[Seoul District News] Yangcheon-gu to Hold 'Vibrant Youth! Cultural Festival Together' on September 30 for the 26th Senior Citizens' Day After 3 Years & Facility Repairs and Environmental Improvements Planned for Private Senior Centers Previously Excluded from Support & Positive Feedback on Senior Education Programs at Jangsu Culture University and Mokdong Senior Smart Education Center & Baekse Care Health Center Gains Attention for Detailed Care Services Including Dementia-Safe Shoes Distribution and Free Cognitive Screening... Seongheon Lee, Seodaemun-gu Mayor, to Employ 30 Temporary Workers for One Hour Starting 6 AM on October 4
Last Chuseok, Lee Gi-jae, Mayor of Yangcheon District, personally visited the senior citizens' community center.
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Lee Gi-jae), leading the age-friendly city movement, is gaining attention as its ambitious customized policies for the elderly shine even brighter on the occasion of the 26th Senior Citizens' Day (October 2).
On September 30, the district will hold the 'Vibrant Youth! Cultural Festival Together,' the first Senior Citizens' Day event in three years, at the Yangcheon Cultural Center Grand Theater. The festival offers a lively and enjoyable stage featuring welfare center performances with direct participation from seniors, fusion gugak (traditional Korean music), trot music, a samtaegi medley, and a 'Better Yangcheon Experience Booth.'
Yangcheon-gu's policies filled with love for seniors do not stop there. Improvements to senior centers, where many spend much of their day, have also been prioritized. Mayor Lee Gi-jae personally visited 45 senior centers to listen to on-site complaints and promptly addressed minor environmental improvement requests such as replacing food waste bins and TVs and installing water purifiers. Going forward, the district plans to sequentially carry out replacement of aging facilities and environmental improvement works (including sinks, wallpaper, flooring, and restrooms) at private senior centers with poor conditions to create safe and comfortable leisure spaces for the elderly.
The senior-friendly educational programs are also receiving positive reviews. The 'Yangcheon Longevity Culture University,' a senior-specialized project first launched nationwide in 2004 by Yangcheon-gu, is a representative longevity program popular in the region, having produced 20,153 graduates since its inception. It supports a vibrant old age by offering diverse curricula that meet seniors' learning desires.
The 'Mokdong Senior Smart Education Center,' aimed at bridging the digital divide and barriers for the elderly generation, is also operating successfully. Opened in May at the Mokdong Kkaebi Market customer parking lot & education center, the center provides education on kiosks, smartphone basics, and lifestyle app usage for seniors aged 55 and older. Courses utilizing core technologies of the 4th industrial revolution, such as metaverse VR experiences, cognitive enhancement games with AI robots, and one-person broadcasting, are also very popular among seniors.
Meticulous care services for healthy aging have not been overlooked. The Hundred-Year Health Care Team, composed of doctors, nurses, nutritionists, occupational therapists, and social workers, visits vulnerable groups such as those with chronic diseases and mobility difficulties through the 'Hundred-Year Care Health Center,' playing a vital role as the community health doctor in the age-friendly era.
Additionally, the district operates various specialized projects for the increasing number of dementia patients in the aging era through the Dementia Safety Center. It produces and distributes 'Safe Shoes' to prevent missing incidents among dementia patients, focusing on securing the golden time in case of disappearance. The Safe Shoes, equipped with built-in GPS, allow real-time tracking of seniors' whereabouts, becoming a reliable support in the care process.
Free cognitive screening tests are also conducted for residents aged 60 and above for early detection and management of dementia. For those who have difficulty visiting due to age or mobility issues, on-site services are available year-round at senior centers, welfare centers, and community centers for convenient testing.
Mayor Lee Gi-jae of Yangcheon-gu said, "The city we dream of, where seniors are happy, is one where they can actively participate and communicate in the community without inconveniences related to age," adding, "We will continue to strive ceaselessly to become a leading city in the age-friendly era by constantly considering what customized policies and services are truly needed for seniors."
Seodaemun-gu Mayor Lee Seong-heon will conduct a cleaning operation with about 30 temporary cleaning workers on October 4 from 6 a.m. for about an hour along approximately 1.5 km in the Hongje-dong area as part of implementing 'CLEAN Seodaemun-gu.'
They will focus on ▲ cleaning alleyway surfaces, sidewalks, and pedestrian paths ▲ collecting illegally dumped waste ▲ managing habitual illegal dumping areas.
They will also carry out a 'Proper Waste Disposal Campaign,' informing residents about the days for household waste disposal and methods for separating recyclables.
Before the cleaning, Mayor Lee will hold a meeting to empathize with the workers' efforts and listen to their difficulties to improve working conditions.
The district has assigned 1 to 3 temporary cleaning workers per each of the 14 neighborhoods to promptly handle cleaning complaints and focuses on managing back alleys, side roads, and vulnerable areas.
Furthermore, the district office's illegal dumping crackdown team, cleaning mobile units, and community center staff share information through a communication channel to promptly resolve household waste complaints and strengthen illegal dumping enforcement, accelerating the creation of a pleasant residential environment.
Mayor Lee Seong-heon said, "I thank the environmental officers and temporary cleaning workers who work hard, especially during the autumn leaf collection season, and ask for the participation and cooperation of residents for a clean and pleasant Seodaemun-gu."
Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) and Seokyeong University held the opening ceremony of the 'K-Beauty Makeup Expert Training Academy,' which operates to nurture K-beauty talents and support youth employment and entrepreneurship, on the 24th at Seokyeong University's Yudam Hall.
The 'K-Beauty Makeup Expert Training Academy' runs for eight weeks from September 24 to November 13, targeting youth in Seongbuk-gu. Students receive practical training aimed at obtaining the national beautician (makeup) certification at Seokyeong University's College of Beauty Arts, which boasts the largest beauty infrastructure in Korea.
At the opening ceremony, the academy curriculum and national certification acquisition procedures were introduced. Kwak Jeong-sook, head of the Job Economy Division of Seongbuk-gu Office, said, "Through the academy, students will be able to gain competitiveness as future makeup artists," adding, "Seongbuk-gu will continue to make various efforts to support youth employment and entrepreneurship and nurture beauty talents."
Yoon Young-ran, dean of the College of Beauty Arts at Seokyeong University, also encouraged the students, saying, "In the era of multiple jobs, Seongbuk youth will have various career opportunities, and I congratulate you on taking the first step as makeup artists."
Seongbuk-gu provides the entire academy course free of charge. Furthermore, by utilizing Seokyeong University's beauty network, continuous mentoring and follow-up management will be provided to form connections for employment at local beauty shops, wedding shops, and other beauty businesses.
Mayor Lee Seung-ro of Seongbuk-gu said, "I expect that through the K-Beauty Makeup Expert Academy, Seongbuk youth will strengthen their technical capabilities to thrive in the K-beauty industry, which is growing alongside K-POP and the Korean Wave."
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