[Seoul District News] Yangcheon-gu Awards 3 Residents for Outstanding Efforts in Reporting, Rescue, and Recovery During August Heavy Rain ▲ Sinwol-dong Sisters Jo Hyun-jo and Jo Hyang-ok Immediately Reported Sinkhole, Evacuated Residents Door-to-Door ▲ Sinwol-dong Native Yuk Wan-ho Provided Accurate Pipe Location and Infrastructure Guidance for Recovery ▲ Sinjeong-dong Kim Seong-hwan Discovered Road Subsurface Void on Commute, Prevented Major Accident ... Dongdaemun-gu Holds Street Vendor Improvement Advisory Committee Inauguration and Meeting on 20th ...
Citizens Honored for Exemplary Service During Rescue Operations Amid Heavy Rainfall (From left: Jo Hyang-ok, Lee Ki-jae Yangcheon District Mayor, Yuk Wan-ho, Kim Seong-hwan)
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Lee Gi-jae) announced on the 19th that it awarded commendations to three citizen heroes who played a crucial role in protecting their neighbors during the record-breaking heavy rain that struck the central region on August 8.
On the late night of August 8, when the torrential rain was pouring down, sisters Cho Hyun-jo (49) and Cho Hyang-ok (40), residents of Sinwol-dong, heard unusual noises from the parking lot in front of their house and went outside to find the ground sinking. The younger sister immediately reported the situation to the fire station and police station, while the older sister called the owners to move four parked vehicles.
As the ground subsidence worsened over time, the sisters visited 35 households in the adjacent row houses, knocking on doors to quickly guide residents to evacuate. After confirming that all neighbors had safely evacuated and that the district office had begun restoration work, the sisters quietly left the scene.
Subsequently, the district office worked tirelessly day and night on restoration at the site, enabling all residents to return home five days after evacuation. The early completion of restoration was made possible with the help of neighbor Yuk Wan-ho (70). A longtime native of Sinwol-dong, Mr. Yuk accurately remembered the locations of various infrastructure and underground household sewage pipes better than the official maps held by agencies, greatly assisting the district office restoration team in reconstructing the site.
Additionally, on August 17, Kim Seong-hwan (63) of Sinjeong-dong prevented a major accident by promptly reporting a pothole caused by the heavy rain. While driving to work, Mr. Kim noticed a hole in the road surface, got out immediately, and used his phone’s flashlight to inspect the hole, discovering an underground cavity. He reported it right away, and the related district office department completed the repair work within a day. This close call, which could have led to road subsidence, was averted thanks to the resident’s keen observation and concern for neighbors by reporting the pothole instead of ignoring it.
A Yangcheon-gu official stated, “This commendation is to encourage and express gratitude to residents who showed courageous actions risking their own safety to protect their neighbors in urgent and dangerous flood situations.”
Yangcheon-gu Mayor Lee Gi-jae said, “Even in desperate situations, citizen heroes who stepped forward for their neighbors gave us hope and strength to rise again. We will do our utmost to establish a systematic disaster response and preparedness system so that Yangcheon-gu can be a safe place for all.”
Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Lee Pil-hyung) held the appointment ceremony and the 1st meeting of the Dongdaemun-gu Street Vendor Management Advisory Group at the Dongdaemun-gu Office at 2 p.m. on the 20th.
The meeting proceeded with the presentation of appointment letters, deliberation on the direction of street vendor management, and discussion of current issues.
Composed of experts and stakeholders from various fields including politicians, legal professionals, academia, and civic groups, the advisory group will continue to support resolving issues related to street vendor management through future meetings.
Dongdaemun-gu Mayor Lee Pil-hyung stated, “With the rapid development around Cheongnyangni Station, we have taken the first step to improve urban environment and secure pedestrian rights for residents by managing street vendors. We plan to continue holding advisory group meetings and vendor association meetings to mediate conflicts among stakeholders and reach consensus.”
Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) has prepared a supplementary budget of 52 billion KRW for the first supplementary budget of the 8th administration, aimed at supporting socially vulnerable groups and enhancing urban competitiveness, and submitted it to the district council on the 16th.
The supplementary budget resources were secured through the net surplus from the 2021 fiscal year settlement, general adjustment grants, national and city subsidies, and adjustments of expected unused expenditure budgets.
This supplementary budget was prepared to establish a financial foundation to advance the 8th administration’s vision, “Center of Tomorrow, Changing Eunpyeong.” By securing matching district funds in line with government and Seoul city supplementary budgets, the goal is to realize a welfare city in Eunpyeong that embraces all residents.
The total supplementary budget amount is 52 billion KRW. The main focus areas are ▲support for socially vulnerable groups (8.4 billion KRW), ▲improving resident convenience and urban competitiveness (9 billion KRW), and ▲creating a safe environment for disaster prevention (6 billion KRW).
In the “Support for Socially Vulnerable Groups” sector, 8.4 billion KRW is allocated to actively accompany the vulnerable. This includes national emergency welfare support projects for low-income households facing crises such as livelihood difficulties, disability activity support for independent living and social participation, and budgets to ensure smooth support for child allowances expanded to children under 8 years old. Additionally, safe job projects for unemployed and daily workers and support for infertility treatment costs in response to low birth rates and aging society are included to reduce residents’ economic burdens and help build happy families.
The “Resident Convenience and Urban Competitiveness Enhancement” sector is allocated 9 billion KRW. Strategic investments will be made in ongoing projects such as creating a unique dog playground exclusive to Eunpyeong-gu, constructing the Yeokchon-dong Administrative Welfare Town to improve resident convenience, and building a complex cultural facility on the registry office site to meet residents’ cultural and leisure demands.
For “Disaster Prevention and Safe Environment Creation,” 6 billion KRW is allocated. Priority will be given to restoring facilities directly related to resident safety, such as collapsed retaining walls, roads, and hazardous trees damaged by last month’s heavy rain. The district will also proactively respond to protect residents’ lives and property from various disasters by promoting the Urban Safety Comprehensive Facility Construction Project, ensuring all residents can live safely and comfortably.
Eunpyeong-gu Mayor Kim Mi-kyung said, “Through this supplementary budget, we will support livelihood stabilization and daily life recovery and continue efforts to accompany socially vulnerable groups. Once the budget is approved, we will proceed with follow-up procedures as quickly as possible to ensure immediate effects of the projects.”
Guro-gu (Mayor Moon Heon-il) will designate Oryu 2-dong as the “3rd Dementia Safe Village.”
Guro-gu announced on the 20th, “To create a community where dementia patients, their families, and local residents can live together through a correct understanding of dementia, Oryu 2-dong will be designated as a Dementia Safe Village. This is the third designation following Gocheok 2-dong in 2018 and Sugung-dong in 2019, and full-scale operations will begin.”
The district selected Oryu 2-dong as the 3rd Dementia Safe Village because it had the largest elderly population as of last year and was deemed in need of a dementia-friendly environment.
First, a “Dementia Care Governance” linked with the local community will be established. Public institutions, welfare centers, local residents, and families of dementia patients will form a Dementia Safe Village Operation Committee to discuss specific operational directions.
Institutions actively participating in dementia awareness improvement projects will receive a “Dementia Overcoming Leading Institution” certification plaque, and shops will be encouraged to join the “Dementia Safe Embrace” initiative to create an environment where dementia patients can live with peace of mind.
Dementia screening opportunities will be provided to seniors aged 60 and over who use senior centers, helping early detection of dementia, along with dementia prevention programs.
Education on behavioral characteristics and response methods for dementia patients will be provided to public institutions and residents, along with promotional activities to raise interest and improve awareness about dementia.
The district recently completed the “Memory Strong Park” in Sugung-dong, the 2nd Dementia Safe Village. Located within Onsu Sports Park, the “Memory Strong Park” was created to provide easy access to dementia information and program experiences for various age groups using the park.
The park features information boards about dementia management projects and prevention guidelines operated by the Guro-gu Dementia Safety Center, pamphlets, and a cognitive experience zone with self-diagnosis tests, matching games, maze finding, and Yutnori boards to check memory and concentration.
Every Thursday from 10 to 11 a.m., an outdoor exercise program called “Nilliri Manbo” is held for seniors. Exercise therapists from the Guro-gu Dementia Safety Center guide proper walking methods and cognitive exercises to prevent dementia.
A Guro-gu official said, “In this aging era, it is necessary to recognize dementia as a social phenomenon and for community members to actively respond together. We will do our best to create a community atmosphere where dementia patients can live safely and comfortably.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
