[Seoul District News] Songpa Safety Experience Center Creates Specialized Space Combining Advanced Technology and Safety Education... District Mayor Park Seong-su Leads Future Safety Education Talent Development in AI, Autonomous Driving, Smart Mobility... Dobong-gu Wins National Districts' First UN University-Hosted RCE Best Practice City Award... Seongbuk-gu Receives National Assembly Suicide Prevention Forum Excellence Award for Suicide Prevention... Gangbuk-gu Awards 2021 Food Waste Reduction Contest... Yangcheon-gu Holds Online Video Conference with Paris 17th Arrondissement... Gwanak-gu, Women’s Safety Zones No. 3, 4, 5...
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Seong-su) opened the ‘Songpa SSEM Future Education Center SAFETY (Building 11)’ on the 6th at the Songpa Safety Experience Education Center (53 Seongnaecheon-ro 35-gil), aiming to nurture creative future talents who will lead the smart city.
Mayor Park Seong-su stated, “We established the ‘Songpa SSEM Future Education Center SAFETY (Building 11)’ by combining future education and safety fields. Through this, we will lead future safety education content enhanced with advanced technology.”
The Future Education Center is a core facility of the district’s own education support system ‘Songpa SSEM (Songpa Smart Education Model)’, serving as a community-based future education infrastructure where residents can learn the basic literacy of advanced technology. Songpa-gu is establishing future education centers at key locations throughout the district to meet the demand for future education in various areas.
The newly opened Building 11 is located within the Songpa Safety Experience Education Center, Korea’s first comprehensive safety experience center. It is an education platform specialized in ‘safety’, featuring safety education along with experiences in coding, autonomous driving, and smart mobility.
The 89.67㎡ space on the 4th floor of the Songpa Safety Experience Education Center was remodeled to include a Future Education Zone, ICT Zone, and VR Zone. Various programs are operated so that elementary, middle, and high school students can experience education combining safety education and advanced technology, such as ▲Artificial Intelligence Future Car Coding School ▲Safety! Learn While Playing with 3D Pens ▲Creating a Safe Smart Home Using Hallow Code Coding.
In particular, at the ‘Artificial Intelligence Future Car Coding School’, students can learn and experience the principles of autonomous driving using a model shaped like the terrain of Songpa-gu, which is expected to help them study smart mobility and future traffic safety.
Details of the curriculum and course registration for the Songpa SSEM Future Education Center SAFETY (Building 11) can be found on the Songpa SSEM education portal.
Mayor Park Seong-su of Songpa-gu said, “We will continue to nurture local talents who lead future changes through ‘Songpa SSEM’ and strive to create a virtuous cycle where these talents contribute to the growth of the region and society.”
Dobong-gu (Mayor Lee Dong-jin) received the ‘RCE Acknowledged Flagship Projects’ award at the 12th World RCE Conference held from November 16 to 18 in Scotland, UK, during the ‘2021 RCE Awards Ceremony’ (RCE: Education for Sustainable Development).
The ‘World RCE Conference’ is held every two years, gathering RCE cities worldwide to share ESD cases and network. This year’s conference was scheduled to be held at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, UK, but was conducted as a webinar due to COVID-19.
This year’s World RCE Conference featured various case sharing related to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), and climate change, linking the two major research hubs in Scotland, Glasgow and Edinburgh, as Glasgow was the host city for COP26 (26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties).
Dobong-gu, certified as an RCE by the UN University in January 2020, has developed sustainable development education based on SDG4 (Quality Education). As an example, in 2020, through public-private-academic collaboration, it produced two versions of ‘17 Promises from Our Village to the Earth’ for elementary students (one for grades 3-4, another for grades 5-6). This year, it supported ESD classes in 10 elementary schools and one youth-related institution with 3,071 participants, trained ESD professional instructors, operated the Dobong ESD Practice Research Group, conducted ESD operation evaluations, and collaborated with other institutions, establishing the ‘Dobong ESD Operational System (Building a Pedagogical Framework for ESD).’
The UN University highly praised Dobong-gu for independently designing and operating the ESD system despite being a local government-centered RCE city, playing a role as a sustainable development education hub in the Seoul metropolitan area and contributing to the spread of sustainable development education to other regions. The training of ESD professional instructors, the robustness of ESD operation evaluations, and collaboration with other institutions were especially commended.
Mayor Lee Dong-jin of Dobong-gu said, “Since receiving RCE certification from the UN University in January 2020, our district has cooperated between the public and private sectors to operate sustainable development education reflecting local characteristics. These efforts led to the award as an RCE Acknowledged Flagship Project city. We will solidify a lifecycle-based sustainable development education system and strive to make RCE Dobong a leading sustainable development education hub.”
Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) received the Representative Award for Excellent Suicide Prevention Local Government at the National Assembly Suicide Prevention Forum on the 7th.
Since 2012, Seongbuk-gu has been the only district among the 25 autonomous districts in Seoul to establish and operate a suicide prevention center. Fully funded by the district, the center has proactively recognized and addressed suicide issues in the community. After more than 10 years since its establishment, Seongbuk-gu achieved the honor of being the first district in Seoul to receive the Representative Award in the basic local government category for populations over 300,000 at the 3rd National Assembly Suicide Prevention Forum’s ‘Basic Local Government Suicide Prevention and Life Respect Promotion Activities’ survey.
The 2021 Local Government Suicide Prevention and Life Respect Promotion Activities Survey evaluated local governments based on the goals of suicide prevention and life respect announced in the 2018 Ministry of Health and Welfare’s ‘National Action Plan for Suicide Prevention’. The evaluation considered suicide prevention organizations and staff numbers and expertise, annual suicide prevention budget, enactment of suicide prevention and life respect ordinances, average suicide rates over the past three years and reduction rates, and life respect education performance for high-risk groups and bereaved families. Scores were compiled through expert verification and final rankings determined.
Seongbuk-gu Suicide Prevention Center operates community-participatory projects to build a suicide prevention life safety net. It trains local residents in each neighborhood as ‘Mind Caregivers’ who connect and manage care recipients in high-risk households such as elderly living alone. Since last year, the center has focused on the ‘Hope Message’ project, providing suicide prevention environments and tailored welfare services for middle-aged and elderly living alone in small rooms (one-room units) such as boarding houses.
Besides suicide prevention counseling, the center supports social network formation through cultural experiences and communal meals, and connects local resources to build suicide prevention infrastructure. For those sending SOS through mailboxes installed in boarding houses, crisis intervention such as medical expense support is provided depending on the situation. From 2022, the center plans to strengthen visiting psychological support services considering vulnerable groups (elderly, disabled, etc.) who have difficulty visiting the center.
A Seongbuk-gu official said, “We will not be complacent with receiving the 3rd National Assembly Suicide Prevention Forum Representative Award and will strive to improve residents’ awareness of suicide prevention and spread a culture of life respect. We will do our best to realize ‘Life Safety City Seongbuk Village’ that saves lives by utilizing local resources including residents.”
He added, “The psychological support center to be opened in Jangwi Seokgwan branch in 2022 will strengthen early intervention and psychological support for high-risk groups suffering from COVID-19 depression due to prolonged pandemic, becoming a new alternative to reduce suicide rates in Seongbuk-gu.”
Gangbuk-gu (Mayor Park Gyeom-su) held the ‘2021 Apartment Food Waste Reduction Competition Awards Ceremony’ on the 6th at the district office’s planning situation room.
The district conducted the ‘Food Waste Reduction Competition’ from April to September to actively encourage residents living in apartment complexes to participate in reducing food waste. The amount of waste discharged from 58 apartment complexes in the area was compared with the same period last year, and those with the highest reduction rates were selected.
As a result of the competition evaluation, a total of 10 apartment complexes received awards. SH-VILLE (Samyang-dong) recorded the highest reduction rate and was selected for the Grand Prize. SK Bukhansan City (Samgaksan-dong), Byeoksan Live Park (Samyang-dong), and Beondong Hanyang (Beon 3-dong) received Excellence Awards, while Haemoro (Beon 3-dong), Samgaksan I-One (Samgaksan-dong), Duwon Plaza (Songcheon-dong), Mia Gyeongnam Honorsville (Songjung-dong), Suyu Byeoksan 2nd (Suyu 2-dong), and Beondong Sol Green (Beon 3-dong) received Encouragement Awards.
The district awarded the district mayor’s commendation along with payment certificates (stickers) worth 1 million KRW for the Grand Prize winner, 700,000 KRW each for the three Excellence Award winners, and 400,000 KRW each for the six Encouragement Award winners. The district plans to continue promoting and encouraging residents to establish an effective culture of reduced waste discharge.
Mayor Park Gyeom-su of Gangbuk-gu said, “Thanks to the efforts of apartment complex managers and residents who participated in the food waste competition, we achieved significant waste reduction results. We will continue to seek various ways to encourage residents to take the lead in reducing food waste.”
Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Jeong-hoon) held the ‘24th Gangdong-gu Volunteer Excellence Festival’ on the 7th to celebrate Volunteer Day (December 5) and to support and encourage volunteers who practiced sharing throughout 2021.
To comply with COVID-19 prevention guidelines, the event was held in two award ceremonies at the 5th-floor auditorium of Gangdong-gu Office.
The district awarded certificates of commendation to 24 volunteers who contributed to volunteer activation, and based on cumulative volunteer hours, awarded volunteer king titles to 3 people (over 4,000 hours), gold medals to 10 people (over 2,000 hours), silver medals to 29 people (over 1,000 hours), and bronze medals to 52 people (over 500 hours), totaling 94 people who received volunteer certificates, medals, and badges.
Since 2004, the ‘Volunteer Kings’ who have participated in over 4,000 hours of volunteer work are Park Hye-kyung (female, 64), Jeon Yoon-joo (female, 57), and Choi Yeo-yong (female, 58).
Park Hye-kyung is a member of the volunteer group ‘Kids Let’s Play Volunteer Group’, teaching traditional games to children in local elementary school care classrooms. Jeon Yoon-joo volunteers at Gildong Ecological Park. Choi Yeo-yong serves as the leader of the Gangdong Women’s Reserve Corps and participates in volunteer activities for vulnerable groups, including guiding at COVID-19 vaccination centers.
Mayor Lee Jeong-hoon of Gangdong-gu said, “I thank the volunteers who did not stop their volunteer activities for neighbors in need despite the COVID-19 crisis. We will continue to provide administrative support to encourage high interest and participation in volunteer activities.”
Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) produced and began distributing the ‘2022 Child-Friendly Calendar’ featuring works created and judged directly by local children.
In July, the district held a ‘Child-Friendly Calendar Making Contest’ that children could participate in non-face-to-face. Under the theme ‘Dongdaemun-gu, a Child-Friendly City I Dream Of’, a total of 62 children, including preschoolers, participated, and 12 works were selected to produce the ‘2022 Child-Friendly Calendar’.
The selection process involved 46 members of the 3rd Dongdaemun-gu Children’s Council as judges, making the participation of local children from submission to selection more meaningful.
A total of 2,700 copies of the ‘2022 Child-Friendly Calendar’ were produced. The calendars are distributed to children who participated in the contest, Children’s Council members who participated in judging, local schools, child-related facilities, and all district office staff. The calendar production project will continue as a specialized project for the child-friendly city.
Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol of Dongdaemun-gu said, “Due to the spread of COVID-19, there were few events or programs where children could directly participate, which was regrettable. Through the calendar making contest, we were able to hear various thoughts from our district’s children. We will strive to provide fun and diverse programs where children can directly participate to create a happy child-friendly city Dongdaemun-gu.”
Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) held an online video conference on the 6th at the 3rd floor Yangcheon Digital Media Center of the district office to discuss cooperation plans with the 17th arrondissement of Paris, France.
Earlier, in September, the district invited Philippe Lefort, French Ambassador to Korea, and the Korea-France Parliamentary Friendship Association delegation for a meeting. Following the meeting, they toured the renovation site of Paris Park, created in 1987 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Korea-France diplomatic relations, continuing a special relationship between Yangcheon-gu and France through various exchanges.
The video conference was attended by Yangcheon-gu Mayor Kim Soo-young, Yangcheon-gu Council Chairman Seo Byung-wan, Paris 17th arrondissement Mayor Geoffroy Boulard, and French Senator Catherine Dumas, among others. They discussed topics such as education, parks and green spaces, urban agriculture, culture and arts, and smart cities, broadening mutual understanding between the two countries and local governments.
The 17th arrondissement of Paris is one of the 20 districts of Paris, located in the western part of the city. With a population of 168,000 from diverse social classes living together, it is nicknamed ‘Miniature Paris’. It hosts 52 elementary and secondary education institutions, universities, and research institutes, as well as renowned music schools (Cortot) and culinary and hotel education institutions (Ecole M?d?ric). The Clichy-Batignolles eco-district within the 17th arrondissement is recognized as a representative case of sustainable urban development, developed on former railway facilities.
Yangcheon-gu, where residents show high interest in education, and Paris 17th arrondissement, which has various educational institutions in arts and culinary fields, share many common interests. The district expects a strong partnership through mutual understanding and cooperation.
The video conference lasted about an hour from 6 p.m. Yangcheon-gu and Paris 17th arrondissement promised mutual exchanges in culture, arts, education, and administration, and agreed to continuously share opinions on mutual interests such as cultural and sports benchmarking and excellent policy initiatives.
Yangcheon-gu Mayor Kim Soo-young said, “Yangcheon-gu is solidifying its status as an educational special zone through future talent development for the 4th industrial revolution era with future education centers, lifelong learning centers, and smart creative talent centers, and lifelong education across all generations. The two cities, Yangcheon-gu and Paris 17th arrondissement, share many similarities beyond education, and through continuous exchanges, we will create synergy effects in various fields. We will also prepare to establish a sister city relationship with Paris 17th arrondissement to further activate exchanges and cooperation.”
Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) has attracted attention as the 3rd, 4th, and 5th certifications for the ‘Women’s Safe One-Room Certification Project’?aimed at creating a safe residential environment for single women households?were consecutively awarded.
The Women’s Safe One-Room Certification is a project to enhance the crime prevention image by reducing anxiety about residential intrusion and increasing trust in facility safety through creating a residential environment where women can live with confidence.
The certification targets one-room units in areas densely populated by single women households. When the building owner or residents request certification, Gwanak-gu and Gwanak Police Station jointly conduct on-site inspections.
The inspection items include ▲management and operation system ▲landscaping and lighting ▲security devices on entrance doors ▲installation of emergency bells, totaling 52 items. If the inspection results meet 80% or more, the one-room is certified as safe and a certification plaque is awarded.
This year, the district and Gwanak Police Station conducted on-site inspections of 12 locations requesting safe one-room certification, and certified two locations in Cheongnyong-dong and one in Sinwon-dong that met the criteria.
After certification, building owners must continue to manage and improve facilities for the safety of female tenants, and Gwanak Police Station plans to strengthen patrols and maintain emergency contact systems in nearby areas.
Additionally, the district will continue efforts to create a safe residential environment through crime prevention inspections and facility improvements in one-room units and will focus on further certifications for Women’s Safe One-Rooms.
An official from the district said, “As the vulnerability of single-person households to crime has emerged as a social issue, the public, private, and police sectors will join forces to prevent crime in the community. We will do our best to reduce daily anxieties felt by single women households and create a women-friendly city with a safety foundation that everyone can share.”
Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) has significantly improved the local safety index through continuous investment in general residential areas vulnerable to crime.
According to the Nowon Police Station crime statistics system, the five major crimes (murder, robbery, sexual crimes, theft, violence) in Nowon-gu decreased by 24.7% compared to the previous year. Compared to 2014, when the Crime Zero Project began, the decrease rate is 47.9%, proving the effectiveness of tailored local strategies for vulnerable areas. Especially, theft, a focus of the Crime Zero Project, decreased remarkably by 53.8%, from 2,404 cases in 2014 to 1,110 cases in 2021.
Based on this, the district has achieved the highest grade (Grade 1) in the local safety index’s living safety category announced by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety for four consecutive years since 2017. This is the result of the district’s ‘Crime Zero Project’ to reduce crime rates in general residential areas.
The ‘Crime Zero Project for General Residential Areas’ applies tailored Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) to general housing, which is relatively vulnerable compared to apartments, expanding crime prevention infrastructure.
To this end, the district has installed and supplemented 713 high-definition CCTVs, 785 security lights to secure sufficient visibility, and 192 convex mirrors. It also introduced various crime prevention infrastructures designed according to local conditions, such as 6,988 visible crime prevention covers effective against home intrusion via gas pipes, 1,356 safety mirrors, 27 safety fences, and 329 painted fences.
The densely installed CCTVs and emergency bells in each area are monitored 24/7 through the Nowon Smart City Integrated Operation Center, establishing a system capable of immediate crime response.
This year, 92 LED security lights and solar sensor lights were intensively installed in 23 zones across eight general residential neighborhoods, including Wolgye 1-dong. Additionally, 84 intrusion detection devices were installed in vulnerable points such as multi-family houses, villas, and row houses with three or more floors, and 324 location guide signs were replaced to create a crime prevention environment.
Thanks to these efforts, the district was selected for the ‘Living Safety (Crime Prevention) Design Project’ contest hosted by Seoul City in 2019, securing 300 million KRW in city funds. Living safety design facilities were installed in five areas, including Mugunghwa Children’s Park in Sanggye 5-dong. These facilities, such as Mom’s Comfortable Playground, Sai Village Hideout, Sai Village Gallery, and Village Headquarters, contributed to creating a village environment where many residents can live safely.
The secret to the excellent results of the district’s ‘Crime Zero Project for General Residential Areas’ lies in its community-centered tailored strategy. The district conducts statistical analysis of crime-prone areas, joint field surveys with public, private, and police sectors, expands crime prevention facilities based on comprehensive assessments of housing and alley structures, and promotes resident-participatory village safety programs.
The autonomous patrol teams in 17 neighborhoods maintain an average of 2.5 patrols per week. Recently, they have voluntarily engaged in night patrols to eradicate violations of COVID-19 prevention rules, ensuring resident-centered safety.
The district plans to continue the Crime Zero Project in 19 zones across nine general residential neighborhoods in 2022, creating a crime-safe environment throughout the district.
Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “Rather than reactive administration after damage, proactive prevention to create an environment free from crime concerns is essential. Based on the achievements so far, I will carefully inspect every corner of the neighborhood so that all residents can live safely in the community.”
Dongjak-gu (Mayor Lee Chang-woo) announced on the 8th that it was selected as an excellent public institution and received the Commissioner of the National Police Agency’s Commendation at the ‘6th Korea Crime Prevention Awards’, co-hosted by the National Police Agency.
The ‘Crime Prevention Awards’ is a competition held to select excellent cases of public institutions actively working for local safety and to reward their dedication. This year, Dongjak-gu was finally selected as an ‘Outstanding Public Institution Contributing to Crime Prevention.’
Since the beginning of the 6th local government term, Dongjak-gu has promoted the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) project as a key district policy with the goal of becoming a ‘crime-free safe city.’
In July 2014, the district established the nation’s first dedicated CPTED team, and in December of the same year, enacted the first CPTED ordinance in Seoul, laying the institutional foundation for the proactive introduction of CPTED techniques.
All district office employees received CPTED education, which was a novel concept at the time, and one crime prevention officer was appointed in each department. Regular discussion meetings were held to actively discover innovative ideas.
Based on this solid foundation, the district completed the ‘Dongjak-gu Style CPTED Master Plan and Standard Manual’, and from 2015 for four years, created 18 safe villages and 30 safe alleys throughout the district, evolving into a densely safe city without blind spots.
Additionally, Dongjak-gu developed the nation’s first integrated crime prevention module combining CCTV and emergency bell functions, operating 130 units. It expanded 1,520 crime prevention CCTVs and installed emergency bells connected to the police station in 420 locations where CCTV installation was difficult to eliminate blind spots.
Moreover, the district proactively proposed policies to create a safe city, including ▲a village safety volunteer group with about 400 residents ▲identification of vulnerable spaces through niche space type analysis ▲establishment of specialized CPTED facility design guidelines.
Recognizing these long-term efforts, Dongjak-gu was selected as an excellent public institution for crime prevention for the second time, following the first competition.
Mayor Lee Chang-woo said, “Crime prevention projects are about strengthening the barn before losing the cow. We will do our best to ensure residents can live safely without damaged barns in every corner of the neighborhood.”
Gangnam-gu (Mayor Jung Soon-gyun) will hold the ‘2021 Daecheonggol Light Art Festival’ from the 11th to the 25th at Eco Park in Irwon-dong under the theme ‘Eco Park, Colored with the Light of Happiness.’
This festival was planned to decorate the park with various lights and illumination to change the depressed atmosphere caused by COVID-19 and to offer residents diverse cultural events in line with the ‘With Corona’ era.
The festival will open spectacularly with a lighting ceremony and fireworks show at 5 p.m. Various performances such as Nanta, jazz band, acoustic guitar, and 70s-80s folk music will follow.
During the event, visitors can enjoy streets decorated with distinctive themes: ‘Love for the Country Street’ with 500 Taegeuk pinwheels, ‘Light of Love Street’ connecting heart sculptures and LED Milky Way, ‘Milky Way Street’ with various photo zones, and ‘Happiness Street’ exhibiting works created by residents.
Kim Seon-joo, head of Irwon 1-dong, said, “Gangnam-gu is creating ‘Light Streets’ throughout the district to revitalize the atmosphere depressed by COVID-19 and bring vitality to citizens. We decorated Irwon Eco Park, a popular spot, with splendid and beautiful lights, so please visit and enjoy it during the year-end.”
Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Jeong-hoon) has prepared a 2022 fiscal year budget of 872 billion KRW, an increase of 10.62% from this year’s original budget of 788.3 billion KRW (general account 851.7 billion KRW, special account 20.3 billion KRW). The fund size separately prepared from the general and special accounts is 72.2 billion KRW.
The revenue budget estimates local taxes at 151.9 billion KRW, an increase of 12.5 billion KRW from this year, reflecting the rise in official real estate prices of large apartment complexes and the gradual completion of the Godeok Biz Valley area from 2022, along with other revenues including 74.5 billion KRW in non-tax revenue, 19.3 billion KRW in local grants, 16.03 billion KRW in adjustment grants, 414.2 billion KRW in subsidies, and 51.7 billion KRW in compensation income.
In his speech at the 287th regular session of the Gangdong-gu Council, Mayor Lee Jeong-hoon said, “Next year’s budget focuses on the successful completion of key projects of the 7th local government term, reflecting policy demands due to demographic changes such as low birthrate and aging, and building an unwavering social safety net. As we overcome the two-year COVID-19 crisis and fully regain ordinary daily life, the active role of finance is more necessary than ever.”
Earlier, the district prepared two supplementary budgets totaling 92.8 billion KRW this year to support COVID-19 quarantine and stabilize the local economy.
Next year, continuing this trend, the expenditure budget of 872 billion KRW will focus on ▲expanding education, childcare, and cultural facilities and balanced regional development to successfully complete major projects of the 7th local government term ▲protecting residents’ lives through livelihood welfare and social safety net construction.
Major expenditure items include, first, investments to enrich residents’ lives by reinforcing education, health, and cultural infrastructure in response to population growth and to ensure policy effects spread evenly across regions for balanced regional development.
Key projects include ▲39 billion KRW for the construction of the 2nd Citizen Sports Center in Gangil and Sangil areas ▲1 billion KRW for a public library in Myeongil Neighborhood Park ▲1.3 billion KRW to support neighborhood book caf? libraries in zones 1 to 6 ▲1.7 billion KRW to build an e-sports stadium on Cheonho Rodeo Street ▲600 million KRW for cultural and community spaces and children’s dining halls on Gucheonmyeon-ro, the heart of the old town ▲11.7 billion KRW for improving educational environments and creating happy schools in schools throughout Gangdong-gu ▲400 million KRW for Gangdong Education Portal and Smart Campus for future generation education revolution.
Second, 55.58% of the total budget is boldly invested in welfare policies to become a ‘people-centered, happier Gangdong’ where no one is left behind.
Major welfare projects include ▲127.2 billion KRW for basic pensions ▲79.2 billion KRW for livelihood and housing benefits ▲29.5 billion KRW for child allowances ▲36.6 billion KRW for infant childcare fees ▲31.9 billion KRW for disability activity support ▲2 billion KRW for emergency welfare ▲5.1 billion KRW for the first meeting voucher providing a one-time 2 million KRW to childbirth families ▲600 million KRW for 200,000 KRW entrance preparation funds for elementary school entrants ▲200 million KRW for ‘Gangdong I-mom Taxi’ supporting hospital visits for pregnant women and others.
Third, the district increased the budget by 4 billion KRW for resident autonomy, village communities, social economy, and resident participation fields to strengthen resident-led projects.
Key projects include ▲1.8 billion KRW for resident autonomy committee operation support ▲500 million KRW for village community support center operation (Cheonho Vitality Center) ▲200 million KRW for building a foundation for community cooperation ▲900 million KRW for youth activity platform operation (Seoul Youth Center ‘Gangdong Orang’).
Finally, the health sector budget increased by 10.2 billion KRW compared to last year to strengthen quarantine and focus on stabilizing the livelihood economy so residents can safely and quickly return to normal daily life.
Major projects include ▲4.9 billion KRW for COVID-19 self-quarantine living support ▲7.5 billion KRW for COVID-19 vaccination support ▲900 million KRW for COVID-19 spread prevention support ▲700 million KRW for issuing Gangdong Love Gift Certificates and ‘Bissal Money’ worth 23 billion KRW to recover the livelihood economy and revitalize the local economy ▲1.1 billion KRW for public design projects to create specialized streets and revitalize local commercial districts ▲1 billion KRW for revitalizing traditional market use and facility modernization.
Mayor Lee Jeong-hoon said, “The 2022 budget reflects Gangdong-gu’s direction and goals to protect residents’ lives and prepare for the future at the turning point of nationwide gradual recovery from COVID-19. We will do our best to create a ‘happier Gangdong-gu together’ with balanced growth and distribution that reduces gaps between regions and classes, leading to a virtuous cycle in society.”
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