[Seoul District News] Seongdong-gu Starts 'Rainbow Parasol' Rental at District Office and Community Centers from 25th for Heatwave Preparedness · Expands Road Watering Truck Coverage · Operates Heatwave Shelters and Safety Lodgings ... 2022 Nowon Tal Festival Participant Recruitment ... Mapo-gu Recruits 37 Artists Including Singer-Songwriters, Calligraphers, and Painters to Decorate Hongdae Street Trash Bins ... Guro-gu Opens Applications for Youth Challenge Support Project and Online Entrepreneur Training Course ... Eunpyeong-gu Announces 4th Recruitment for 2022 Community-Led Youth Job Program ... Yeong
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) is operating a ‘Rainbow Parasol’ rental project to help residents stay healthy and safe during the summer heat after the rainy season ends.
To prevent heat-related illnesses during the summer heat, parasols will be rented free of charge from the district office and 17 community centers from the 25th of this month until September 30th. Named ‘Rainbow Parasol’ following the seven colors of the rainbow, a symbol of Seongdong-gu.
Just as anyone uses an umbrella when it rains, parasols are essential under the summer heat. Using a parasol blocks ultraviolet rays, preventing skin diseases and hair loss, and reduces the perceived temperature by about 7℃, making it bearable even under the scorching sun.
Any resident who needs a parasol while walking on asphalt roads exceeding 33℃ during summer can rent one. Bring an ID card and visit the district office or community center, fill out the management ledger, and return it after use. One parasol can be rented per person for up to 3 days. Additionally, managers will be assigned at each location to ensure smooth rental service.
Besides this, the district is making various efforts to prepare for the heatwave. To mitigate the urban heat island effect during heatwaves, road watering operations will be intensified. Currently, six road washing vehicles operate three times daily, including weekends. From August, two additional watering vehicles will be deployed, totaling eight vehicles in operation.
In addition to main arterial roads, watering will be regularly conducted daily around traditional markets and shopping districts within the area. Small watering vehicles will also be used to expand watering to school routes and multi-use facilities closely related to residents’ lives, creating cool street environments in every alley and corner.
Furthermore, 241 ‘Heat Relief Shelters’ including senior centers and community centers will be operated. This includes newly installed ‘Small Smart Shelters’ this year, providing spaces frequently used by residents not only for public transportation but also as everyday resting places. Also, four lodging facilities with 23 rooms will be operated as ‘Safe Accommodations’ until the end of August to help low-income elderly living alone or elderly couples in vulnerable housing environments spend tropical nights comfortably.
Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “After the long rainy season ends, we prepared the shared ‘Rainbow Parasol Rental’ service so that residents can spend the upcoming heatwave and tropical nights healthily and comfortably.” He added, “We will continue to develop and implement policies to protect residents from heatwaves, along with heat relief shelters and Seongdong Saemmul Warehouse.”
Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced the upcoming ‘Nowon Mask Festival,’ the district’s representative brand festival, after three years.
The Nowon Mask Festival has been held annually since 2013 every October along Nohae-ro in Nowon-gu (555m from Nowon Station Lotte Department Store to in front of Full Gospel Church). It is a parade-style festival centered on masks. The street performances and art shows have attracted about 300,000 spectators every year, filling the streets.
This year’s festival will be held over two days on October 8 and 9, themed ‘Dreaming of an Escape from Everyday Life.’ Since the festival was suspended due to COVID-19, the district announced recruitment for participants to lead the ‘2022 Nowon Mask Festival’ with higher-quality parade content after three years.
There are five recruitment categories: ▲Mask Parade Contest Teams ▲Mask Fashion Show Contest Teams ▲Opening Performance ‘Citizen Choir’ ▲Citizen Jury ▲SNS Reporters. Applications can be submitted via the Nowon Mask Festival website or by downloading the application form from the festival website and sending it by email.
Recruitment for Mask Parade Contest Teams
Teams are being recruited to participate in the ‘Mask Parade Contest,’ the festival’s representative program. Any genre capable of street parade performances using various masks such as traditional masks, creative masks, face masks, and face painting can participate, including dance, percussion, martial arts, etc.
There are three categories: ▲Local Dong/Silver (at least 50% of participants are residents or aged 65 and over) ▲Children/Youth (at least 80% of participants aged 19 or under) ▲University/General (no age limit). Preliminary and final rounds will be held during the festival with awards. The total prize money is 52.8 million KRW, with 3 million KRW for the Local Dong/Silver grand prize, 2 million KRW for Children/Youth grand prize, and 5 million KRW for University/General grand prize.
Applications are for teams, not individuals. Children/Youth teams must have at least 15 members, and the other two categories require at least 20 members. The application period is from July 11 to August 19, 6 PM.
Recruitment for Mask Fashion Show Contest Participants
Participants are being recruited for the new program ‘Mask Fashion Show Contest.’ Anyone who wants to showcase their unique mask and outfit charm on the runway can participate.
Applications can be individual or team-based with no limit on the number of participants. The total prize money is 6.5 million KRW, with 1 million KRW for the grand prize, 800,000 KRW for gold, and 600,000 KRW for silver. The application period is July 11 to August 19, 6 PM.
Recruitment for Citizen Choir Members
Recruiting the inspiring voices to open the Nowon Mask Festival. Anyone who loves music, regardless of age, or local choir clubs can participate.
About 200 members will be recruited, with rehearsals planned from August to September. Volunteer hours will be recognized for overall rehearsal and performance times during the activity period. The application period is July 11 to July 29, 6 PM.
Recruitment for Citizen Jury and SNS Reporters
For the 2022 Nowon Mask Festival’s main programs, Mask Parade and Mask Fashion Show, a ‘Citizen Jury’ will be formed alongside professional judges to ensure fairness and expand citizen participation. Additionally, SNS reporters will be recruited to widely share vivid and diverse festival news.
Both groups will be composed of 30 citizens each through document screening. The application period is July 11 to August 19, 6 PM, and successful candidates will be announced on August 24 on the festival website.
Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “We are putting great effort into making the Nowon Mask Festival, which was missed for two years due to COVID-19, bigger and more exciting.” He added, “We hope many people participate and freely express the passion and energy they have held back for a long time.”
Dirty trash bins near Hongdae street are being transformed into beautiful works of art.
Mapo-gu (Mayor Park Kang-soo) announced on the 25th that it will promote the ‘Adding Art to Hongdae Street’ project, which revitalizes damaged public facilities near Hongdae into art pieces.
This project aims to provide opportunities for artists struggling due to COVID-19 to create works while improving public facilities and pedestrian environments defaced by graffiti and other damage.
To this end, the district is recruiting 38 talented artists by the 26th to revive and exhibit 25 trash bins located between ‘Hongdae Walkable Street’ and ‘Hongik University Main Gate’ as art pieces.
The recruitment targets painters, calligraphers, and singer-songwriters. Singer-songwriters will provide lyrics for the art work, while calligraphers and painters will engrave the lyrics and paint their own works on the stained trash bins.
Applications can be submitted online by the 26th by filling out the consent form, application form, and other required documents.
Selected artists after expert review will carry out art work in September and receive materials and activity fees for production.
For more details, contact the Culture and Arts Division of Mapo-gu Office.
Park Kang-soo, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, “We hope this project will fill the unique Hongdae street with more vitality.” He added, “We will strive to become Mapo, a cultural tourism city full of food, sights, and entertainment.”
Guro-gu (Mayor Moon Heon-il) is implementing various programs to encourage employment among unemployed youth.
Guro-gu announced on the 25th that it is recruiting participants for the 4th Youth Challenge Support Project, Case Study Designer Class, and Online Entrepreneur Training Course.
The Youth Challenge Support Project helps young job seekers prepare for employment through counseling, self-exploration, and employment competency programs to support their entry into society.
The program operates 32 participants per session at ‘Youth Room’ and recruits by session until November 24.
Applications can be made on the Worknet website, and if online application is difficult, phone applications are also accepted. For offline applications, program details, and schedules, contact Youth Room.
Youths who complete the 4-week course including one-on-one counseling, group tracking, oil pastel drawing, career planning, and mock interviews will receive a challenge support fund of 200,000 KRW. Follow-up support such as linkage to the National Employment Support System is also planned.
Additionally, Youth Room operates the ‘Case Study Designer Class.’
It recruits 15 job seekers aged 19 to 34 aspiring to become designers. From September 3 to October 29, every Saturday, UI/UX, BX, and other design job case studies and practical courses will be conducted. Applications are accepted from August 1 to 28 via the Youth Room website.
Guro-gu is recruiting and selecting participants for the 2nd Online Customized Entrepreneur Training Course.
Ten Guro-gu residents wishing to start online businesses will receive consulting for personal branding and lectures on entrepreneurship using online platforms.
From August 1 to 29, education will be held every Monday and Thursday at the Public Activity Support Center, with additional weekly online special lectures and twice-monthly customized consulting available free of charge. Applications are accepted until the 29th of this month, and participants will be selected through interviews. For details, refer to the Guro-gu Office website.
A Guro-gu official said, “We hope this project will be very helpful to young people seeking employment.” He added, “We will continue to strive to implement various programs.”
Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) will hire three youths in three fields through the 4th public recruitment of the ‘2022 Ministry of the Interior and Safety Regional Youth Job Creation Project.’
The ‘Ministry of the Interior and Safety Regional Youth Job Creation Project’ discovers and provides suitable local jobs for youth, supporting economic activities and job competency enhancement, and offers various services needed by the region as youth jobs.
This year, jobs linked to regional specialization, social economy, and community contribution are being recruited to create a foundation for joint growth of the region and youth.
Applicants must be youth job seekers aged 19 to 39 as of January 1 this year. Priority is given to Eunpyeong-gu residents, and applicants can choose their desired field.
Applications are accepted until 6 PM on August 2 by visiting or emailing the Social Economy Division of Eunpyeong-gu Office. Detailed information is available on the district office website’s recruitment announcement.
Selected youths will work at companies in Eunpyeong from August 16 to December 31. They will receive a monthly salary of 2,232,960 KRW, the living wage of Eunpyeong-gu this year, along with four major social insurances and job competency training support.
Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, said, “This project will help local companies overcome the shortage of young workers and provide youth with opportunities to build job skills and grow as key members of the community with broad perspectives and experience.”
Yeongdeungpo-gu (Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) announced that it will provide loan support from the Small and Medium Business Development Fund up to 200 million KRW per company to local small business owners and SMEs struggling due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.
This support project aims to assist local businesses facing management crises due to rising raw material prices and shrinking domestic markets. Following the loan support measures implemented in February this year, an additional 2 billion KRW will be provided in the second half of the year.
Eligible applicants are small business owners or SMEs registered in Yeongdeungpo-gu in manufacturing, knowledge industry, information and communication industry, etc.
If there are many applicants, priority will be given to ▲businesses with factory registration in Yeongdeungpo-gu ▲businesses registered in Yeongdeungpo-gu with factory registration in Seoul ▲tenants of Yeongdeungpo-gu SME Startup Support Center. However, those currently repaying loans from the Yeongdeungpo-gu Small and Medium Business Development Fund as of the loan support plan announcement date, businesses in luxury, entertainment, nightlife, or decadent industries, and financial, insurance, real estate, pension industries are excluded.
Loan amounts are up to 200 million KRW per company for SMEs in manufacturing, knowledge, and information communication industries and small business owners, and up to 50 million KRW for other self-employed and small business owners.
Funds will be provided under conditions of a 1-year grace period and 4-year equal installment repayment. Especially, to alleviate the burden on small business owners and SMEs hit hard by various factors, interest will be waived until 2022.
Companies wishing to apply should check collateral capacity (real estate, credit guarantee) at Woori Bank Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Branch and Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation Yeongdeungpo Branch, then visit the Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Job Economy Division from July 25 to August 17 to apply.
After reviewing submitted documents and on-site investigations to confirm suitability, the Yeongdeungpo-gu Small and Medium Business Development Fund Operation Committee will review and decide the final support recipients and amounts in August. Selected companies can receive loan support as early as early September.
For more details, search ‘Small and Medium Business Development Fund’ on the Yeongdeungpo-gu Office website or contact the Job Economy Division.
Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, said, “We are providing interest-free loan support to help local SMEs and small business owners regain strength and recover.” He added, “We will do our best to prepare proactive responses and support measures so that local SMEs and small business owners, the backbone of the local economy, can wisely overcome the crisis.”
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