Gwangjin-gu Partners with Gas Meter Readers to Identify and Support At-Risk Households

[Seoul District News] Gwangjin-gu Holds Crisis Household Discovery and Support Agreement Ceremony with YESCO on the 4th; Regular Visits for Gas Inspection to Discover and Report Crisis Households... Gwangjin-gu Designates No-Smoking Zone on Seoul Sinyang Elementary School School Route

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Kyung-ho) is partnering with gas meter readers to identify and support households in crisis that are in welfare blind spots.

On the 4th, the district signed a "Business Agreement for Supporting the Discovery of Households in Crisis with YESCO" in the mayor's office.

This agreement was established to build a welfare safety net that enables households in crisis, such as elderly living alone or residents facing urgent livelihood difficulties, to receive prompt support by utilizing gas meter readers who regularly visit homes and are well-suited to check inside houses, discovering neighbors in welfare blind spots and linking them with the district.

Through this agreement, gas meter readers will play roles such as reporting to the district households that need help or those that have been absent for two or more consecutive visits, and delivering welfare information and promotional materials to residents.

Kim Kyung-ho, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, said, "I sincerely thank the YESCO Gwangjin-gu regional representatives who actively participated in walking with the vulnerable," adding, "Through this agreement, we will strengthen the cooperation system among local members so that households in crisis in welfare blind spots can receive timely customized support, and realize a dense welfare system where no residents are left behind."

In this regard, the district is actively deploying "Honorary Social Welfare Officers" and "Our Neighborhood Care Teams," composed of community leaders such as tongjang welfare helpers and members of the local social security council who know the local situation best, to discover welfare blind spots.

Additionally, the district has partnered with the real estate agents association to enable the discovery and reporting of households in crisis during real estate brokerage and contract processes, and is also pursuing agreements with convenience store owners so that suspected crisis households found during business hours can be reported immediately.

Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Kyung-ho) designated the school route around Seoul Shinyang Elementary School as a non-smoking zone starting from the 26th of last month to create a pleasant smoke-free route for students going to and from school.

This announcement follows Article 5 (Designation of Non-Smoking Areas) of the Seoul Metropolitan Government Gwangjin-gu Ordinance on Prevention of Secondhand Smoke Damage, aiming to prevent secondhand smoke exposure and imitation smoking among children and adolescents and to create a healthy living environment.

The newly designated non-smoking area covers a 216-meter section of the school route near Seoul Shinyang Elementary School (134 meters on Neungdong-ro 6-gil and 82 meters on Ttukseom-ro 34-gil), which is mainly used by students during their commute.

In June, the Gwangjin-gu Public Health Center received an application for the designation of the Seoul Shinyang Elementary School non-smoking street, conducted a feasibility study, and finalized the designation after collecting opinions from students, parents, faculty, and local residents.

From the announcement date of October 26, there will be a three-month guidance period, and starting January 3, 2023, intensive enforcement will begin with a fine of 100,000 KRW imposed on those caught smoking.

Signage and ground markings will be installed in the area to ensure recognition of the non-smoking zone.

Including this new designation, the district has designated a total of 18 school routes around elementary, middle, and high schools in the area as non-smoking streets. The district plans to expand non-smoking school routes annually through on-site surveys and thorough reviews.

In addition, various projects such as operating smoking cessation clinics, providing smoking prevention education for children and adolescents, and campaigns to create smoke-free environments are being promoted.

Kim Kyung-ho, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, said, "Designating non-smoking school routes is essential to protect the health of children and adolescents vulnerable to secondhand smoke," and added, "We will spare no support to protect residents' health and create a pleasant living environment."