[Seoul District News] Dobong-gu Launches New Web Service and Mobile App for 'Carbon Zero Mileage' Accumulating Greenhouse Gas Reduction Points in 7 Areas: Building, Transport, Energy, Circulation, Forest, Education, Lifestyle... Guro-gu Supports Paid Leave Employment Maintenance Subsidies for Companies Participating in 'City Without Layoffs'... Yeongdeungpo-gu Promotes Local Tourism via SNS... Dongjak-gu Recruits Civic Groups for 2022 Human Rights Promotion Projects... Dongdaemun-gu Provides 1 Million Won per Small Business Site to Over 18,000 Locations
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Dobong-gu (Mayor Lee Dong-jin) is establishing the 'Carbon Zero Mileage' in 2022 to promote and support voluntary actions by residents, the main agents in realizing '2050 Carbon Neutrality,' and is building a web service to operate it.
The 'Carbon Zero Mileage' web service plans to complete the online system construction by October, address any issues, and officially operate from January next year, including member registration, mileage accumulation, and incentive distribution.
'Carbon Zero Mileage' includes the meaning of carbon neutrality net-zero, which refers to a state where the net emissions are zero by combining greenhouse gas emissions and absorption, and the reduction of greenhouse gases.
Unlike existing mileage programs that provide incentives limited to specific fields, 'Carbon Zero Mileage' accumulates mileage and grants incentives for greenhouse gas reduction activities in all fields, including the '7 Major Strategies for Greenhouse Gas Reduction in Dobong-gu': green, buildings, transportation, energy, circulation, forests, education, and daily life.
The district plans to finalize mileage awarding items, verification methods, and incentive contents through deliberations involving various stakeholders to increase residents' empathy and participation. Additionally, the design will be user-friendly for easy access, verification, and registration, and will provide carbon neutrality practice content to implement a web service enabling two-way communication.
Dobong-gu led carbon neutrality policies at the basic local government level by enacting the first carbon neutrality ordinance nationwide in September 2021, achieving the highest grade 'A' as the only domestic city among 965 cities worldwide evaluated by the international Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) in November 2021, and receiving the Minister of Environment Award at the '2021 Carbon Neutrality Contest' hosted by the Ministry of Environment in December 2021.
Mayor Lee Dong-jin of Dobong-gu said, “Local governments, which are in close contact with residents who are the main agents of greenhouse gas reduction, must take the lead in establishing policies that achieve practical reductions. Through Carbon Zero Mileage, we will promote and support residents' voluntary actions and lead the realization of '2050 Carbon Neutrality.'”
Yeongdeungpo-gu (Mayor Chae Hyun-il) is accelerating the revitalization of local tourism, which has been stagnant, through tourism marketing using social networking services (SNS).
In the past, travel information was collected using tourist guidebooks and internet portal sites, but recently, traveling by searching real-time content on SNS channels such as Instagram and Facebook and visiting various restaurants and date spots has become a new trend.
Accordingly, the district plans to actively use various SNS to promote local tourism resources and district news in preparation for the post-COVID-19 new normal era, introducing Yeongdeungpo's diverse charms to domestic and international tourists.
In particular, Yeongdeungpo-gu's official tourism Instagram has steadily gained popularity through user-centered content production and sincere communication, including themed travel courses, food guides, art and cultural exhibition information, medical tourism partner introductions, and various events.
Since its launch in 2020, it has grown to about 3,700 followers and over 540,000 post exposures, establishing itself as Seoul's representative tourism promotion channel.
This year, short-form content, which has recently become popular mainly among the MZ generation, will also be introduced. Five walking tour courses in Yeongdeungpo will be produced as short-form video content, and promotional videos introducing Yeongdeungpo's tourist resources will be uploaded in collaboration with Park Sang-jung, a representative longboard influencer, to attract the interest of younger audiences.
Additionally, the district plans to provide useful information such as hidden restaurants, tourist attractions, hotels, and entertainment spots throughout the area by linking with multilingual SNS for medical tourism such as Facebook and Weibo, while widely promoting the excellence of Yeongdeungpo's medical tourism special zone to people worldwide.
Mayor Chae Hyun-il of Yeongdeungpo-gu said, “In preparation for the upcoming post-COVID-19 era, we will maximize tourism promotion effects by maintaining real-time communication with domestic and international tourists interested in Yeongdeungpo through various SNS channels. We will make every effort to make Yeongdeungpo a place people want to visit again through vivid and enjoyable high-quality content.”
Dongjak-gu (Mayor Lee Chang-woo) is calling for applications for the '2022 Civil Society Human Rights Promotion Project' to enhance residents' human rights sensitivity and spread a human rights-friendly culture in the local community.
This project is designed to protect socially vulnerable groups in human rights blind spots led by human rights organizations with expertise and know-how, and to improve residents' human rights awareness to promote community development.
Since 2015, the district has promoted the project, conducting activities such as elderly human rights workshop education, human rights monitoring, and human rights forums last year, contributing to the formation of a human rights culture practiced in daily life.
This call targets human rights promotion projects for socially vulnerable groups such as the elderly, disabled, women, and migrants, focusing on projects that can continuously improve residents' human rights sensitivity rather than one-time activities.
Applicants must be civil society organizations or non-profit corporations with offices and activity bases in Dongjak-gu, working with Dongjak-gu residents. Selected organizations will receive support of about 3 million KRW per project, but must bear at least 10% of the total project cost.
The application period is from the 7th to the 18th. Interested organizations can check the application form and other documents on the Dongjak-gu website and submit them in person to the Audit Officer at Dongjak-gu Office (161 Jangseungbaegi-ro), by mail, or by email.
The project’s appropriateness, validity, ripple effect, and the implementing organization's capability will be evaluated, and final selections will be made in April after document screening and deliberation.
For more details, inquiries can be made to the Audit Officer.
Audit Officer Yoo Jae-cheon said, “This year, through support for civil society human rights promotion projects, we will strive to realize respect for human rights in the community by promoting living human rights projects emphasizing residents' daily life and fieldwork. We hope many human rights-related organizations with creative ideas and capabilities will show interest and participate.”
Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) is accepting applications for the 'Tenant Small Business Owner Support Fund' from February 7 to March 6 to alleviate the rent burden of small business owners struggling due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, according to Seoul City's support plan.
The 'Tenant Small Business Owner Support Fund' is a support project for small business owners announced on January 12 as part of the 'Seoul City Livelihood Protection Comprehensive Measures,' aimed at stabilizing the management of small business owners who rent business premises.
Through this project, about 18,000 business sites in Dongdaemun-gu are expected to receive 1 million KRW each, totaling 18 billion KRW in support.
Eligible recipients are small business owners with annual sales under 200 million KRW in 2020 or 2021 who are currently operating, have their main business registration address in Seoul (regardless of representative's address), and whose business opening date is before December 31, 2021, currently renting or occupying business premises. However, businesses that are closed or suspended, entertainment facilities, loan-restricted industries, tenants eligible for 2022 public property rent reduction, recipients of 2022 special employment and freelancer support funds, recipients of 2022 tourism industry crisis recovery funds, professional occupations such as lawyers, accountants, hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and public facilities such as non-profit corporations, schools, and religious organizations are not eligible.
The application period is from February 7 to March 6. Applicants can apply online through the Seoul Support Fund website by attaching supporting documents such as business registration certificates and commercial lease contracts.
During the first five days of the application period (until February 11), a 5-day rotation system will be implemented based on the last digit of the business registration number.
Small business owners who have difficulty applying online can apply in person at the on-site reception desk (Small Business Support Team) on the basement 2nd floor of Dongdaemun-gu Office Main Building from February 28 to March 4.
The support fund will be paid within 10 business days from the application date after verification of sales and lease contracts by the Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation. For other inquiries related to applications, contact the Dasan Call Center.
Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol of Dongdaemun-gu said, “I hope this support will help tenant small business owners struggling due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to do our best to recover the local economy through various support projects.”
Good food that promotes health for pregnant families and supports farmers will be provided.
Gangseo-gu, Seoul (Mayor Noh Hyun-song) announced that it will support eco-friendly agricultural product packages for pregnant women in the area. This project was prepared to support the health of pregnant women and newborns and to help farmers struggling due to the impact of COVID-19.
Eligible applicants are mothers who gave birth after January 1, 2021, or currently pregnant women residing in Gangseo-gu. A total of 1,010 people will be recruited on a first-come, first-served basis, and eco-friendly agricultural products worth about 480,000 KRW annually will be supported. However, applicants must bear 20% of the total support amount, which is 96,000 KRW.
Pregnant women who wish to apply can do so online from 10 a.m. on the 8th through the Pregnant Women Eco-friendly Agricultural Products Shopping Mall.
Foreigners or disabled persons who have difficulty with online identity verification can exceptionally apply in person at the district's Local Economy Division.
Documents required for in-person application include the application form, resident registration copy, and supporting documents such as pregnancy confirmation, pregnancy and childbirth medical expense support application (National Health Insurance Corporation), birth certificate, resident registration copy with birth report (issued within 3 months), or maternal handbook (with hospital name and doctor's seal).
The eco-friendly agricultural product packages consist of fresh agricultural products certified as eco-friendly, some livestock products, and organic processed foods. Eligible recipients can purchase up to four times a month (16 times a year) on a dedicated online shopping mall, with a minimum purchase of 30,000 KRW and a maximum of 100,000 KRW per order as needed.
Orders can be placed until December 15 this year, and after paying 20% of the order amount as a personal contribution, the products can be delivered to the desired location.
Jongno-gu will promote the 'Fall Prevention Residential Environment Improvement Project for Elderly Living Alone' from this month until November this year to provide a pleasant and safe old age life and improve the quality of life for the elderly.
This project was selected in the 2022 Resident Participation Budget and was planned to prevent safety accidents for elderly people living alone in poor environments. It stands out as a newly promoted project adding Jongno-gu's meticulousness to the 'Residential Environment Improvement Project for Elderly Living Alone' led by Seoul City from 2015 to 2020.
Previously, the focus was on wallpaper and flooring replacement to address mold problems during the rainy season and installation of gas safety shut-off devices in winter, but from this year, the focus is on preventing frequent fall accidents among the elderly.
Before the full launch, a call for applications will be held in February targeting local non-profit organizations or private groups engaged in social welfare activities, and support funds will be granted after eligibility screening in March. Selection criteria include project originality, economy, public interest, and the applicant organization's capability.
Once the project recipients are confirmed, Jongno-gu plans to provide fall prevention items and residential equipment installation and repair support services to elderly people living alone who are judged to need residential environment improvement from April 2022.
Support items include non-slip floor tiles for bathrooms, fall prevention handrails, bed safety guards, and non-slip mats. Additionally, other items contributing to improving the residential environment, such as entrance and window screens, insulation materials, and gas safety shut-off devices, will be provided to enhance satisfaction.
Jongno-gu obtained the 'Age-friendly City' certification from the World Health Organization (WHO) in October 2020 and is dedicated to creating a community where all generations can live safely and comfortably without inconvenience.
Accordingly, the district operates elderly welfare projects that add 'needs' and 'desires' to existing 'care' services aimed at economic independence and psychological and emotional support for the elderly.
Examples include the 'Jongno-gu Senior Choir' to support elderly leisure activities and provide a venue for intergenerational communication, lifelong education courses to satisfy personal growth and learning desires in the centenarian era, and 'Information Education' teaching internet and smartphone usage.
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