 film festival separating short film directors' week and feature film directors' week. Under the slogan "DIRECTORS PLAYGROUND," it is a real playground created by directors themselves in Chungmuro, the fountainhead of Korean cinema, where audiences can freely watch, talk, and enjoy films with directors.
The opening work is "Gugudan," an omnibus vertical cinema project of 18 short films shot by nine directors with nine youth teams and nine walking tour spots in Jung-gu, released on Naver TV at noon on the opening day, the 22nd.
This year, the festival introduced a short film competition section and a chief curator system for the first time. The chief curator system involves eight curator directors selecting the final competition works from 100 preliminary works recommended by a preliminary judging panel composed of DGK members.
Unlike the existing scoring and consensus-based selection methods, the curator directors introduce the works they select in screening sections bearing their names. This reflects the festival's philosophy that a director's perspective is a genre itself and that the power of Korean cinema comes when directors' individuality is respected.
The main program of Directors Week, "Salon de Cinema: Directors Ask Directors," features special sessions where directors such as Bong Joon-ho, Kim Bo-ra of "House of Hummingbird," and Kim Seong-hoon of "Kingdom" act as moderators interviewing other directors. It will be an opportunity to hear precious stories related to films.
Offline screenings and events will be held at Chungmu Art Center, CGV Dongdaemun, and Megabox COEX, with some programs available online via Naver TV and TikTok. Detailed program schedules can be found on the festival's official website.
Gangnam-gu (Mayor Jung Soon-gyun) will operate the "COVID-19 Home Treatment Management Task Force (TF)" from the 25th to transition to "gradual daily recovery."
The TF, composed of 23 dedicated personnel including nursing and administrative staff, monitors the health status of home treatment patients. It also delivers home treatment kits containing fever reducers, oxygen saturation meters, thermometers, etc., to help patients self-check their condition. The location tracking function of the self-quarantine app and surprise visits by inspection teams prevent patients from leaving home treatment.
The district has designated cooperative hospitals to prepare for rapid symptom worsening during home treatment. On the 15th, a local hospital with negative pressure isolation beds was designated as a cooperative hospital, enabling 24-hour treatment for symptomatic home treatment patients, including prescriptions and emergency surgery. On the 20th, a health department-designated respiratory clinic was added through a business agreement to provide 24-hour non-face-to-face treatment and consultation.
Mayor Jung Soon-gyun of Gangnam-gu said, "Since the early days of the COVID-19 crisis, Gangnam-gu has played a leading role in proactive quarantine response. We will continue to prepare for a smooth gradual daily recovery with the mindset that the health and safety of our residents is the health and safety of Korea."
Mapo-gu (Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun) will close two COVID-19 vaccination centers on the 29th and focus on transitioning to gradual daily recovery.
As of the 22nd, 280,027 people, 78% of Mapo-gu's 370,000 residents, have completed the first dose, and 237,450 people, 64%, have completed vaccination.
To ensure rapid and safe vaccination, the district has operated the first vaccination center at Mapo-gu Sports Center since April 15 and the second vaccination center at Mapo Art Center since July 15. As of the 22nd, the number of vaccinations at the two centers totals 65,283 first doses and 58,136 second doses.
The district has provided "accompanying services for disabled vaccination" to help residents with mobility difficulties receive vaccines comfortably and operated the "On-site Mayor's Office" at the vaccination centers, the first in the nation, to communicate with residents, prioritizing safe vaccination.
With the closure of vaccination centers, future vaccinations will shift to entrusted medical institutions. Unvaccinated individuals, pregnant women, children aged 12-17, and booster shot recipients will be vaccinated at health centers and 133 entrusted medical institutions from November.
The district launched a home treatment team on the 13th, stepping toward daily recovery. On October 7, it signed a business agreement with Sinchon Yonsei Hospital for professional COVID-19 home treatment support, including initial medical interviews, twice-daily health monitoring, and non-face-to-face treatment upon symptom onset.
Additionally, the district formed the "Mapo-gu Daily Recovery Promotion Team," led by the mayor and composed of teams for economy and livelihood, social culture, autonomy and safety, quarantine and medical care, general support, and COVID-19 disaster management, aligning with the government's daily recovery direction.
The promotion team plans to develop detailed measures to overcome social and economic crises, reflecting residents' voices to discover effective policies supporting regional economic revitalization and gradual daily recovery.
Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun of Mapo-gu said, "Thanks to residents' active participation in vaccination, we can begin transitioning to daily recovery. Since this is an unprecedented path, we will prepare meticulously without complacency to ensure smooth implementation tailored to local characteristics."
Jongno-gu (Mayor Kim Young-jong) completed the "Bibong-gil Trail Construction Project in Bukhansan" and held a completion ceremony on the 21st.
This project was completed after continuous efforts by the district since 2016 to create safe and convenient trails for local residents and hikers visiting Bukhansan.
After starting the feasibility study and basic design in 2017, the design plan was finalized in 2019 following years of consultations with local residents, the Korea National Park Service, Seoul City, and external experts.
The design respects Bukhansan's nature while incorporating opinions from residents and experts. Completed five years after commencement, it provides residents with a space for exercise and walking and offers safe and convenient walking environments for hikers and visitors to traditional temples.
Notably, the project not only created new trails but also renovated existing paths. A 210-meter walking deck was installed from the intersection near 100 Bibong-gil to the entrance of Yeonhwasa Temple, and the severely deteriorated concrete road nearby was replaced with asphalt pavement.
The road width was expanded, anti-slip pavement applied, and safety barriers installed to facilitate smooth vehicle traffic and prevent accidents such as vehicle overturning.
Mayor Kim Young-jong said, "We are pleased to complete the Bibong-gil Trail Project, providing convenient and safe walking environments for residents and hikers in preparation for 'With Corona.' We will continue to listen to residents' voices and strive to make Jongno a city where everyone wants to live."
Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Moon Seok-jin) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) online to promote exchange and cooperation with the 13th arrondissement of Paris, France.
The MOU signing ceremony was attended by Moon Seok-jin, Mayor of Seodaemun-gu; Buon Tan, French National Assembly member; J?r?me Coumet, Mayor of Paris 13th arrondissement; and Philippe Lefort, French Ambassador to Korea.
The ceremony involved signing the pre-exchanged agreement by mail, followed by a video conference discussing excellent policy cases and mutual cooperation.
The 13th arrondissement, one of Paris's 20 districts, hosts prestigious universities and Europe's largest startup campus, Station F. It shares similarities with Seodaemun-gu, which also has many universities and actively promotes youth entrepreneurship administration, forming the basis for exchange.
Philippe Lefort, the French Ambassador to Korea who first proposed the sister city relationship, said, "Seodaemun-gu and Paris 13th arrondissement share many commonalities, especially in youth entrepreneurship, and we expect to carry out various cooperation projects."
The video conference exchanged many opinions on cultural exchange. Buon Tan said, "Following the recent popularity of the drama 'Squid Game,' interest in Korean language and culture has increased in France. We hope to expand cooperation gradually, starting with exchanges between university students in both cities."
Mayor Moon Seok-jin of Seodaemun-gu said, "This MOU signing is a new beginning. We will continue exchanges and cooperation to create synergy effects in various fields beyond culture."
Based on this MOU, the two cities plan to promote exchanges and cooperation in administration, economy, culture, education, tourism, and sports.
Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon) announced on the 22nd that it received certification as an age-friendly city from the World Health Organization (WHO) and joined the international network.
An age-friendly city is a policy promoted by WHO since 2009 to effectively respond to global urbanization and aging trends. Certification requires meeting criteria in eight areas, including transportation, housing, leisure, and social participation.
Geumcheon-gu's population aged 65 and over accounts for 17.3% of the total population, and it is expected to enter a super-aged society (over 20% elderly) by 2024. The district has made proactive preparations to cope with rapid aging and related community changes.
In March, the district enacted the "Geumcheon-gu Age-Friendly City Ordinance" to establish a legal basis, formed a promotion committee in May, and completed a study on age-friendly city creation in September. Based on this, it set the vision "A city where the elderly look forward to life, Geumcheon," aiming by 2024 to achieve ▲Safe Geumcheon with free movement ▲Healthy Geumcheon with mutual care ▲Growing Geumcheon through participation and contribution ▲Geumcheon where elderly and all generations live together, implementing 60 projects across eight areas.
Representative projects include "Senior Health Playground in Our Neighborhood," "Improvement of Village Bus Operation Linked to Public Transport," "Support for Grandchildren Companion Robots," and "Smart Senior Education for Wise Digital Life."
The district plans to form an "Age-Friendly City Monitoring Group" within the year to establish a continuous feedback system proposing policy directions and diverse opinions, aiming to implement practical policies reflecting seniors' needs beyond certification.
Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon said, "We are pleased that Geumcheon-gu's will and efforts to recognize and solve super-aged society issues have been internationally certified. As a member city of the Age-Friendly City International Network, we will do our best to make Geumcheon a city good for seniors and all residents."
According to the "2020 Annual Report on Child Abuse" submitted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare to the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee on August 31, 82.1% of abusers were parents, and 87.4% of abuse incidents occurred at home.
This highlights the need for community interest in creating a stable home care environment.
Yongsan-gu (Mayor Seong Chang-hyun) Childcare Support Center will provide free emotional and behavioral assessments in collaboration with the Korea Childcare Promotion Institute.
On the 22nd, Yongsan-gu Childcare Support Center signed a business agreement with the Korea Childcare Promotion Institute to jointly support mental health screening and parental counseling for families with children aged 3 to 5 residing in Yongsan-gu.
Emotional and behavioral diagnosis uses the Child Emotional and Behavioral Observation System (i-Geom P9). i-Geom P9 analyzes self-concept, relationships and adaptation, emotions, and behavioral characteristics by observing children's drawings and provides a self-test for parenting stress, covering physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioral, child, and spouse-related self-checks.
A center official emphasized, "It can be conveniently used without visiting the institution or exposing personal information, as it is a non-face-to-face method using smartphones."
The support target is 80 caregivers of children aged 5 to 7 (3 to 5 years old). Applications open at 10 a.m. on the 25th on the Yongsan-gu Childcare Support Center website on a first-come, first-served basis.
Selected participants will receive a link via text message to upload their child's drawing via smartphone, enabling self-assessment and result confirmation.
Choi Kyung-sun, head of Yongsan-gu Childcare Support Center, said, "Parents often face trial and error in raising children. We hope they check their and their children's status through i-Geom P9 and receive coaching support from the center if needed."
Established in 2011 and relocated to Yongsan Dream Tree Complex in 2017, the center provides education and consulting for childcare workers and parent education, counseling, therapy, and experiential programs for families with infants and young children. More details are available on the center's website.
Dobong-gu (Mayor Lee Dong-jin) signed a business agreement with Wemakeprice O (WMP-O) and the Korean Restaurant Association Dobong Branch on the 22nd at Dobong-gu Office Communication Cooperation Room, marking the start of the Dobong-type private-led delivery app.
Dobong "WMP-O" is a public-private cooperative delivery app service led by Wemakeprice O Co., Ltd., supported by Dobong-gu and the Korean Restaurant Association Dobong Branch, aiming to revitalize the local economy. It is scheduled to open on November 3.
The Dobong "WMP-O" delivery app reduces excessive brokerage fees caused by the monopoly of large delivery platforms, lowering franchisees' fee burdens. It also supports payment with Dobong Love Gift Certificates, offering consumers a 10% discount. The app can be installed from Google Play or App Store, and users can use it after simple registration and address setting.
Franchisees can choose between a fixed-rate system (2% brokerage fee) and a fixed-amount system (8,000 won weekly server fee), enjoying benefits such as no entry or advertising fees. If weekly sales through the app are below 30,000 won, no server fee is charged.
Businesses wishing to join can apply via the "WMP-O" owner-exclusive center or online at "WMP-O Partners."
From November 3 to 30, a consumer discount event will be held. During the event, orders over 15,000 won via "WMP-O" will receive an immediate 5,000 won discount coupon. One coupon per day is provided, and multiple participations are allowed during the event. The discount applies only to orders from businesses located in Dobong-gu.
Dobong Love Gift Certificates, offering a 10% discount, will be available for purchase from 12 noon on November 3 via 21 mobile apps including Beeple Zero Pay, Check Pay, Shinhan SOL, and Woori WON Banking.
Mayor Lee Dong-jin of Dobong-gu said, "When ordering delivery food in Dobong-gu, please purchase Dobong Love Gift Certificates with discount benefits and pay through 'WMP-O.' We ask many residents to participate in this kind consumption that reduces the heavy fee burden on small business owners."
Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) will pilot operate "Safe Village Security Guards" from the 25th to create a safe residential environment for them.
Safe Village Security Guards patrol areas densely populated by single-person households during vulnerable hours from 9 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. the next day, checking and reporting hazards such as road damage, unlit security lights, and illegal dumping in alleys and secluded places.
Especially, Sagun-dong, which has a high concentration of multi-family houses near university areas and the highest proportion of single-person households in the district (9.88% as of April 2021), was selected as the pilot project site and will be operated until the end of December.
In September, the district selected four Safe Village Security Guards from residents with police, crime prevention experience, or martial arts skills, conducted field surveys in Sagun-dong, and provided job training including CPR and self-defense techniques, completing all preparations before implementation.
They will cooperate with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and others for patrol and crime prevention activities, aiming to eliminate residents' anxiety about home intrusion with a more systematic system and dense safety network.
Previously, the district provided a "four-piece set" including door mirror sheets for visibility, fingerprint prevention door lock films, personal information leakage prevention stamps, and mini fire extinguishers to female single-person households. It also supports emergency bell installation for female-owned stores and operates "Women's Safe Delivery Boxes" and "Women's Safe Keeper Houses," providing tailored safety support.
Having established a "comprehensive package for single-person households" in July, listening to diverse demands from youth to elderly, the district plans to continue comprehensive support policies for welfare, culture, and residential safety for single-person households.
Mayor Jung Won-oh said, "We hope this project will make single-person households safer. We will discover and actively support daily life support measures for single-person households, now an integral part of society."
Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) is building a smart safety management system integrating drones and AI technology for building safety inspections.
Due to strengthened legal standards for building safety, the volume of inspections for aging buildings has greatly increased, highlighting the need for improved quality and efficiency in safety inspections. Applying smart construction technology is gaining attention as a solution.
"Smart construction technology" refers to applying advanced smart technologies such as ICT to traditional construction methods. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's roadmap, the application of big data, IoT, drones, and other advanced technologies is expanding.
Accordingly, the district is moving quickly. It is proactively applying new technologies in the field to build an efficient smart safety management system.
The smart safety management system includes ▲Using drones to inspect hard-to-reach areas without blind spots ▲Building 3D numerical models and time-series big data from collected information ▲Ultimately applying AI-based automatic identification technology to calculate precise repair areas and derive optimal repair methods, aiming for autonomous inspection.
Smart inspections will first apply to facilities difficult for inspectors to access or visually check, such as steep slopes, construction sites, and spires. It is especially useful for pre-inspection of retaining walls, fences, and steep slopes prone to rockfalls or collapses during thaw or rainy seasons.
While manual visual inspections may miss some points, drones capture the site without blind spots. The captured numerical data is converted into 3D models, enabling more precise and stable inspections. Inspection time, which took about 72 hours manually, can be reduced to 27 hours using drones, greatly alleviating manpower shortages and workload.
Drone footage undergoes 3D numerical modeling to create data allowing viewpoint changes, zoom, distance and area measurements, and detailed observations. Accumulating 3D modeling data for time-series management and big data construction will eventually enable autonomous inspections via AI.
In August, the district conducted pilot drone inspections of three religious facility spires difficult to inspect visually and in September inspected a steep slope in Sanggye-dong requiring tracking observation, currently managing 3D modeling and time-series data.
Notably, unlike other local governments outsourcing drone inspections to private experts, Nowon-gu officials directly operated drones for inspections. Among Nowon-gu's architecture department staff, nine hold drone pilot licenses, including one instructor.
The district also strengthens staff capabilities through a learning club for drone flight and safety inspection training, actively researching drone utilization by benchmarking other local governments. It plans to collaborate with the Smart Construction Drone Association, sharing technology and support.
Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, "We will enhance inspection effectiveness using new technologies like drones and actively remove risks in vulnerable facilities to protect residents' lives and property."
Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Jung-hoon) installed and operates the "Walk-through Smart Safe Disinfection Gate" air shower, produced by Purium, at Gangdong Youth Sports Center as part of the Ministry of Environment's support project for commercialization and application of small and medium environmental enterprises, preparing for a return to daily life.
The walk-through smart safe disinfection gate air shower installed at the entrance of Gangdong Youth Sports Center was donated by Purium. The center offers various exercise programs for children, and the installation allows residents and children to use the facility more safely.
The smart IoT air shower is designed for facilities with large numbers of simultaneous users. As users pass through the gate, LED sterilization technology and filters such as HEPA and carbon nanotubes remove indoor fine dust and deodorize. Built-in natural phytoncides provide sterilization and antibacterial effects.
The district collects and analyzes air quality data to prevent viruses and infectious diseases and create a safe indoor environment. It has installed and operates smart IoT air showers in 16 facilities including the district office, with high resident satisfaction reported.
Mayor Lee Jung-hoon said, "We will actively discover and apply various smart technologies to local facilities to support residents living safely and healthily during the With Corona period. Through this, we will create a people-centered smart city Gangdong where many residents enjoy advanced technology benefits."
Guro-gu (Mayor Lee Sung) has set the living wage for next year at 10,766 won per hour, effective from January 1.
This is 1,606 won (17.53%) higher than the Ministry of Employment and Labor's announced minimum wage for next year (9,160 won) and 0.59% higher than this year's living wage. For 209 hours per month, the monthly wage will be 2,250,094 won.
The living wage policy sets wage levels considering local living standards and prices to guarantee workers a humane and cultural life.
The wage applies to workers affiliated with Guro-gu, Guro-gu-funded institutions, facility management corporations, and university student part-timers. Temporary workers funded by the government or Seoul City are excluded.
The wage is applied by paying a supplement if the worker's regular wage is less than the living wage monthly amount.
On the 19th, Guro-gu's Living Wage Deliberation Committee decided to apply the same amount as Seoul City for next year's living wage.
A Guro-gu official said, "We hope the living wage will improve the quality of life and stability for workers facing difficulties due to COVID-19."
Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) will issue an additional 15 billion won worth of Gwanak Love Gift Certificates from 2 p.m. on November 1, coinciding with the "2021 Korea Sale Festa" to overcome the COVID-19 economic crisis.
The district expects this large-scale issuance on the first day of the Korea Sale Festa, with the catchphrase "Warm consumption that empowers everyone," to maximize local consumption stimulation and revitalize the long-stagnant local economy due to COVID-19.
This brings the total issuance this year to 54 billion won, the second-largest among Seoul's autonomous districts. Adding last year's 23 billion won, the total issuance reaches 77 billion won. The special 10% discount rate and 30% income deduction for consumers remain unchanged.
The mobile local currency Gwanak Love Gift Certificates, issued to boost sales of local small businesses, sold out with great response, issuing 23 billion won last year and 39 billion won until September this year, totaling 62 billion won.
As of the end of September, 47.5 billion won of the 62 billion won sold has been used, mainly at local small businesses such as restaurants, supermarkets, and grocery stores, significantly contributing to actual sales increases for small businesses affected by COVID-19.
The number of Zero Pay affiliated stores in the district has steadily increased to 15,154 as of the end of September, expanding consumer choices. Payment is available through 21 mobile apps including Post Office, Woori WON Banking, offering convenient non-face-to-face mobile payment methods suitable for the untact era.
The gift certificates are issued in three mobile denominations: 10,000 won, 50,000 won, and 100,000 won. The monthly purchase limit is 700,000 won, and the holding limit is 2 million won. Refunds are possible within 7 days for full refunds upon purchase cancellation; for balance refunds, if 60% or more of the face value is used, the remaining balance excluding the 10% discount support is refunded.
To strengthen support for local small businesses, usage is restricted in large stores, gambling facilities, large private academies, large corporate-affiliated cinemas, and direct stores of mid-sized or larger companies. Restricted businesses can be checked on the Seoul City website (Information by sector → Economy → Small Business Easy Payment → Local Love Gift Certificates → Data Room).
Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) announced that the 2021 Dongdaemun Innovation Education District Online Festival, jointly hosted by Dongdaemun-gu and Seoul Metropolitan Eastern Education Support Office, will be held over two days on the 29th and 30th.
The festival was prepared to share the achievements of Dongdaemun-gu's innovation education project with the local community and promote and build consensus on innovative education.
This year, as the festival is prepared as a non-face-to-face online event, various communication channels such as Zoom, YouTube, and the festival website will be operated to offer diverse events difficult to experience offline.
On the first day (29th), reflecting voices of education stakeholders in the innovation education district, a "Our Village Education Debate" will be held to discover various educational agendas. The agendas discovered will be reflected in Dongdaemun-gu and Seoul Metropolitan Education Support projects and innovation education district projects. Residents interested in Dongdaemun education can participate via Zoom by pre-registering on the festival website.
On the same day, videos of village library tours, human libraries, and reading clubs prepared by the Dongdaemun Innovation Education District Library Network will be shared to introduce local library activities.
On the second day (30th), youth will prepare and perform "Dongdaemun-gu Visible Radio," and the innovation education district parent committee will offer programs such as "Growing Lucky Bamboo" and "Making Tteokbokki" to encourage children tired from COVID-19 to spend warm time with their families.
Especially, the lucky bamboo program provides kits to participants who apply first on the festival website, allowing them to watch videos and experience together.
Additionally, an "Online Quiz Show" to learn about Dongdaemun-gu and the innovation education district, and a youth "Achievement Sharing Festival" featuring orchestra performances, dance, campaigns, and crafts by youth autonomous communities "Moijago (Let's Gather Go)" and youth clubs "Monttang" will be held.
Pre-registration and detailed schedules are available on the festival website.
Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol said, "Through the Dongdaemun Innovation Education District Festival planned and prepared by public, private, and academic sectors, we hope it will be an opportunity to think about the future of education and to gain deep and subtle inspiration from children and youth actively learning and building friendships despite COVID-19."
Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) announced that from October 25 until the end of the year, it will hold the "Mokdong Time Landscape Exhibition," installing 84 exhibition panels depicting the history and present of Mokdong on the 650-meter construction fence of Mokdong Paris Park, currently under renovation.
While various local promotional contents have been attached to construction fences before, this is the first attempt to present them through professional exhibition planning.
Mokdong Paris Park holds significant meaning in the history of Korean parks and has long been loved by residents. It is also a symbolic space uniquely created to commemorate the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations with France.
Yangcheon-gu is renovating Mokdong Paris Park aiming for completion by the end of December and has transformed the construction fence around the site into an "exhibition space with stories." This exhibition offers residents enduring inconvenience during construction a chance to view historical exhibits of the area.
The theme of "Mokdong Time Landscape Exhibition" is the history and present of Mokdong, allowing residents to reminisce about past Mokdong and Paris Park and look forward to its future. The exhibition is divided into two zones: along Mokdongseo-ro on the west side of the park, "Times of Mokdong" displays the history and development process of Mokdong; along Mokdongdong-ro on the east side, "Mokdong Scenery" shows the current state of the new town.
"Times of Mokdong" includes the district's historical changes, construction process and features of Mokdong new town, and past appearances of major Mokdong landmarks. "Mokdong Scenery" highlights the current appearance of Mokdong new town and the changes and future of five neighborhood parks including Paris Park.
The exhibition uses various archival materials showing Mokdong's history, sourced from Seoul Archives, Seoul Museum of History, Seoul Institute, and National Geographic Information Institute, including documents, drawings, maps, and photos.
At busy corners of the construction site, typography art expressing the returning Paris Park is installed, and illustrations imagining park scenery are placed at the south and north ends, creating diverse visual attractions.
For more details about the Mokdong Paris Park exhibition fence, contact Yangcheon-gu Office Park and Greenery Division.
Mayor Kim Soo-young said, "We prepared a visually rich exhibition fence for residents patiently enduring inconvenience during construction, awaiting the opening of Mokdong Paris Park. As Paris Park is a symbolic space loved for over 30 years, we will proceed with renovation smoothly to present a wonderful appearance."
Dongjak-gu (Mayor Lee Chang-woo) will install "Automatic Road Heating Cables" under the road surface at three locations in Sangdo-dong as part of winter snow removal measures.
Previously, narrow and steep alleys where quick snow removal by vehicles was difficult posed risks of pedestrian falls and other safety accidents.
To alleviate residents' inconvenience and prevent accidents, the district will install an automatic road heating system that detects temperature and humidity via sensors on the road surface and melts snow automatically during snowfall.
The installation sites are around 105 Seongdae-ro, 280 Sangdo-dong, and 214 Guksabong 1-gil, totaling 294 meters. The district will invest 250 million won to complete installation by November.
The road heating system will reduce the use of environmentally harmful calcium chloride de-icers and create roads where snow does not accumulate automatically during snowfall, greatly improving residents' convenience.
After analyzing operation status, resident satisfaction, and maintenance costs, the district will consider additional installations.
Additionally, during heavy snow, the district operates seven vehicle-mounted de-icer sprayers and small snow removal equipment, and runs 11 automatic brine spraying devices to ensure residents can live safely during winter.
Baek Won-gi, head of the Road Management Division, said, "Starting with the automatic road heating installation in Sangdo-dong, we will thoroughly check and establish winter snow removal response systems to resolve residents' inconvenience and create safe road environments."
Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Sun-gap) is intensifying publicity on the revised real estate brokerage commission fee system, which lowers the maximum commission rate by up to half, effective from the 19th, to prevent confusion in real estate transactions.
The revision mainly lowers the maximum commission rates for sales over 600 million won and lease contracts over 300 million won, easing the burden of brokerage fees. It also subdivides the maximum rates for sales over 900 million won and leases over 600 million won to mitigate sharp increases in brokerage fees.
For sales, the 600 million to 900 million won range is lowered from 0.5% to 0.4%, 900 million to 1.2 billion won is 0.5%, 1.2 billion to 1.5 billion won is 0.6%, and over 1.5 billion won is 0.7%.
For leases, the 300 million to 600 million won range is lowered from 0.4% to 0.3%, 600 million to 1.2 billion won is 0.4%, 1.2 billion to 1.5 billion won is 0.5%, and over 1.5 billion won is 0.6%.
For example, for a 1 billion won apartment sale, the previous maximum rate of 0.9% would result in a 9 million won commission, but the revised maximum rate of 0.5% reduces it to 5 million won, a 4 million won decrease.
The rates are maximums brokers can charge; actual rates can be negotiated within these limits between clients and brokers.
The district plans to produce and distribute revised commission rate tables and actively promote them in cooperation with the Gwangjin District Real Estate Brokers Association to prevent confusion among residents and brokers.
Mayor Kim Sun-gap said, "Since the commission fee reduction aims to ease residents' burdens, we will strive to ensure the revised rates settle stably in the real estate brokerage market."
Seoul Gangseo-gu (Mayor Roh Hyun-song) will provide proper childcare methods and stress relief techniques for grandparents struggling with grandchild care.
The district announced it will operate the "2021 Untact Grandparents Academy" for grandparents and prospective grandparents.
With the increase in dual-income households, the number of grandparents raising grandchildren in place of parents is steadily rising.
Moreover, due to COVID-19, schools and daycare centers often close, leading grandparents to care for grandchildren while postponing their own lives.
To support grandparents burdened with childcare, the district prepared this education to provide correct childcare information and help relieve childcare stress.
The education will be conducted online in real-time via Gangseo-gu's YouTube channel, iGangseoTV, to prevent COVID-19 spread.
The sessions will be held on November 10, 17, and 24 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., covering three topics: smart coaching, communication methods, and healing play methods.
The smart coaching session invites instructor Jung Hye-kyung, an internet ethics education expert, to discuss "Living Smartly in a Smart World," covering media use checks, positive and negative media effects, and proper media use to improve relationships with grandchildren.
The communication session invites Professor Lee Yeon-sil, director of the Korean Therapeutic Play Association, to teach "Child Mind Coaching Communication," including emotional reading communication methods and practical conversation exercises.
The healing play session invites Director Lee Mi-hwa of the Healing Research Institute to teach "Healing Touch Play," including partner gymnastics with grandchildren to relieve childcare stress.
The district will recruit 100 participants on a first-come, first-served basis from 10 a.m. on the 26th. Interested grandparents or prospective grandparents can apply via phone or QR code on promotional materials.
After completion, participants will be surveyed online, and results will be reflected in future education to develop customized childcare education desired by grandparents.
For more information, contact Gangseo-gu Family Policy Division.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
