[Seoul District News] Gwangjin-gu Recognized for Efficient Use of District-Owned Properties Including Single-Person Household Community Center, Gwangjin Economic Hub Center, and K-Innovation Station, and for Customized Property Management Reflecting District Characteristics and Resident Needs... Yeongdeungpo-gu Receives Prime Minister's Commendation as the Only Seoul District for Leading Traditional Market Environment Improvement and Nationwide First Non-Face-to-Face Group Purchase Project... Yangcheon-gu Moksarang Market Awarded Minister of SMEs and Startups Commendation for Traditional Market Revitalization... Gangdong-gu
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Kyung-ho) was awarded the ‘Excellence Award’ at the ‘2022 Local Government Shared Property Awards’ hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and organized by the Local Finance Guarantee Fund.
The ‘2022 Local Government Shared Property Awards’ selects awardees through evaluations by shared property experts on excellent cases of management and utilization of shared properties among 243 local governments nationwide.
Notably, Gwangjin-gu was the only district among the 25 autonomous districts of Seoul to receive this award, highlighting its leading role in managing shared properties in Seoul.
The district received high scores in categories such as ▲local government efforts ▲originality ▲collaboration by focusing on ‘Gwangjin-gu’s characteristics and resident demand-tailored shared property management’ to respond to structural changes in rapidly evolving society and provide various benefits to residents.
Gwangjin-gu has about 48% of households as single-person households, which have become an important family form. Reflecting this characteristic, the district began construction of the ‘Gwangjin-gu Single-Person Household Support Center,’ an integrated support space for single-person households, utilizing donated land in Jayang-dong.
Additionally, by utilizing donated land of the Gwangjin Economic Hub Center, the district integrated the operation of the Startup Support Center and the Gwangjin Economic Hub Center, establishing a harmonious support system for startup companies and promising growth enterprises.
Along with this, the creation of the startup space ‘K-Innovation Station’ through university resources and public support, improvements to resident inconveniences such as fence installation and green space creation, and on-site investigations of shared properties unsuitable for preservation, all contributed to positive evaluations for shared property management that communicates with residents.
At the event, Gae-yeon Gu, the district official who attended as the presenter and led the achievement of the Excellence Award, expressed joy over the award, saying, “I feel rewarded to introduce the achievements that staff have silently accomplished through hard work for residents and the development of the district nationwide.”
Kim Kyung-ho, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, said, “Through efficient management of the district’s shared properties, we have strived not only to stabilize the district’s finances but also to provide many benefits to residents. We will continue to actively utilize shared properties in line with changing times and the development direction of Gwangjin-gu to create a happy Gwangjin-gu for residents.”
Yeongdeungpo-gu (Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) announced that it was honored with the ‘Prime Minister’s Commendation’ as an excellent institution in the ‘2022 Traditional Market and Shopping District Revitalization Merit Awards’ hosted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.
The ‘Traditional Market and Shopping District Revitalization Merit Awards’ is a meaningful award given to organizations and individuals who have implemented excellent policies to revitalize traditional markets and shopping districts and have actively cooperated and coexisted with merchant associations.
This award was selected through thorough on-site verification and public evaluation of policies implemented from 2020 to 2022 to promote traditional markets and shopping districts, based on recommendations from local governments, excellent markets, and merchants nationwide, followed by evaluation by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups’ merit review committee.
Yeongdeungpo-gu was highly recognized for its contribution to pioneering improvements in traditional market environments and promoting non-face-to-face joint purchasing projects, achieving the remarkable feat of being the only autonomous district in Seoul to receive the Prime Minister’s Commendation.
The district actively led the revitalization of traditional markets by investing 17.8 billion KRW over three years in projects such as ▲overcrowded street vendor regulation through communication and consultation ▲arcade construction and signboard improvement ▲installation of CCTV, fire safety facilities, and ventilation systems, aiming for a new leap forward for traditional markets.
In particular, the disorderly overcrowded street vendors in Yeongdeungpo Traditional Market were cleanly regulated for the first time in 60 years based on communication and coexistence, and Yeongdeungpo Wholesale Market was transformed into a pedestrian-friendly market, revitalizing the depressed traditional markets through cooperation with merchants based on the value of coexistence.
Moreover, the district pioneered non-face-to-face joint purchasing with local traditional market merchant associations for three years starting from the 2020 Chuseok holiday, recording about 500 million KRW in sales, overcoming the crisis of traditional markets caused by COVID-19 and strengthening merchants’ self-sustainability.
Additionally, the district’s achievements include ▲proactive response to prevent the spread of COVID-19 ▲discovery of differentiated policies unique to Yeongdeungpo-gu considering the depressed local economy ▲promotion of projects to strengthen market merchants’ capabilities, contributing in various ways to market revitalization.
Going forward, the district plans to actively support the creation of safe and vibrant markets through traditional market facility and management modernization projects such as ▲repairing old electrical wiring ▲creating customer rest areas and traditional market parking lots ▲customized promotion for each market.
Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, said, “This Prime Minister’s Commendation is the fruit of efforts blossomed through active communication and consultation with merchants. We will continue to actively cooperate with merchants and implement practical policies to revive the depressed traditional markets.”
Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Lee Ki-jae) is gaining attention as its traditional market revitalization support projects have borne shining fruit through awards.
The district announced that Moksarang Market received the Minister of SMEs and Startups Award in the excellent market category at the 2022 Traditional Market and Shopping District Revitalization Merit Awards.
The Traditional Market and Shopping District Revitalization Merit Awards is a system by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups that annually discovers and awards outstanding merchants, markets, and organizations contributing to the revitalization of traditional markets and shopping districts.
This year, following Moksarang Market’s receipt of the Minister of SMEs and Startups Award in the excellent market group, Kim Dong-yong, chairman of the Shinyeong Market Merchant Association, also received the Presidential Commendation in the individual merit category, marking a double celebration.
Last year, Moksarang Market promoted a cultural tourism-type project, one of Yangcheon-gu’s traditional market support projects, conducting live commerce with real-time mutual communication during live broadcasts and reorganizing SNS, finding answers for market promotion and non-face-to-face sales channels even amid the COVID-19 situation. Furthermore, with the district’s support, it established an online joint delivery system comparable to supermarkets, overcoming the limitations of traditional markets that mainly relied on in-person purchases and achieving increased sales.
Meanwhile, Shinyeong Market is conducting unique promotional activities using SNS-based mobile marketing, its own brand ‘Unmatched Shinyeong Market,’ and the mascot ‘Daldori.’ It is also transforming into an eco-friendly market by introducing ESG management such as reducing single-use plastic bag usage and selling upcycled products.
Besides the cultural tourism-type project and joint delivery service project, the district is focusing on revitalizing 11 traditional markets in the area through various management modernization projects such as the market management package project. It is also working to enhance user convenience by constructing (repairing) arcades, customer support centers, and customer parking lots. Additionally, it supports facility improvements such as repairing old electrical wiring and installing CCTV, fire prevention, and fire alarm facilities to build safe traditional markets.
Lee Ki-jae, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, said, “I sincerely congratulate Moksarang Market and Shinyeong Market for their excellent achievements in the Traditional Market Revitalization Merit Awards. We will continue to spare no support so that Yangcheon-gu’s traditional markets can secure competitiveness through facility improvements and innovative management modernization projects.”
Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Soo-hee) announced on the 30th that it won the grand prize for ‘Daytime Senior Center, Evening Children’s Love Room “Kkum Miso”’ at the 7th Korea Healthy City Awards Contest 2022 hosted by the Korea Healthy Cities Partnership (KHCP).
The ‘Korea Healthy City Awards’ is the only domestic healthy city contest that annually discovers and awards excellent healthy city cases among 101 member cities of metropolitan and basic local governments belonging to the Korea Healthy Cities Partnership.
‘Kkum Miso,’ meaning ‘dream’ and ‘smile,’ is a shared space that functions as a senior center during the day and as a children and youth-only space from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. after seniors return home. It is an open space available to all children and youth under 18 years old, excluding infants.
The grand prize-winning project, ‘Daytime Senior Center, Evening Children’s Love Room “Kkum Miso,”’ is an excellent case of a 1st and 3rd generation shared innovation project to support children’s healthy growth and resolve care blind spots, realized by linking private resources to create a child-friendly healthy city in Gangdong-gu, responding to residents’ wishes for dedicated children and youth activity spaces.
In installing up to the 12th Kkum Miso branch, the district held explanatory meetings with various residents, including seniors using the senior centers and child welfare experts, to sufficiently collect opinions and persuade stakeholders to enhance understanding of the project.
Also, unlike other children and youth facilities, Kkum Miso is established as a user-led space where children and youth using the facility propose and plan desired programs through monthly autonomous meetings.
Lee Soo-hee, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, said, “I thank everyone who helped create Kkum Miso, a safe indoor space where children and youth can freely engage in activities. I hope it will help form a culture of healthy growth and active participation and foster understanding and communication between generations.”
Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) announced on the 29th that it won the ‘Grand Prize’ in the climate change response policy category at the 2022 Korea Healthy City Awards Contest held by the Korea Healthy Cities Partnership (KHCP).
Seongdong-gu participated in the contest with the theme of the ‘Seongdong-style Waste Reduction (Zero Waste) Project,’ a resource circulation policy to achieve carbon neutrality, incorporating the ‘Seongdong-style ESG’ policy aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 46.8% by 2030 compared to 2018.
In the environmental (E) category, the district highlighted achievements such as ▲operation of resource recovery centers and improvement of recycling rates (72% in 2021, a 17% increase from the previous year) ▲operation of 112 Seongdong Purumi recycling stations in residential areas ▲Seongdong-style coffee grounds recycling. In the social participation (S) and governance (G) categories, it was recognized for ▲climate change education and green leader training ▲hosting the ‘One and Only Earth’ experience event ▲forming networks among local governments.
The Korea Healthy Cities Partnership (KHCP) annually conducts contests among 101 member cities of metropolitan and basic local governments to select exemplary cases for promoting healthy cities.
The award ceremony was held on September 29 at the ‘16th Korea Healthy Cities Partnership General Assembly’ in Chungju City, where Seongdong-gu, as the grand prize-winning city, presented its excellent case and exhibited posters, showcasing its healthy city status.
Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “Seongdong-gu has been recognized as Korea’s top healthy city by winning awards six times from 2016 to this year. We will continue to actively respond to crises such as climate and environmental changes to create a sustainable healthy city.”
Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi) signed a business agreement with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Research and Information Center on the afternoon of the 29th to bridge the gap in career and college admission information for local students.
The main contents of the agreement include revitalizing the operation of admission programs and providing professional personnel and admission information necessary for operation. Since May last year, the district has been operating one-on-one admission consulting and visiting admission support programs with the cooperation of the Education Research Information Center.
Ryu Kyung-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, said, “Thanks to the efforts of the researchers at the Education Research Information Center, many local students have received great help from the admission programs. We will continue to expand related programs to support students and parents with their major concerns about career paths and college admissions.”
Dobong-gu (Mayor Oh Eun-seok) was selected on the 29th as the first autonomous district in Seoul to be designated an ‘Environmental Education City’ by the Ministry of Environment.
The ‘Environmental Education City Designation System’ is a system by the Ministry of Environment to designate regions with excellent environmental education promotion bases among metropolitan and basic local governments (cities, counties, districts) nationwide, aiming to activate local-based environmental education under the Act on Activation and Support of Environmental Education (enforced January 6, 2022).
A total of 17 local governments (4 metropolitan, 13 basic) applied for the Environmental Education City designation contest held from May 23 to July 22 this year. The evaluation focused on ▲vision and foundation for environmental education city ▲appropriateness of environmental education plans ▲faithfulness in plan implementation, and final cities were selected through document review and on-site evaluation by an evaluation committee composed of the Ministry of Education, UNESCO Korea Committee, and related experts.
The Dobong-gu Regional Environmental Education Center holds 17 ‘Excellent Environmental Education Programs’ designated by the Ministry of Environment and received high scores for resident participation education programs such as ‘Dobong-gu Zero C’ (photo), a lifestyle-based practical education involving all residents.
With this designation, the district will receive administrative and financial support from the Ministry of Environment for three years (October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2025) for developing and distributing environmental education materials and content, operating region-specific environmental education courses, and more.
Oh Eun-seok, Mayor of Dobong-gu, said, “This designation as an Environmental Education City by the Ministry of Environment will be the foundation for change, growth, and the future of Dobong. We will strive to lead residents to actively practice environmental conservation and carbon neutrality in daily life through environmental education.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
