[Seoul District News] Changes in Gangbuk-gu Through Photos, Policy Achievements by Sector... 25 Years of Living Indicator Differences in Statistics... Jungnang-gu Selected as Best Public Institution in 6th Korea Crime Prevention Awards for Myeonmok Station Plaza Companion Center... Yongsan-gu Chosen as Seoul's Only Pilot District for Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Social Network Formation... Mapo-gu Recruiting Tenants for Newlywed and Youth Customized Public Rental Housing... Yangcheon-gu Hosting ‘Sidaegyo-gam’ Exhibition for Generation Connection Project... Geumcheon-gu Recruiting 3,185 Senior Job Participants
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gangbuk-gu (District Mayor Park Gyeom-su) has published a district administration white paper that compiles the footsteps of the past 25 years into one book.
This book is a record and guide that covers the history from 1995 to last year. It is titled "Vigorous Change, Hopeful Leap." Among the top lifestyle indicators that changed during this period, the ubiquitous library, which was first established nationwide in 2011, is featured. The ubiquitous library is a system that allows easy borrowing and returning of about 320,000 books at subway stations, smartphones, village libraries, and more.
The white paper introduces the district's history and changes through photos. It sequentially shows the old Dobong-gu Office in 1974 and the Gangbuk-gu Office building after the district was separated in 1995. Photos of the old community service centers and current neighborhood centers, as well as before and after housing redevelopment, follow. It also offers a glimpse of the "Buk Seoul Dream Forest" park and the Dreamland that once stood there. The 1970s Mia Samgeori overpass and the view of Ui Stream are particularly striking.
Along with this, the white paper comprehensively covers policy changes. Resident experience essays participating in seven major policies such as safety, education, and historical culture are included in each section. The implementation process of representative projects by policy area is presented chronologically. Introductions and histories of 13 neighborhoods are also available.
Finally, it shows the differences in lifestyle indicators over 25 years through statistics. According to the statistical yearbooks from 1996 to 2020, there were significant changes in all sectors including finance, housing, and automobile registration status. The budget amount rose from 64.6 billion won in 1995 to 720.9 billion won in 2019.
Detached houses decreased from 30,000 households to 18,000 households, while apartments increased from 10,000 households to 34,000 households. The number of registered passenger cars rose from 3,000 to 63,000. The population reached 390,000 in 1995, then decreased to 340,000 in 2007 and 310,000 in 2019.
The district administration white paper can be viewed as an e-book or downloaded as a booklet from the district office website.
Park Gyeom-su, Mayor of Gangbuk-gu, said, "We have captured the growth record of Gangbuk-gu over 25 years with the residents in this book," adding, "We will prepare for a vigorous flight toward a new future that surpasses the path we have walked."
Jungnang-gu (District Mayor Ryu Gyeong-gi) received the Minister of the Interior and Safety Award as the best in the public institution category at the 6th Korea Crime Prevention Awards co-hosted by the National Police Agency on the afternoon of the 3rd.
The Korea Crime Prevention Awards began in 2016 to encourage the activities of institutions and organizations that have worked hard for community safety, selecting public institutions, social organizations, and companies annually.
The district was recognized for its efforts with the Myeonmok Station Plaza Companion Center and received this award. The Companion Center opened in December last year to solve issues related to homeless people and intoxicated individuals and to restore the original function of the plaza. Although Myeonmok Station Plaza is a representative plaza near a subway station and a complex cultural space in the area, it had persistent complaints due to chronic problems such as drinking, loud noise, and smoking.
First, to solve the problems, the district conducted an environmental improvement project for Myeonmok Station Plaza in August last year in collaboration with Seoul City, external experts including psychiatrists, Jungnang Police Station, and local residents. They deployed street counselors for the homeless to provide protective activities such as facility admission and hospital linkage, while simultaneously conducting multidimensional guidance through specialized counseling for alcohol addiction and mental health.
They also signed a business agreement with Jungnang Police Station and established a cooperative system to open the Companion Center. The center operates with patrol personnel on duty at all times and a complaint reception office. A youth counseling room called "Cheongtokbang" was also created to strengthen security capabilities and improve complaint accessibility.
In fact, since the opening of the Companion Center, the number of 112 emergency calls related to Myeonmok Station Plaza decreased by 40.5% compared to the previous year, showing results.
Ryu Gyeong-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, said, "This award for crime prevention is an achievement made possible by the cooperation of local residents, police, and others," adding, "We will continue to do our best to make Myeonmok Station Plaza a pleasant and comfortable space that serves as a place for meetings and communication."
Yongsan-gu (District Mayor Seong Jang-hyun) has been selected for the first-ever Ministry of Gender Equality and Family project supporting the formation of social networks for single-person households. It is the only district among Seoul's autonomous districts.
The district submitted a project application to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family on October 12 and was selected as a pilot autonomous district on October 22.
The total project budget for the "Social Network Support for Single-Person Households" to be implemented in 2022 is 112 million won, including 33.6 million won in national funds, 22.4 million won in city funds, and 56 million won in district funds. The project will be commissioned to the Yongsan-gu Healthy Family and Multicultural Family Support Center (Center Director Han Seon-gyu).
The main project plans include customized programs by life cycle for single-person households and social network support.
The programs are: ▲ Welcome Single-Person Household ▲ Dignity of Middle-aged, Healthy and Happy Solo Life ▲ You, More Beautiful than Flowers, Bravo My Life ▲ Together with Female Single-Person Households Challenge! Power Up! ▲ Brilliant DolSingles, totaling five programs.
Welcome Single-Person Household targets people in their 20s and 30s, teaching communication and exchange methods for young adults' first independent living, as well as income and expenditure management methods.
Dignity of Middle-aged, Healthy and Happy Solo Life helps middle-aged people in their 40s and 50s communicate through activities like gardening and provides neighbor-sharing experiences through single-person household kimchi-making days.
You, More Beautiful than Flowers, Bravo My Life offers psychological counseling and health management tips for seniors aged 60 and above to lead a healthy elderly life.
Together with Female Single-Person Households Challenge! Power Up! provides women who became single-person households due to divorce or bereavement with qualification acquisition courses helpful for start-ups and reemployment to support economic independence.
Brilliant DolSingles offers psychological and emotional support to men who became single-person households due to divorce or bereavement to help them maintain a high-quality daily life.
Each program accommodates 30 participants and operates twice a month from March to December 2022. Participants will be recruited through the Seoul Single-Person Household Portal and Yongsan-gu website starting February 2022.
Center Director Han Seon-gyu said, "We have also prepared services for single-person households using the center's resources and district projects," adding, "We will help single-person households interact healthily with neighbors."
The center will provide housekeeping support services such as organizing and storage for elderly single-person households through those who have completed organizing and storage certification training, and will continue a world cuisine competition with multicultural and foreign single-person households.
Seong Jang-hyun, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, said, "Single-person households have different needs depending on age and situation," adding, "I hope they gain wisdom to live together through customized programs and self-help groups, even though they live separately."
Mapo-gu (District Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun) announced that it will recruit and accept applications for tenants of customized public rental housing (community housing) for newlyweds and young people starting from the 6th.
Customized public rental housing tailored to demand refers to rental housing supplied according to the characteristics of the region and tenant demand, catering to various groups such as youth and artists. The public rental housing for which tenants are being recruited this time is the district's first customized public rental housing project promoted in collaboration with Mapo-gu and SH Corporation.
SH Corporation is responsible for supplying quality housing for low-income, homeless citizens, while Mapo-gu selects tenants considering regional characteristics and housing types and manages the use of the housing as public rental housing.
The housing is a multi-family building with five floors above ground located within a 10-minute walk from Hongdae Ipgu Station (29, Seongmisan-ro 28-gil). It consists of two buildings with a total of 20 households. The district is recruiting 16 households for newlyweds and 4 households for youth. The supply area for newlywed households ranges from 36.18 to 57.21 square meters, and for youth households, from 28.03 to 29.94 square meters.
Eligibility for newlyweds requires being a member of a non-homeowner household registered in Seoul as of November 30, with an average monthly income below 70% of the previous year's urban worker average and asset criteria below 50%. Newlyweds must have been married for seven years or less (from December 1, 2014, to November 30, 2021), and prospective newlyweds must complete marriage registration before the rental housing move-in date.
Youth applicants must be members of non-homeowner households meeting the income and asset criteria above as of November 30, aged between 19 and 39 years old (born between December 1, 1981, and November 30, 2002), and either residents of Seoul or university students in Seoul (regardless of residence, including those on leave or expected to enroll, excluding graduate students).
The rental period is two years, with the possibility of renewal. Newlyweds can live for up to 20 years, and youth up to 6 years if renewal conditions are met. The rental deposit and monthly rent are applied differentially by SH Corporation according to income levels.
Applications are accepted from the 6th to the 17th by submitting the application form and required documents via email (lego@mapo.go.kr). Priority is given to Mapo-gu residents. The list of successful applicants will be announced on March 4, 2022, on the Mapo-gu Office website. Detailed information on eligibility and procedures can be found on the Mapo-gu Office website (notices) and SH Corporation website.
On the 9th, a housing open house will be held for applicants to check the interior, exterior, and surrounding environment of the housing for their convenience. However, visits must be scheduled by phone with the Mapo-gu Office Life Security Division, Mapo Housing Team by December 8.
"MH Mapo Housing," which provides a housing safety net for households suddenly losing their place due to crisis, is a core pledge project of Mapo-gu's 7th local government administration, focusing on temporary housing, public rental housing, and housing stability funds. Currently, the district operates 38 MH Mapo Housing units, including 30 temporary housing units secured through agreements with LH and SH and 8 district-owned rental housing units. Including planned additional construction, a total of 135 units have been secured so far.
The district plans to further develop MH Mapo Housing into a more segmented and sustainable Mapo-style housing welfare policy. Accordingly, it is steadily securing customized housing facilities such as youth housing, newlywed housing, and care-safe housing tailored to residents' life cycles.
Yoo Dong-gyun, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, "I hope this public rental housing will help stabilize the housing of newlyweds and youth and spread a community housing culture where neighbors live together," adding, "I ask for much interest from newlyweds and youth who have many concerns about housing."
Yangcheon-gu (District Mayor Kim Soo-young) will hold the "Era Sympathy Exhibition" at the Lydia Gallery (30, Mokdong-ro 25-gil) from December 8 to 20.
The "Era Sympathy Exhibition," a district project directly proposed by local youth, is part of Yangcheon-gu's "Generation Connection Project." The "Generation Connection Project" is a program to overcome generational gaps through communication and empathy between local youth and seniors. It consists of "Digital Literacy Education," which teaches the use of smart devices, and the "Era Sympathy" exhibition where seniors' stories are created into artworks.
Held under the subtitle "Era Sympathy: When Flowing (川) Time Meets Sunshine (陽)," this exhibition will showcase 27 works created based on the process of young artists active in Yangcheon-gu interacting and sharing life experiences with local seniors.
The district has designed the exhibition as a space for communication not only between youth and seniors using cultural arts as a medium that bridges generations but also for the audience viewing the exhibited works to empathize.
Six young artists participating in the exhibition work in various genres including installation, painting, literature, video, theater, and photography. Over the past five months, they have engaged in artistic activities by exchanging past, present, future, daily life, and hobbies with several seniors in Yangcheon-gu.
The opening event of the exhibition will be held at 5 p.m. on December 10 at Lydia Gallery (30, Mokdong-ro 25-gil), and a special reading performance program will be held for three days from December 8 to 10.
Applications for viewing the exhibition are accepted at Lydia Gallery, and anyone residing in Seoul can view it free of charge. The gallery operates daily without holidays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
For detailed information about the "Era Sympathy" exhibition, contact the Youth Policy Team of the Job and Economy Division at Yangcheon-gu Office.
Kim Soo-young, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, said, "We prepared the 'Era Sympathy' exhibition to narrow the gap between youth and senior generations through mutual understanding and empathy," adding, "I hope this exhibition revitalizes the local cultural arts, which have been stagnant due to COVID-19, and expands opportunities for residents visiting the exhibition hall to communicate."
Geumcheon-gu (District Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon) will recruit participants for the "2022 Senior Job and Social Activity Support Project" for 10 days from December 6 to 17.
The number of recruits increased by 78 from last year to 3,185 people. The project is divided into 39 projects across 4 types.
By type, there are 26 "Public Interest Activity" projects with 2,583 participants, including elementary school meal helpers and school zone guardians; 4 "Social Service" projects with 290 participants supporting social welfare or public facilities; 8 "Market Type" projects with 282 participants including Together Green Cafe and Kind Store convenience stores; and 1 "Employment Referral" project with 30 participants.
Eligibility for "Public Interest Activity" is generally for those aged 65 or older receiving basic pension, while "Social Service" is for those aged 65 or older suitable for the project (some projects accept those aged 60 or older). "Market Type" and "Employment Referral" projects are open to seniors aged 60 or older.
However, recipients of livelihood benefits under the National Basic Livelihood Security Act, those participating in two or more job projects promoted by government ministries or local governments, health insurance workplace subscribers (except for employment referral type), and those rated for long-term care (grades 1 to 5, cognitive support grade) are excluded.
Seniors wishing to participate should bring identification, resident registration certificate, a passport-sized photo, basic pension recipient confirmation (for public interest activity only), and proof of COVID-19 vaccination completion, and apply in person at the respective executing agencies for each recruitment field: ▲ Geumcheon Senior Club ▲ Geumcheon Senior Welfare Center ▲ Geumcheon Hoam Senior Welfare Center ▲ Cheongdam Comprehensive Social Welfare Center ▲ Geumcheon Nuri Comprehensive Social Welfare Center ▲ Korea Senior Citizens Association Geumcheon Branch.
After interviews and other procedures, selected participants will begin activities in January 2022. Details on individual projects and recruitment numbers can be found in the "Notices" section of the Geumcheon-gu Office website.
Yoo Sung-hoon, Mayor of Geumcheon-gu, said, "I hope this senior job project helps seniors lead healthy and active lives," adding, "We will continue to discover various support projects for seniors."
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