Seongdong-gu 'Delivery' Specialty Restaurant Comprehensive Hygiene Inspection

[Seoul District News] Seongdong-gu Conducts Hygiene Inspections for Delivery-Only Restaurants Not Separately Classified by Law Until End of October & Publishes Hygiene Excellence Businesses Year-Round on District Website with Plaque Provision & Supports Promotion via Newsletter and Website ... Nowon-gu Provides Subsidies for Unemployed Youth Aged 19-34 Using Local Study Cafes and Reading Rooms ... Gangdong-gu to Issue Additional 3 Billion Won Gangdong Bitsal Money on 17th at 10:00 AM ... Seongbuk-gu Gireum Comprehensive Social Welfare Center ‘2021 Senior Job and Social Activity’

Seongdong-gu Panorama

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) announced that it will conduct a full survey and inspection of over 5,000 food service establishments specializing in delivery by the end of October to manage hygiene.

Recently, with the widespread use of delivery apps and changes in dining culture trends, the demand for delivery food is increasing day by day. Along with this, hygiene issues related to delivery restaurants have been continuously raised. However, delivery restaurants have not been separately classified under the Food Sanitation Act, making management difficult until now.

Accordingly, Seongdong-gu will conduct a full survey of over 5,000 food service establishments to identify and manage restaurants specializing in delivery without dining spaces. Since consumers rarely have the chance to see the business premises of delivery-only restaurants and many are insufficient in hygiene management, this inspection aims to improve these issues and alleviate the public’s anxiety.

The first full survey will be completed by October 14, and a second hygiene inspection focusing on business operators’ compliance and food hygiene handling standards will be conducted on delivery-only restaurants by the end of October. Minor violations found during inspections will be corrected on-site, while establishments violating the Food Sanitation Act will face administrative sanctions.

On the other hand, for establishments with excellent hygiene conditions, with the consent of the owners, photos and videos of kitchen hygiene will be publicly available year-round on the district’s website. Additionally, a “Kitchen Open Delivery Restaurant” signboard will be provided, and promotion through newsletters and the website will be supported.

Mr. Kim, a representative of an establishment participating in the kitchen open project, expressed pride, saying, “Confidently opening the kitchen shows that the restaurant cares about hygiene and builds trust. Customers will order from delivery restaurants that disclose their kitchens if the menu is the same.”

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “The kitchen open project for delivery-only restaurants is expected to raise awareness among food service operators and contribute to improving food culture. We will do our best to expand participating establishments and create an environment where small business owners can increase sales and residents can safely enjoy quality food.”

Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it will expand and extend youth support projects that received positive responses from local youth this year until the end of the year.

First, the “Study Cafe and Reading Room Use Voucher Support Project” to encourage job-seeking activities of unemployed youth in the area will be expanded.

This project was separated as an independent project from one of the benefits of the “Nowon Chance 3” project conducted earlier this year. The study cafe (reading room) use voucher, one of the benefits of “Nowon Chance 3,” was highly popular, chosen by 1,050 youth participants. Accordingly, the district decided to expand the target and implement it as an individual project.

The support target is unemployed youth aged 19 to 34 (born between January 1, 1987, and December 31, 2003) residing in Nowon-gu according to resident registration. Previously, only unemployed youth within two years of graduation participating in “Nowon Chance 3” could selectively receive support, but now the graduation year restriction has been removed to expand eligibility.

The usage method is simple. If the applicant pays for a voucher at a study cafe or reading room located in Nowon-gu, they will be reimbursed up to 160,000 KRW per person once in Nowon Love Gift Certificates. The gift certificates can be used at 11,222 Seoul Pay Plus affiliated stores in the area.

Those wishing to apply can submit the application form and related documents through the Nowon-gu website under Communication & Participation - Online Application by October 31. However, university (graduate) students, students on leave, those serving in the military, and those who already received the study cafe (reading room) voucher in the first half of “Nowon Chance 3” are excluded.

Additionally, the “Youth Mental Health Support Project” will extend the application deadline and accept additional applicants until the end of the year.

Although the project’s applications were closed on a first-come, first-served basis in August, the district decided to extend the application period until December 30 and provide ongoing support to offer psychological and emotional help to more youth.

The target is youth aged 19 to 34 residing in Nowon-gu, who can apply by visiting their local community service center. However, this cannot be used simultaneously with the Seoul City Youth Mental Health Project.

Applicants can receive a total of 10 psychological counseling sessions using a voucher card (electronic voucher). The out-of-pocket cost per session ranges from 6,000 to 7,000 KRW, covering psychological tests (pre/post) and 1:1 counseling tailored to the applicant’s needs.

For inquiries about the “Study Cafe and Reading Room Use Voucher Support Project” and the “Youth Mental Health Support Project,” contact the Nowon-gu website or the Department of Children and Youth.

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, “We decided to expand projects that received positive responses to support youth struggling in difficult circumstances until the end of the year. We will continue to implement various support projects so that youth can establish themselves as healthy members of society.”

Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Soo-hee) announced on the 14th that it will issue additional “Gangdong Bitsal Money” at 10 a.m. on the 17th to revitalize the local economy.

“Gangdong Bitsal Money” is a rechargeable prepaid card-type local currency issued by Gangdong-gu.

The district continuously issues additional “Gangdong Bitsal Money” alongside the “Gangdong Love Gift Certificates,” which have proven effective in revitalizing the local economy, to ease the burden on small business owners and residents struggling with rising prices.

The total amount of “Gangdong Bitsal Money” to be issued this time is 3 billion KRW, and the monthly purchase limit per person is set at 700,000 KRW to ensure benefits reach many residents.

It can be purchased or recharged at Gangdong Nonghyup, Dongseoul Credit Union, and Saemaeul Geumgo branches within the district, or conveniently purchased by installing the “Gae Seoul” app on a smartphone registered in the purchaser’s name. (When applying for a card through the “Gae Seoul” app, it will be delivered to the address within 7 days.)

Meanwhile, the district is continuously recruiting registered merchants to increase the convenience of using Gangdong Bitsal Money. Merchant registration can be applied online through the Gangdong Bitsal Money merchant registration site or by submitting a merchant registration application to the Local Economy Division.

For more details, contact the Gae Seoul Call Center or the Gangdong-gu Local Economy Division.

Seongbuk-gu Gireum Comprehensive Social Welfare Center (Director Jang Min-gyun) won the highest award in the “2021 Senior Employment and Social Activity Support Project Evaluation” hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and organized by the Korea Senior Human Resources Development Institute. It also received a prize money of 15 million KRW.

The “Senior Employment and Social Activity Support Project Evaluation” comprehensively evaluates the projects carried out throughout the year by city, county, and district governments and senior employment support institutions nationwide.

The “Senior Employment and Social Activity Support Project” is designed to supplement seniors’ income and encourage social participation for a healthy old age. In 2021, Seongbuk-gu provided jobs to 3,284 seniors through 40 projects.

Gireum Comprehensive Social Welfare Center is a representative senior employment support institution in Seongbuk-gu, operating senior-appropriate projects such as school meal helpers, school zone traffic helpers, No-No Care, Gireum Food Project Group, and Gireum Silver Green.

Jang Min-gyun, Director of Gireum Comprehensive Social Welfare Center, said, “We are focusing on discovering jobs so that seniors can open the second act of their lives by utilizing their experience and wisdom. Above all, Seongbuk-gu’s active support enabled us to carry out various projects solidly.”

Lee Seung-ro, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu, said, “In an aging society, jobs are welfare, so we are concentrating administrative power on creating senior jobs. The highest award won by Gireum Comprehensive Social Welfare Center is even more meaningful. We will continue to create various jobs for seniors to realize a happy Seongbuk in old age.”

Yeongdeungpo-gu (Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) announced that it will hold the “1st Rainbow Music Concert,” where multicultural youth can freely express their hidden talents and creativity, on the 15th at the YDP Future Lifelong Learning Center.

The Rainbow Music Concert, held for the first time this year, was prepared to support youth cultural and artistic activities by opening a cultural space where multicultural youth can participate as producers and consumers of culture.

This concert will showcase the skills honed by multicultural youth participating in cultural programs at the Dadream Cultural Complex Center. The district expects that the youth will gain confidence on stage, improving their adaptability and social skills in the community.

The Rainbow Music Concert will be held at 11 a.m. on the 15th at the YDP Hall in the YDP Future Lifelong Learning Center, starting with passionate street dance, followed by sweet guitar performances and lively Nanta percussion performances.

Additionally, there will be a congratulatory performance featuring the beautiful harmony of the Green Umbrella Dream Choir from Yeongdeungpo Comprehensive Social Welfare Center and a dazzling magic show by a professional magician to captivate the youth.

The Rainbow Music Concert, originally scheduled for August, was postponed by two months due to unprecedented heavy rain, but the youth’s hard work during this time promises even more splendid and polished performances to delight the audience.

Kim Jeong-ah, Director of the Department of Children and Youth Welfare, said, “This Rainbow Music Concert was planned as part of various projects to support multicultural youth. We hope it will be an opportunity for youth to become cultural agents, fully demonstrate their abilities, and harmoniously integrate into the community.”