[Seoul District News] Mapo-gu Winter Fundraising Campaign Until February Next Year, This Year's Goal: 800 Million KRW
& Mapo-gu Key Figures Launch 'Relay Campaign of Comfort and Hope' ... Songpa-gu Continues Neighborly Love Kimchi Sharing Event 'Warm Atmosphere' ... Geumcheon-gu Holds 'Love Kimchi Sharing' with Lotte Information & Communication and Others on 8th ... Seodaemun-gu Prepares 'Love Kimchi' with Saemaeul Women's Members for 550 Vulnerable Households and Welfare Facilities ... Seongbuk-gu Love Kimchi for the Underprivileged 3
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] As winter approaches, the hardships of vulnerable groups deepen.
Due to the aftermath of COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war, recent sharp rises in housing and food costs are expected to make it even more difficult for vulnerable groups to get through the upcoming winter amid high inflation.
Mapo-gu (Mayor Park Kang-soo) is conducting a fundraising campaign called ‘2023 Hope Ondol Warm Winter’ to help low-income vulnerable groups have a warm winter, running until February 14 next year.
This campaign is a public-private partnership involving Mapo-gu, the Seoul Social Welfare Community Chest, Mapo Welfare Foundation, and 16 district community centers.
The district expects to raise 800 million KRW this year, the same as last year. Especially this year, due to high interest rates, high inflation, and high exchange rates increasing the financial burden on vulnerable households, the number of neighbors in urgent need of help is expected to rise.
Despite the economic downturn caused by COVID-19 last year, the district collected 1.228 billion KRW in donations and goods, which is 161% of the target amount of 800 million KRW.
The collected funds were used for various support projects, including 220 million KRW for dental treatment support for low-income groups, 77 million KRW for local welfare enhancement projects, and 83 million KRW for emergency living and housing support for low-income groups. This year, the funds will again be used for livelihood, housing, and medical expenses to help neighbors in need.
In particular, this year, a ‘relay campaign of comfort and hope’ featuring key figures from Mapo-gu will be held to deliver messages of hope to residents enduring difficult times due to COVID-19 and high inflation and to promote participation in the culture of sharing.
The first donation for the ‘2023 Hope Ondol Warm Winter’ campaign, which officially starts on the 15th, will be made by Hyosung (CEO Cho Hyun-joon) and Gongyoung Home Shopping (CEO Cho Sung-ho), who have been leading support for marginalized groups in the region.
Residents wishing to donate money or goods can contact the welfare officers at their local community centers or the Mapo-gu Resident Life Welfare Division or Mapo Welfare Foundation.
Mayor Park Kang-soo said, “This winter could be harsher than ever for vulnerable groups due to COVID-19 and high inflation. At times like this, I hope for much interest and warm participation so that vulnerable groups do not lose their hope.”
Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Kang-seok) announced that it is continuing the ‘Love Kimchi Sharing’ campaign for low-income vulnerable groups as winter approaches.
Every year before the full onset of winter, the district holds kimchi-making events with residents to provide kimchi full of warm hearts to marginalized neighbors such as elderly living alone and disabled households in the area.
First, on the 9th, the ‘Love Kimchi Sharing’ event was held at Seoul Nori Madang (124 Jamsil-ro) with the participation of the Songpa-gu Saemaul Women’s Association (President Han Sun-young).
On that day, about 100 people, including Seo Kang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, and members of the Saemaul Women’s Association and Saemaul Council, mixed the prepared seasoning and salted napa cabbage. The packed kimchi was delivered to 500 low-income households, each receiving 10kg, totaling 5 tons, together with welfare planners from the community centers.
This sharing event was sponsored by the Songpa-gu (public, home, and private) daycare center association and Olympic Hospital.
On the 3rd and 4th, the 17th annual ‘Love Kimchi Sharing’ event was held in Macheon 2-dong. Similarly, kimchi prepared and mixed by hand was delivered to 391 vulnerable households, each receiving 7kg, totaling 2,737kg.
On the 9th, Bangi 2-dong also held a ‘Love Kimchi Sharing’ event at the Bangi 2-dong community center, where about 50 residents, including members of the neighborhood leaders’ council, gathered. Residents seasoned and packed salted napa cabbage themselves and delivered a total of 1,200kg, 10kg each, to 120 neighbors in need.
On the 10th, in Garakbon-dong, members of the residents’ autonomy committee and professional groups rolled up their sleeves to make kimchi. In addition, gift packages containing blankets, socks, and other winter necessities were prepared and shared with 60 low-income households in the area as an act of neighborly love.
Mayor Seo Kang-seok of Songpa-gu said, “I sincerely thank the residents who volunteer every year to participate in the kimchi sharing event despite their busy schedules. We will strive to create a sharing atmosphere for low-income residents who are psychologically and economically struggling during the cold winter so that all local residents can spend a warm winter sharing neighborly affection.”
Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon) held the ‘Love Kimchi Sharing with Companies and Organizations’ event at the Geumcheon-gu Office plaza at 9 a.m. on the 8th.
Organized by the Warm Companion Corporation, this event was prepared to make kimchi and deliver warm hearts to neighbors in need.
Thirteen companies and organizations, including Lotte Information & Communication, Lotte Aluminum, Lotte GRS, Naeil Internal Medicine, Bright Tomorrow Internal Medicine, Cheongryong Environment, New Siheung Lions, White Wings, Sharing and Joy, Geumcheon Branch, Hanmaeum Volunteer Group, and Warm Companion, sponsored the event. About 90 employees joined about 100 volunteers from the Geumcheon-gu Volunteer Camp and volunteer clubs to make 5,500kg of kimchi.
The kimchi made that day was delivered to free meal centers, facilities for the disabled, and marginalized vulnerable groups in Geumcheon-gu.
Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon of Geumcheon-gu said, “I sincerely thank the employees and related parties of the companies who sponsored the kimchi sharing event, which had been suspended due to COVID-19. I hope this event will help neighbors in need have a warm winter.”
Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Lee Sung-heon) held the ‘2022 Love Kimchi Sharing’ event at the district office plaza on the 9th and 10th to help the community have a warm winter together.
Over two days, about 100 Saemaul Women’s Association members participated each day to make kimchi using 8,000kg of salted napa cabbage and seasoning for vulnerable neighbors.
On the first day, they handled unloading cabbage, washing salted cabbage, and trimming vegetables; on the second day, they made seasoning, filled the kimchi, and packed it.
The kimchi made was delivered through local community centers to 550 vulnerable households, including basic livelihood security recipients, near-poor households, low-income elderly living alone, and single-parent families, as well as social welfare facilities.
Mayor Lee Sung-heon of Seodaemun-gu, who joined the kimchi making on the 10th, said, “This meaningful volunteer activity will help neighbors in need have a warm winter,” expressing gratitude to the Saemaul Women’s Association members.
Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) is continuing full-scale kimchi sharing events for marginalized groups.
Various organizations and companies across all 20 neighborhoods are holding kimchi sharing events daily, and on the 10th, the representative Seongbuk-gu kimchi sharing event, ‘2022 Love Kimchi Sharing for Marginalized Groups in Winter,’ was held.
Hosted by Seongbuk-gu and organized by the Seongbuk-gu Saemaul Women’s Association (President Jo Young-nam), the event took place at the outdoor basketball court next to the artificial turf field in 1st Wolgok. About 150 people participated, including members of the Saemaul Women’s Association, Saemaul Council members, and soldiers from the 220th Brigade 1st Battalion.
To ensure smooth progress of this large-scale event, the venue was brightly lit from 6 a.m. Tents and kimchi tables were set up, and 3,000 heads of salted napa cabbage and kimchi fillings arrived steadily. At 9 a.m., when the 150 participants donned sanitary clothing and took their places, the kimchi making began in earnest. The Saemaul Council members, who have extensive experience making kimchi dozens of times a year and never miss local kimchi events, filled the kimchi, while the soldiers quickly packed it, working seamlessly together.
This year, special praise was given to Hong Ki-bong, CEO of the food distribution center in Samseon-dong, who sponsored the salted napa cabbage. Since the early days of the ‘Love Kimchi Sharing for Marginalized Groups in Winter,’ now in its 20th year, Hong has consistently sponsored 3,000 heads of salted napa cabbage, even amid international food price surges, spreading warmth throughout the venue and the community.
The kimchi made at this event was promptly delivered to 700 marginalized households in the district, including low-income families, elderly living alone, multicultural families, and welfare facilities, ahead of the winter season.
Despite a busy schedule, Mayor Lee Seung-ro of Seongbuk-gu personally took part in the kimchi sharing event, demonstrating his kimchi-making skills while actively managing the ‘apron administration’ for neighbors in need. He said, “Since its start in 2003, the ‘Love Kimchi Sharing for Marginalized Groups in Winter’ has reached its 20th year and was successfully carried out again this year. Especially this year, held during difficult domestic and international times, the meaning of sponsorship and volunteering was even more special. I thank everyone who gathered their hearts for neighbors in need, and I am proud of Seongbuk, where the spirit of community lives on.”
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