Seongbuk-gu Office Baramdang COVID-19 Temporary Screening Clinic Reopens

[Seoul District News] Seongbuk-gu Reactivates Barammadang COVID-19 Temporary Screening Clinic After About 50 Days & Operates from July 29 Until Situation is Lifted & Four Notables (Kim Daesik, Choi Jaebung, Lee Seula, Lee Dongjin) Visit Seongbuk-gu Schools for Notable Career Lectures ... Gwangjin Innovation Education Youth e-Sports Tournament Held

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) has resumed operation of the Seongbuk-gu Office Baramdang Screening Clinic. It has been about 50 days since the suspension in June. This operation will continue until the situation is lifted.

The screening clinic operates on weekdays and Sundays from 1 PM to 9 PM. No tests are conducted from 5 PM to 6 PM for disinfection and staff rest, and it is closed on Saturdays and public holidays.

The testing targets are PCR priority test subjects, including ▲elderly aged 60 and over ▲those with epidemiological links ▲preemptive testing at vulnerable facilities ▲those who test positive on rapid antigen emergency screening ▲and those who require COVID-19 testing based on a doctor's opinion within medical institutions.

Previously, Seongbuk-gu installed temporary screening clinics at Seongbuk-gu Office Baramdang and Gireum Station and conducted tests, but due to the downgrade of the COVID-19 infectious disease level and the decrease in new confirmed cases, all operations were suspended between May and June, and PCR tests have been conducted only at the Seongbuk-gu Public Health Center screening clinic.

Lee Seung-ro, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu, said, “We decided to resume operation of the temporary screening clinic at Seongbuk-gu Office Baramdang to prepare for the increase in tests due to the summer surge in confirmed cases.” He added, “Although the number of testers is not as high as before, with the upcoming peak vacation season and concerns about infection spread, we will thoroughly maintain quarantine measures, prevent public health gaps in advance, and make every effort to protect the local community and residents' safety.”

Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) will hold a total of four ‘Celebrity Career Special Lectures’ visiting schools for high school students in the district from August 26 to October 26.

This special lecture series is a special career lecture for all grades, where four leading figures in their fields (▲Kim Dae-sik ▲Choi Jae-bung ▲Lee Seul-ah ▲Lee Dong-jin) visit schools directly to help local high school students who find it difficult to pursue their dreams due to the exam-focused education environment.

The district selected topics highly preferred by high school students, such as overcoming COVID-19 and responding to future society, and invited four celebrities reflecting public recognition. Applications are accepted by each school until the 12th. The lectures provide students with opportunities to glimpse the celebrities’ accumulated experiences, spirit of challenge, overcoming difficulties, and sharp insights into the times.

The lecture schedule is ▲August 26: KAIST Professor Kim Dae-sik, author of ‘Metaverse Sapiens,’ on ‘Humanity in the Age of AI and Metaverse Exploration’ ▲August 30: Adventurer Lee Dong-jin, featured on ‘CBS 15 Minutes to Change the World,’ on ‘Only Those Who Act Can Achieve Their Dreams’ ▲October 19: Sungkyunkwan University Professor Choi Jae-bung, author of ‘Phono Sapiens,’ on ‘Landing on the New Digital Continent 2022: Three Things to Change in the Metaverse Era’ ▲October 26: Writer Lee Seul-ah, featured on ‘MBC Anyway to Work,’ on ‘The Joy and Sorrow of Being a Writer ? About the Writing Profession.’

After the lectures, a Q&A session will be held to help high school students with practical career planning.

Lee Seung-ro, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu, said, “I hope our students will gain motivation to wisely respond to future societal changes and cultivate their careers through communication with leading figures in various fields.”

Applications for the special lectures can be made by each school, and detailed information can be obtained by contacting the Youth Future Support Center.

Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Kyung-ho) held the finals of the ‘Youth e-Sports Tournament’ on July 30 at the Gwangjin-gu Office auditorium.

The ‘Youth e-Sports Tournament’ is part of the Gwangjin Innovation Education District project, aimed at developing youth talents and strengthening their self-directed cultural capabilities.

Since 2015, the district has organically cooperated among the local community (private), district office and education support office (public), and schools (academic) to build the Gwangjin Innovation Education District, fostering children and youth as key actors in schools and communities, providing diverse educational environments and content.

Youth participants from local middle and high schools formed teams of five members each and competed in the game LOL (League of Legends) as the tournament event.

Preliminary matches were held online from July 23 to 24, with 32 teams and 160 participants playing from their chosen locations. The matches were conducted in a best-of-three, double-elimination tournament format, selecting four teams for the finals.

On July 30, the four finalist teams, totaling 20 players, competed offline in single matches at the Gwangjin-gu Office auditorium. The final match between the top two teams was conducted in a best-of-three format. All matches were live-streamed on YouTube, and all finalists from first to fourth place received individual trophies as prizes.

Various side events enriched the tournament experience. Participants enjoyed multiple e-sports experiences such as ▲retro game consoles, ▲DIY diffuser making for mental relaxation, and ▲celebratory performances during stage setup breaks after the semifinals, providing additional enjoyment.

Kim Kyung-ho, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, said, “We expect the ‘e-Sports Tournament’ to further expand opportunities for intergenerational communication and empathy between participating students and their supporting parents.” He added, “We will continue to strive to create a wholesome festival where the whole family can participate together.”