"Changing the World Through Small Conversations," O Do-chang, Yeongyang County Governor, Participates in the Conversation Donation Movement

Odohchang, Governor of Yeongyang County, who participated as the first participant from Yeongyang County in the Gyeongbuk Province Dialogue Donation Movement Relay Challenge.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Gwiyeol] Odohchang, the mayor of Yeongyang County, participated as the first participant from Yeongyang County in the “Changing the World with Small Conversations Gyeongsangbuk-do Conversation Donation Movement” relay challenge, which Gyeongbuk Province is promoting as the first in the nation to overcome loneliness.

The conversation donation movement promoted by Gyeongbuk Province is an activity to overcome loneliness by having conversation donors and conversation requesters share conversations and hearts. Due to the increase in single-person households, economic recession, competitive society, and the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, feelings of loneliness and social problems have emerged. This is a mental movement in Gyeongbuk that protects the hearts of psychologically vulnerable groups through small daily conversations.

According to a loneliness survey conducted in April on about 1,500 residents, 6 out of 10 people felt lonely, and the rates of depression and suicidal thoughts were also high, leading to the start of the conversation donation movement that delivers comfort through warm conversations.

Yeongyang County plans to operate youth counseling centers and other loneliness countermeasure projects in addition to the conversation donation movement, and is continuously recruiting conversation donors.

Mayor Odohchang stated, “Now is the time to invest not only in physical health but also in mental health. Through conversation donation, which can bring mental stability through small conversations, we will strive to create a mentally healthy Yeongyang County,” expressing his strong will to actively promote the conversation donation movement.