[Seoul District News] Seocho Senior Happiness e-Eum Center and Bangbae Senior Welfare Center to Deliver Holiday Blessing Packages to 1,080 Elderly Living Alone... Gangdong-gu's Food Sharing Campaign for a Prosperous Lunar New Year with Neighbors... Jongno-gu Hyehwa-dong Community Center and Grace Church to Provide Side Dishes to Low-Income Vulnerable Residents Starting January 22... Songpa-gu Implements Lunar New Year Measures Focusing on COVID-19 Prevention and Safety Management of Construction Sites and Facilities... Jungnang-gu Bang Jeong-hwan Education Support Center Operates Family Camp 'Please Take Care of Dad' for Upper Elementary School Families... Seo
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seocho-gu has stepped up alongside local senior welfare centers to ensure vulnerable elderly residents have a warm Lunar New Year holiday.
The district will provide tailored care services including delivering gift packages containing handwritten letters, free meals and side dishes for seniors at risk of malnutrition, and an ‘AI Smart Customized Care Service.’
First, the Seocho Senior Happiness e-Eum Center, the agency responsible for senior customized care services in Seocho-gu, along with Bangbae Senior Welfare Center, will personally deliver Lunar New Year gift packages containing rice cake soup sets, traditional Korean sweets (hangwa), wool hats, masks, and handwritten letters to 1,080 elderly living alone who require care.
Additionally, the Seocho Senior Happiness e-Eum Center will hold a ‘Making Tangerine Syrup’ event for 50 seniors from Tuesday, January 25 to Friday, January 28. The district expects this activity to help alleviate loneliness among elderly living alone.
Three senior welfare centers?Bangbae, Yangjae, and Seocho Central?will also deliver special holiday meals to 330 seniors receiving free meals. Warm side dishes will be directly delivered to their homes to provide a cozy Lunar New Year.
Moreover, Yangjae Senior Welfare Center signed an agreement on Tuesday, January 18 with KB Kookmin Bank’s Gangnam Regional Headquarters to support small business owners in traditional markets affected by COVID-19. They will prepare gift kits containing rice, rice cake soup rice cakes, yukwa (traditional Korean rice snacks), and fruits for 500 low-income seniors and deliver them before the Lunar New Year holiday.
Meanwhile, the district operates an AI smart customized care service using the care robot ‘Seoripul Bokdong-i’ for vulnerable elderly living alone. Introduced last year, ‘Seoripul Bokdong-i’ is an AI (artificial intelligence) care robot doll equipped with a conversational function to provide emotional support to seniors living alone. Seocho-gu distributed 120 units to elderly households last year and, due to positive feedback, plans to provide an additional 100 units this year. The district expects Seoripul Bokdong-i to become a warm family companion for elderly living alone during this Lunar New Year holiday.
Cheon Jeong-wook, Acting Mayor of Seocho-gu, said, “We will do our best to provide more meticulous support so that elderly living alone, who have had a difficult time due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, can have a warm Lunar New Year.”
Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Jeong-hoon) is conducting a ‘Lunar New Year Food Sharing Campaign’ until January 28.
This campaign is organized by Gangdong-gu to collect food and daily necessities before the Lunar New Year holiday to gift a warm holiday to neighbors in need. Any resident or organization living in Gangdong-gu can participate.
Those wishing to donate can bring long-lasting food items and daily necessities to their nearest community service center or the Gangdong Food Bank Market Center. However, frozen or refrigerated foods, side dishes, items prone to spoilage at room temperature, or those nearing expiration are excluded from donations.
During the campaign period from January 17 to 28, donated items will be distributed through the Gangdong Food Bank Market Center to low-income elderly living alone, people with disabilities, and other neighbors in need within the district.
Furthermore, Gangdong-gu is promoting a ‘One Theme One Sharing Movement’ among all employees within the district office to carry out small-scale sharing events. Community service centers are also designating key locations in each neighborhood to promote sharing campaigns with the local community, aiming to continuously expand a culture of small-scale, community-based care sharing.
Lee Jeong-hoon, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, said, “As COVID-19 prolongs, many neighbors face economic difficulties. As we approach the Lunar New Year, I ask for active participation in the Lunar New Year Food Sharing Campaign so we can look around and spend a prosperous holiday together with neighbors in need.”
Jongno-gu Hyehwa-dong Community Service Center began the ‘Warmth Sharing Side Dish Support’ on January 22 to prevent malnutrition and conduct regular welfare checks for low-income households at risk of solitary death.
This initiative aims to foster a caring and sharing community among neighbors.
Grace Church (Senior Pastor Moon Seung-jin) in the area has joined the effort. Congregants voluntarily prepare four types of side dishes to be delivered to residents and have committed to delivering them to recipients’ doorsteps every six weeks.
The support recipients were identified through monitoring conducted from January 10 to 14, targeting basic livelihood security recipients and near-poverty households in the area.
Welfare checks will be conducted non-face-to-face via phone calls to prevent COVID-19 spread, carefully checking if neighbors are struggling with social isolation.
Pastor Moon Seung-jin said, “Due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, there is concern about malnutrition among low-income households who mainly relied on free meals. We are leading this side dish support with the mindset of preparing food for our own family, dedicating ourselves to making nutritious side dishes.”
Since 2019, Grace Church has actively participated in sharing activities by continuously donating winter support funds and various daily necessities, serving as a model for helping neighbors in difficult circumstances.
A district official stated, “This side dish support project is meaningful as a sharing activity where neighbors care for neighbors. We will continue to carefully monitor residents at risk of solitary death or malnutrition and devise various measures to close gaps in care networks.”
Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Seong-su) is implementing a comprehensive Lunar New Year plan to ensure residents have a safe and comfortable holiday during the Lunar New Year period.
On January 17, the district established the 2022 Lunar New Year Comprehensive Plan and will implement 18 initiatives across six areas?quarantine measures, disaster management, alleviation of daily inconveniences, livelihood support, support for marginalized neighbors, and establishment of public service discipline?from January 28 to February 3. A total of 155 employees from 17 departments will be on emergency duty during the holiday.
The plan focuses especially on preventing the spread of COVID-19 and safety management of construction sites and facilities.
To prevent COVID-19 spread, the district will maintain a constant response system through emergency duty at health centers during the holiday, operating health center screening clinics and temporary screening sites (Olympic Park Peace Plaza, Munjeong-dong 368) normally. They will also implement thorough quarantine measures including life treatment centers, dedicated TF for home treatment, strengthened monitoring of self-quarantine, and special inspections of multi-use facilities. Additionally, 650 emergency medical institutions and 451 holiday pharmacies will be designated and operated, with active promotion via the district website and community service centers.
Furthermore, the district has formed a 22-member public-private joint inspection team to conduct focused inspections of quarantine rules and hygiene conditions at traditional markets, Lotte World Mall, Bangi and Sincheon food alleys, and Songridan-gil area until February 4, targeting food vendors, restaurants, and bakeries selling ritual foods.
With the Serious Accident Punishment Act coming into full effect on January 27 and recent large-scale accidents involving private construction sites nationwide, the role and responsibility of local governments in construction facility safety management are increasingly important.
Seocho-gu will proactively prepare for disasters by conducting safety inspections of 14 large construction sites and 8 apartment construction sites before the holiday. Pre-inspections will also be conducted for disaster-vulnerable facilities such as flower villages, parks, and cultural heritage sites. A 24-hour emergency contact system will be maintained during the holiday to promptly respond to accidents and disasters.
Additionally, the district will implement measures to alleviate residents’ daily inconveniences such as cleaning, traffic, and parking. To prevent inconvenience in waste disposal during the holiday, the district will publicize waste collection schedules of cleaning contractors in advance and conduct special cleaning of vulnerable areas such as the banks and bridges of Tancheon Stream and neighborhood spots.
To ease traffic congestion and parking difficulties, the district will maintain traffic safety facilities, operate public transportation monitoring teams, provide traffic information during the holiday, and open 10 public parking lots, 87 elementary, middle, and high school parking lots, and the police hospital parking lot free of charge to residents.
Amid growing economic difficulties due to COVID-19, the district will continue efforts to stabilize energy and prices during the holiday, promptly execute payments for public construction and service contracts, and implement measures to protect the homeless and support vulnerable groups. Public officials will also uphold integrity and frugality to meet residents’ expectations.
Mayor Park Seong-su emphasized, “With recent nationwide safety accidents and COVID-19, residents’ concerns are high. We will prioritize residents’ safety and prepare so that everyone can have a safe and comfortable holiday.”
Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Moon Seok-jin) announced on January 25 that it will provide disaster relief funds to small business owners who have closed and unemployed youth struggling due to COVID-19.
This is part of the ‘Disaster Relief Fund Payment for Nine Target Groups’ resolution made at the Seoul Metropolitan Council of Mayors’ temporary meeting on January 21.
The target groups include village bus companies, elderly care facilities, daycare centers, local children’s centers, kindergartens, religious facilities, closed small business owners, unemployed youth, and individual and corporate taxi drivers.
Seodaemun-gu decided to provide support at the same level as other local governments based on discussions at the council and is proceeding with administrative procedures. Application requirements and periods will be announced separately on the Seodaemun-gu website for each target group.
Mayor Moon Seok-jin said, “The 25 autonomous districts of Seoul have united in agreement to provide disaster relief funds as quickly as possible. We will continue to implement various policies to alleviate the difficulties of those suffering from COVID-19.”
Jungnang-gu Bang Jeong-hwan Education Support Center is operating a family camp for local elementary students and their parents during the winter vacation.
The ‘Take Care of Dad’ family camp, held on February 19, is designed to enhance family bonds through intergenerational understanding and active communication. Elementary students in grades 3, 4, 5, and 6 residing in the area and male parents can apply.
The camp consists of three themes, each lasting 100 minutes: ‘Communication Up Harmony Festival,’ which opens hearts and fosters family unity through various games; ‘Happiness Up Family Love Giving,’ which promotes empathy through physical affection; and ‘Love Up Family Story Bundle Talk,’ which allows deep exchanges to experience family love.
Applications for the ‘Take Care of Dad’ family camp open on January 27 via the Bang Jeong-hwan Education Support Center website, with 20 families to be selected.
Ryu Gyeong-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, said, “I hope the Bang Jeong-hwan Education Support Center’s winter vacation program will be of great help to students and parents going through difficult times due to COVID-19.”
Meanwhile, the district held a ‘Take Care of Dad and Mom’ family camp for middle school students and parents on January 15.
Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Moon Seok-jin) will discover and support environment, digital, and care ventures based in the district to address climate change crises, digital transformation, and prepare for the super-aged society in 2025.
To this end, the district will run the ‘2022 Seodaemun-gu Local Venture Development Project’ until the end of this year and is currently recruiting startup teams.
Eligible teams must consist of three or more members living or working in the metropolitan area, who have not yet started a business or have been in business for less than two years.
Project themes include solving environmental issues such as climate crisis, energy, and waste problems; convergence of existing industries with digital technologies (AI, metaverse, etc.); development and provision of social services for the elderly and vulnerable groups; and revitalization of the local economy based on space or culture.
Applications can be submitted through the dedicated ‘2022 Seodaemun-gu Local Venture Development Project’ website by February 3.
Teams passing document screening will participate in online practical startup education (February 9?11) and one-on-one coaching (February 14?18).
The final competition will be held from February 24 to 25, selecting 14 teams.
Selected teams will receive up to 20 million KRW in commercialization funds, startup space, dedicated mentoring and management consulting, and one-on-one coaching for corporate establishment and social enterprise certification.
They will also be intensively nurtured by participating in various district-specialized projects throughout the year.
Since 2017, Seodaemun-gu has supported venture startups, fostering 21 social enterprises, preliminary social enterprises, general cooperatives, and social cooperatives.
The district has also involved them in projects such as local commercial district development, carbon neutrality, and care for vulnerable residents.
Since 2019, the district has held annual startup camps and program development contests to discover promising entrepreneurs who solve community problems with responsibility and innovative ideas.
Mayor Moon Seok-jin said, “We will spare no effort to effectively link and support Seodaemun-gu’s policy projects so that the selected startup teams can grow into representative social economy enterprises in the region.”
Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yoo Seong-hoon) announced that during the Lunar New Year holiday, the Sudokwon Landfill Site Management Corporation and cleaning contractors will be closed, resulting in no collection of household waste (general waste, food waste, recyclables).
The waste disposal ban period is from January 31 to February 1, two days. Waste that could not be disposed of during the holiday should be put out starting from 6 p.m. on February 2.
Geumcheon-gu will collect waste normally if it was put out on January 30 to minimize inconvenience to residents.
Additionally, the district will operate a cleaning task force and have sanitation workers on emergency duty during the holiday to promptly respond to waste-related complaints.
Mayor Yoo Seong-hoon said, “We understand that the suspension of waste collection during the Lunar New Year holiday may cause inconvenience to residents, but we ask for your understanding and active participation so everyone can enjoy a pleasant holiday by being considerate of each other.”
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