Dongdaemun-gu, Government Local Welfare Policies and Private Welfare Information Site Development

[Seoul District News] Dongdaemun-gu Offers Prizes via Lottery for Welfare Nuri Net Newsletter Subscribers Until the 7th ... Seodaemun-gu Expands Private Members of 'Apartment Management Dispute Mediation Committee' from 4 to 8 to Resolve Apartment Conflicts & Operates 'Apartment Expert Consultation Office' and Produces 'Resident Life Guide' in 2023 ... Nowon-gu Launches Employment Insurance Support Project for Solo Small Business Owners and Low-Income Workers

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Lee Pil-hyung) has launched the operation of ‘Bokji Nuri Net,’ a welfare information sharing platform for Dongdaemun-gu.

‘Bokji Nuri Net’ was developed through collaboration between Dongdaemun-gu and the Dongdaemun-gu Community Social Security Council, a public-private partnership organization chaired by Kim Beom-seop. It consolidates welfare projects implemented by the district and welfare systems and programs operated by private welfare facilities into one place to provide them to residents.

Through Bokji Nuri Net, residents can search for welfare services tailored to their needs and conveniently check major welfare-related events and programs.

Additionally, for user convenience, the platform is linked with the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s ‘Bokjiro’ and the Korea Social Security Information Service.

Along with this, the district plans to produce newsletters to share welfare information, related news, and events with many residents regularly via KakaoTalk or email.

In this regard, until December 7, residents can subscribe to the newsletter and enter an event on the Dongdaemun-gu website. Among the participants, 150 people will be selected by lottery to receive small prizes.

Mayor Lee Pil-hyung said, “We have launched Bokji Nuri Net so that residents can conveniently check various welfare information at a glance. We hope you will watch the beginning of Bokji Nuri Net with affection and interest, and we will do our best to establish it as an information channel that can provide practical help to residents.”

Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Lee Seong-heon) announced on the 1st that it has expanded the number of private members in the existing ‘Apartment Management Dispute Mediation Committee’ to resolve apartment disputes more amicably through mediation involving experts.

Recently, the district appointed Park Chun-hwa, senior pastor of Changcheon Church, Lee Moon-bok, former Seodaemun-gu council member, lawyer Jeong In-bong, and Lee Ki-nam, director of the Future Housing Culture Research Institute, as new members.

The existing members include Professor Soon Hee-ja from Myongji University’s Department of Real Estate, Ha Won-seon, president of the Seoul branch of the Korea Housing Managers Association, certified public accountant Ji Yoon-mi, and architect Kim In-hyun.

The members serve a two-year term and can be reappointed once. When disputes arise in Seodaemun-gu apartments, the committee holds meetings with ex officio members, including heads of apartment-related departments in the district office, to devise conflict resolution measures.

Mayor Lee Seong-heon said, “The expertise and diverse experience of the dispute mediation committee members are expected to greatly help resolve conflicts among apartment residents and foster a community culture of consideration and coexistence among neighbors.”

For detailed information on applying for apartment dispute mediation, contact the Housing Division of Seodaemun-gu Office.

Additionally, Seodaemun-gu plans to launch new projects in 2023, such as operating an ‘Apartment Expert Consultation Office’ and producing a ‘Resident Life Guidebook’ to address the difficulties faced by apartment residents.

Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it has completed the pilot operation of the employment insurance support project for solo small business owners and low-income workers and will fully launch it next year.

According to the Nowon Statistical Yearbook, as of October last year, there were 26,618 businesses and 116,684 workers in Nowon-gu. Among them, only 59,586 people, or 51.1%, were covered by employment insurance, highlighting the urgent need to prepare measures for creating a stable employment environment.

After completing the pilot operation this year, the district signed a business agreement (MOU) with the Korea Workers’ Compensation and Welfare Service on the 23rd of last month, being the only autonomous district in Seoul to do so. Jung Min-oh, Director of Insurance Finance at the Korea Workers’ Compensation and Welfare Service, Hyun Mi-gyeong, head of the Seoul Northern Branch, and other officials attended and agreed to actively cooperate in promotion, information provision, and joint projects.

Currently, employment insurance premiums have been supported since January this year. The target includes solo self-employed individuals and workers in businesses with fewer than 10 employees, artists, and special employment workers exposed to livelihood risks such as business closures due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. Solo self-employed individuals receive 20% support on all premium payment grades based on standard wages, while workers in businesses with fewer than 10 employees, artists, and special employment workers receive full support for the employee’s share of premiums excluding the Duru Nuri social insurance support portion.

Applications for eligible persons are accepted from the 1st to the 14th. New employment insurance subscribers in 2022 can apply retroactively for premiums already paid this year. Applications are accepted quarterly, and if eligibility requirements are met, payments are made to the applicant’s account by the 10th of the following month. Applications can be submitted by visiting the Job and Economy Division of the district office or through the Nowon-gu website.

Common required documents include ▲Employment Insurance Premium Support Application ▲Consent form for collection, use, and provision of personal information to third parties ▲Copy of ID ▲Copy of bankbook. Additionally, solo self-employed individuals must submit ▲Certificate of full payment of employment insurance premiums ▲Health insurance qualification certificate ▲Business registration certificate, while workers in businesses with fewer than 10 employees, artists, and special employment workers must prepare ▲Individual employment insurance premium statement.

Furthermore, the district operates various projects to support local small business owners. From June to October, it provided management services such as washing and disinfecting food waste containers for small restaurants. It plans to improve shortcomings and resume the service next year. In September, to stimulate local consumption and revitalize the local economy, it issued Nowon Love Gift Certificates worth 20 billion KRW in two rounds, which were fully sold out.

Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “Together with the Korea Workers’ Compensation and Welfare Service, we will do our best to operate the project to eliminate blind spots in employment insurance and ensure no one is left out of support. We will continue to strive to expand the social safety net through various system supports.”