Gangseo-gu Kim Cheol-woo, Head of Welfare Policy Division, Receives 2 Million Won Prize at Korea Public Welfare Awards for Supporting Multicultural Families

30-Year Welfare Veteran Caring for Neighbors in Need Since Appointment to Gangseo-gu in 1991

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] A public official who personally practiced sharing to help neighbors in crisis has become a hot topic.

Kim Cheol-woo, Director of the Welfare Policy Division of Gangseo-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Noh Hyun-song), practiced sharing by donating 2 million won to two multicultural families using the prize money from the ‘Korea Public Welfare Award’.

Known as a social welfare expert in Gangseo-gu, he is a true welfare man who has cared for neighbors in need for 30 years, working at Gangseo District Office since 1991 in the Welfare Policy Division, Social Welfare Division, and local community centers.

Director Kim decided to participate in this donation after hearing the heartbreaking stories of multicultural families attending the local Multicultural Family Support Center. Having earned the honor through welfare work, he sought ways to help neighbors in crisis even a little and decided on this donation.

The donation will be used to support hospital bills and rent, with 1 million won each provided to a marriage immigrant woman suffering from illness without hospital fees and a multicultural family struggling to live with an elementary school child in a small goshiwon (tiny room rental).

Director Kim Cheol-woo said, “Although it is not a large amount, I hope it helps multicultural families living hard lives in a foreign land to gain strength and keep going,” and added, “To resolve welfare blind spots, attention from the community is necessary, so I ask for much interest from the local community.”

Park Jung-sook, Director of the Multicultural Family Support Center, said, “The sincerity of the help will be a great aid to multicultural families who are struggling to continue their lives,” and expressed gratitude, saying, “We are thankful not only for your dedication to the welfare development of Gangseo-gu but also for donating such a meaningful contribution.”

The ‘Korea Public Welfare Award’ is given by the Social Welfare Mutual Aid Association to meritorious public officials among about 30,000 social welfare-dedicated public officials nationwide who have a sense of mission for the welfare state and have worked to promote public welfare. This year marks the 4th ceremony, where nine recipients were awarded for their efforts in various fields such as professional development, welfare administration, and public-private cooperation to advance social welfare administration in Korea.