[Seoul District News] Seongdong-gu Recruiting Tenants for Seongsu Handmade Shoes Joint Sales Center under Ttukseom Station Bridge; Up to 5 Years Lease for Young Entrepreneurs, Affordable Rent under 4 Million KRW per Year, Professional Training, and Seongsu Station Trick Art Attractions... Seodaemun-gu Operating Cultural Arts Education Program Reflecting Science, Technology, and Latest Trends at ‘Hong Eun Art Center’ until November... Gwangjin-gu Providing Fruit to Young Single-Person Households... Gangnam-gu Hosting ‘Potluck Party’ to Help Single-Person Households Build Networks... Gwanak-gu Youth Mental Health
Visitors purchasing items sold at the cooperative store. You can find affordable and high-quality handmade shoes and other goods.
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) Seongsu-dong has begun to revitalize itself as a historic handmade shoe landmark.
The district is recruiting new tenants for three Seongsu Handmade Shoe Joint Sales Centers until May 3, actively supporting youth startup workshops and handmade shoe manufacturing companies.
The Seongsu Handmade Shoe Joint Sales Centers consist of a total of 16 companies, with 8 locations each under the overpasses of Seongsu Station and Ttukseom Station. They vary in size from 10㎡ to about 30㎡, offering unique handmade shoes and leather workshops where visitors can stroll through Seongsu-dong, try on affordable yet high-quality shoes, and choose their own pair, making it a place where visitors linger.
The district selects companies eligible to participate in the Seongsu Handmade Shoe Joint Sales Centers, with an initial tenancy period of 3 years, extendable up to 5 years. They plan to provide stable growth and support with affordable annual rent below 4 million KRW.
Applications are open to general handmade shoe manufacturers or youth startup workshops specializing in handmade shoes and leather crafts. Eligible applicants include representatives of finished handmade shoe manufacturing factories or those possessing finished product manufacturing skills within the region, or youths aged 19 to 39 as of the announcement date.
Among these, the youth startup workshop category targets shoe designers, prospective founders of handmade shoe or leather craft workshops, or companies within 3 years of establishment. Additional points are awarded to Seongdong-gu residents (at least one representative registered as a resident in Seongdong-gu), socially disadvantaged individuals, and graduates of Seongdong-gu’s handmade shoe and leather craft education programs.
This year, the district plans to operate specialized education programs in handmade shoes and leather crafts for prospective job seekers and entrepreneurs. Through 6 months of introductory and advanced technical training, they aim to nurture a total of 27 professionals (7 in handmade shoes, 20 in leather crafts).
Additionally, the Seongsu Industrial Culture Complex Theme Space, opened within Seongsu Station in December 2021, will feature a ‘Handmade Shoe Trick Art (Photo Zone)’ next month, offering citizens a unique visual experience. Using trick art techniques that employ light reflection, refraction, shading, and perspective to create three-dimensional and realistic murals on brick pillars inside the station, the artwork will combine art and technology to captivate visitors.
Seongsu-dong, historically known as a ‘handmade shoe landmark,’ is emerging as a leading center of industry, culture, and arts in Seoul. It is now growing as a city of industry, culture, and arts alongside youth and artists in collaboration with the local community, beyond just the handmade shoe industry. The district plans to continue developing traditional industries so that heritage and trends coexist, actively creating a city where history and the present coexist.
Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “We hope the joint sales centers will greatly assist handmade shoe manufacturers and youth startup workshops struggling with rising rents and COVID-19 challenges,” adding, “We will continue to support hidden artisans and ambitious youths for the historic handmade shoe industry of Seongsu-dong.”
Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Moon Seok-jin) announced that it will operate the ‘Hong Eun Arts Center’ program, a cultural arts education program aligned with the paradigm of the 4th Industrial Revolution.
Held at the Hong Eun Youth Culture House, the ‘Hong Eun Arts Center’ offers cultural arts programs reflecting science, technology, and the latest trends, including six fields: ▲Fantablet Digital Drawing ▲Practical Music ▲App-based MIDI Composition ▲Projection Mapping Media Art ▲Street Dance ▲English Musical.
It is a customized professional education program designed to help youth discover and nurture their talents independently, operated with a small number of students and expert instructors.
Cultural arts education often has high entry barriers, leading to unequal opportunities due to income disparities. To address this, ‘Hong Eun Arts Center’ prioritizes socially disadvantaged youth for selection, enabling them to develop cultural arts capabilities and explore career paths.
At the recent orientation for ‘Hong Eun Arts Center,’ youth and professional instructors participated together, engaging in open communication about what the youth want to learn and activities they wish to pursue.
The program runs until November this year, and progress for each program can be checked on the Hong Eun Youth Culture House website. For more details, inquiries can be made to the Purpose Project Team of the Hong Eun Youth Culture House.
Moon Seok-jin, Mayor of Seodaemun-gu, stated, “Through cultural arts education programs that respond to the 4th Industrial Revolution era, we hope more youth can design their dreams and discover their talents while receiving practical information and support.”
Gwangjin-gu is promoting the ‘Healthy Fruit Care FruitFruit (fruit+fruit)’ project to provide fruit to young single-person households to support their health.
Hosted by the Seoul Youth Center Gwangjin Orang, this project offers seasonal fruits to young single-person households to help them intake diverse nutrients and gather opinions on policies for single-person households.
Seoul Youth Center Gwangjin Orang is a youth space supporting various tangible and intangible social services for youths living in Gwangjin-gu and Jungnang-gu.
The ‘Healthy Fruit Care FruitFruit’ project started in March and will be held once a month until December. The target is 30 young single-person households aged 19 to 39 residing or living in Gwangjin-gu who are members of Gwangjin Orang.
On April 23, 30 young single-person households received Cheonhyehyang (a type of citrus) at the ‘Gwangjin Orang Eat and Talk’ event.
The next program application period is from May 9 to 15. Youths wishing to participate can apply through an online application form created by Seoul Youth Center Gwangjin Orang.
Detailed information can be found on the Youth Support Information board on the Seoul Youth Portal website. For inquiries, contact the Gwangjin-gu Child and Youth Division or Seoul Youth Center Gwangjin Orang by phone.
Gangnam-gu (Mayor Jung Soon-gyun) held a ‘Potluck Party’ on the 24th at the Gangnam-gu Single-Person Household Community Center Shared Kitchen to help form networks among single-person households.
The district recruited 50 single-person households in the area through online applications from April 7 to 8, delivered bean sprout kits to their homes, and created an open chat room where participants could grow bean sprouts and share small stories and information over two weeks.
Gangnam-gu has 91,093 single-person households, accounting for 40% of all households. To support their psychological stability and network formation, the district opened a single-person household community center in Yeoksam-dong in 2019. In February, a residents’ meeting was held to prepare customized policies for single-person households, and based on feedback, additional rapid antigen test kits and masks were provided beyond government supplies. The district plans to continue supporting small group activities for single-person households after this event.
Jung Soon-gyun, Mayor of Gangnam-gu, said, “Since the 7th local government, Gangnam-gu has expanded various projects such as ‘Empathy Flea Market’ and ‘Themed Small Group Operations’ to make the single-person household community center a practical exchange space that teaches how to live well alone and together,” adding, “We will continue to support to alleviate isolation and loneliness and help build networks for single-person households to complete a happy and dignified Gangnam.”
As COVID-19 prolongs, mental difficulties among youth due to social isolation and employment insecurity are intensifying.
Gwanak-gu announced the full launch of the ‘Youth Mental Health Voucher’ project, providing psychological counseling support to youths struggling with ‘Corona Blue.’
The program offers youths opportunities to explore and understand their own condition, improve stress coping skills, and enhance difficult interpersonal relationships, promoting healthy psychological recovery.
Eligible applicants are youths aged 19 to 34 residing in Gwanak-gu (born between 1988 and 2003), prioritized in the order of ▲Youth preparing for independence ▲Youth linked to mental health welfare centers ▲General youth, with no separate income or asset criteria.
Psychological counseling services include pre- and post-assessments, customized service provision, and termination counseling, offering a total of 10 sessions within 3 months by default, extendable up to 12 months if re-assessment is needed.
Selected youths can choose a suitable service provider among local youth mental health support institutions to receive appropriate counseling services. A 10% co-payment (up to 7,000 KRW per session) applies.
Youths wishing to use the ‘Youth Mental Health Support’ service can apply in person at the resident center of their registered district.
A district official said, “We hope this project provides warm comfort and a new hope to youths,” adding, “We will do our best to promote stable mental health and the role of youths as healthy members of society.”
Seongbuk-gu will resume various exhibitions, cultural, and play events in May, the month of family, which includes the 100th Children’s Day.
As Korea’s first UNICEF-certified child-friendly city preparing for the nation’s first second-level certification, Seongbuk-gu has planned special cultural events across the district, including the district youth center, children’s parks, libraries, art museums, and Arirang Cine Center, for children, youth, and families to participate in diverse ways.
At five Seongbuk youth play spaces such as ㅁㅁ and Donghaeng Raon, special Children’s Day programs titled ‘Take Care of the Children!’ will run from May 4 to 7. Programs include ㅁㅁ ‘Aurora Cafe Onara-OH`nara~!’, Donghaeng Raon ‘Raonding’, Wool: Island & Comma ‘Gather, Wool: Island!’, Seongbuk Dodam ‘Dodam is Unstoppable!’, Jamshiman Noldaga ‘Jamnol Picnic’, and Solsup Children’s Park ‘100-minute Playground’, all designed to spread the value of child rights protection.
Municipal and district youth centers also offer various play and cultural festival events. On May 4-5, Jangwi Youth Culture Nuri Center will hold ‘Children’s Day, Celebrating the 100th Children’s Day!’, and on May 5, Seongbuk Youth Culture House will host a ‘Theme Park Children’s Day Festival.’ On May 14, Seongbuk Youth Culture House will hold the ‘Seongbuk Children and Youth Festival,’ and Seongbuk Youth Center will conduct ‘SB Adventure.’ On May 28, Wolgok Youth Center’s ‘Wolgok Festival’ will feature air bounces, singing contests, various experience programs, and food booths for the whole family to enjoy.
Arirang Cine Center has prepared a four-day event from May 5 to 8 where movies can be watched for 4,000 KRW. The children’s play ‘Dad Chicken’ screening on May 5 is available for online advance reservation on a first-come, first-served basis via the Arirang Cine Center website.
Libraries and museums will also operate exhibitions and play experience programs based on children’s rights and play content. Seongbuk Gilbit Library will run ‘Spin Spin Whoo~’ for children throughout May. Arirang Children’s Library offers ‘I am a 000 Child,’ and Seongbuk Seonjam Museum operates ‘Seonjam Playground - Crawling Silkworm.’
Family participatory experiential cultural events are also abundant. Resident-planned programs using vacant houses in Jangwi-dong include ‘Vacant House, Are You Okay?’ (Kim Joong-up Architecture Culture House), ‘Dolgoti Music Salon’ (Dolgoti Life Art Culture Center), ‘ICT Experience Exhibition’ for promoting resident reading culture, and humanities lectures ‘Core Literacy in the ICT Era’ (Geulbit Library). Seongbuk Family Center also runs various programs for multicultural families.
Detailed information on each event can be found on the Seongbuk-gu Office website, the May issue of Seongbuk Sori, and the Play Seongbuk app. All programs operate following COVID-19 prevention guidelines, and programs with participant limits require prior registration at each facility before visiting.
Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) announced that it will hold the ‘Children’s Day Grand Festival’ at various locations on May 5, marking the 100th anniversary of Children’s Day, for the whole family to enjoy.
At 10 a.m. on the 5th, the Sinwol Youth Culture Center will open the child-friendly city ‘Yangcheon Children’s Land.’ The event will feature ▲Children’s Day 100th Anniversary Ceremony ▲Large Air Bounce Operation ▲Four-Photo Sticker Photo Booth ▲Family Experience Corners (pot decoration, family arcade, etc.) ▲Food Sharing (jajangmyeon, cotton candy, churros, etc.) and various programs. Notably, children will co-host the 100th anniversary ceremony, leading the reading of the Children’s Charter and performances.
In line with Yangcheon’s identity as a garden city, diverse cultural events will be held in parks. At the recently renovated Paris Park, from 1 p.m. on the 5th, the theme ‘Revisiting Paris Park Journey’ will include ▲Paris Park Market ▲Family Laughter Gymnastics ▲Everyone’s Stage (resident participation performances) ▲Experience Corners (caricature, instant photos, hand painting), attracting residents’ attention.
If you want a ‘picnic in the city park,’ visit the cozy forest lodge-like Neomeundeul Park Book Rest Area. Along with a magic show by a local magician, there will be ▲Local Artist Exhibitions ▲Drawing Contests ▲Forest Flea Market ▲Children’s Art Experiences (making mugwort rice cakes, hand painting, etc.) for families to enjoy precious time together.
At the family-centered cultural arts specialized facility Galsan Cultural Arts Center, opened in March, a rich Children’s Day commemorative event will be held on the 5th. The 4th-floor Ainuri Hall will host the blacklight performance ‘Paper Dad’ (2 p.m. / 4 p.m. / Interpark advance booking), and the outdoor plaza will feature Parkgol Box’s ‘Playground’ (1:10 p.m. / 3:10 p.m. / free admission).
Notably, ‘Paper Dad,’ based on a work by artist Lee Ji-eun, was selected as an excellent work at the ‘2016 ASSITEJ Winter Festival,’ the largest children and youth performing arts festival in Korea. Parkgol Box’s ‘Playground’ combines dazzling stunts, circus, street dance, and flying dance, with an audience participation corner for horizontal bar circus and wire experiences.
On May 7, the 100th anniversary commemorative premium family performance ‘Doggy Poop’ will be staged at Galsan Cultural Arts Center Ainuri Hall. Based on the beloved work by author Kwon Jeong-saeng since 1969, it is a family play. Tickets cost 20,000 KRW (Interpark booking), with a 50% discount for Yangcheon residents.
Meanwhile, Yangcheon-gu Library has ambitiously prepared the children’s event ‘Today I am the Main Character,’ combining books and reading. Held at Yangcheon Cultural Center, at 1 p.m. on the 5th, author Han Mi-hwa, a cast member of KBS 1TV’s ‘Joyful Reading,’ will give a keynote lecture titled ‘Children Growing Through Writing.’ Han will share vivid writing know-how for children who love reading but struggle with writing.
At 3 p.m., a ventriloquism puppet magic show ‘Heard Picture Book, Puppet Magic Show’ will be held. Combining ventriloquism puppet theater, magic, and bubble experiences, it promises unforgettable fun memories for children.
Yongsan-gu (Mayor Sung Chang-hyun) produced 250 copies of the ‘Major Industrial Accident Prevention Work Guidebook’ and distributed them to the district office, affiliated organizations, and local target workplaces.
This aims to contribute to creating a safe workplace by understanding relevant laws and mastering prevention procedures.
On January 26 this year, the district established the ‘Comprehensive Plan for Major Accident Prevention,’ including Yongsan-gu’s safety and health management policy, aiming to reduce industrial accident rates by 15%. It selected and implemented three major execution strategies and nine key tasks.
The guidebook is structured to be highly useful in field operations, covering legal understanding, establishment of safety and health management systems, management measures necessary for fulfilling safety and health obligations, Ministry of Employment and Labor Q&A, and case studies.
In particular, to enable frequent elimination of risk factors, the guidebook includes a hazardous and risky factor identification survey form and a checklist for elimination, substitution, and control of hazardous and risky factors.
A district official said, “We produced a guidebook tailored to the district’s characteristics by reflecting Seoul’s safety and health environment surveys, Ministry of Employment and Labor guidelines, and legal commentary,” adding, “Please contact the district’s Major Accident Prevention Team for parts that may be interpreted differently depending on specific cases.”
Additionally, the district established a safety and health window on the Yongsan-gu administrative portal, allowing all workers to freely report safety and health issues and suggest improvements.
Sung Chang-hyun, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, said, “We have established a flawless prevention system through the composition of safety and health management systems, management manuals, and emergency response systematization,” adding, “We will make accident prevention a daily practice through manual utilization and smooth communication.”
The Yongsan-gu Major Industrial Accident Prevention Work Guidebook is a B5 size (180mm wide × 255mm high) book with 206 pages.
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