[Photo] Lee Pil-hyung, Dongdaemun-gu Mayor, Shares Galbitang and Conversations with Residents of Dungjigosiwon

[Seoul District News] Lee Pil-hyung, District Mayor, Holds Meeting with Dungjigosiwon Residents at Cheongnyangni Traditional Market Restaurant on the Afternoon of the 1st & Supports a Meal Full of Love at Dongdaemun-gu Cheongnyangni Traditional Market Merchants Association ... Seo Kang-seok, Songpa District Mayor, Attends and Awards at the 2022 Songpa Volunteer Day Ceremony ... Donation of Supplies to Jung-gu Welfare Corporation Sharing Happiness

Dongdaemun-gu Mayor Lee Pil-hyung is having a conversation with a gosiwon operator at a meeting between the Cheongnyangni Traditional Market Merchants' Association and gosiwon residents on the 1st.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] “It’s a pleasure to meet you again after three months. Have you been well?”

Lee Pil-hyung, Mayor of Dongdaemun District, met with residents of Dungji Gosiwon at Damiok, a restaurant located within Cheongnyangni Traditional Market, sharing a meal and asking about their well-being.

On September 8th, Mayor Lee visited Dungji Gosiwon to check on the living conditions of low-income single-person households and listen to their voices on site. After three months, he returned to meet the residents again.

The meeting with Dungji Gosiwon residents was supported by the Cheongnyangni Traditional Market Merchants Association (President Jeong Ui-geun), who sponsored a meal after hearing about the harsh living conditions of the mostly basic livelihood security recipients residing there.

Additionally, the Northern Volunteer Center of the Seoul Branch of the Korean Red Cross (Director Kim Yoon-kyung) provided Onnuri gift certificates (20,000 KRW per person), seven types of daily necessities, and vitamin drinks to 55 residents of Dungji Gosiwon.

Jeong Ui-geun, President of the Cheongnyangni Traditional Market Merchants Association, said, “Although Dungji Gosiwon is located within Cheongnyangni Traditional Market, we had not shown much interest or warmth until now. This time, our merchants’ association wanted to offer a warm meal to the residents and provide a small comfort, so we held this event. Going forward, our association will pay more attention to marginalized neighbors and take the lead in spreading a culture of sharing.”

Lee Pil-hyung, Mayor of Dongdaemun District, stated, “In my book 'Walking Dongdaemun,' published on November 15, I wrote a small hope that while half of the world may not know how the other half lives, no one should be marginalized and everyone should be able to dream of the future. From 2023, Dongdaemun District will proactively identify households in crisis within welfare blind spots by establishing a single-person household support team within the district office. We plan to assess the living conditions of middle-aged single-person households living in vulnerable residential areas and connect them with public and private services.”

Songpa District (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) held the 2022 Volunteer Day commemorative event on November 30th at 3 p.m. in the main auditorium of the Songpa District Citizens’ Hall.

This event was organized to celebrate Volunteer Day (December 5th annually), encouraging and expressing gratitude to volunteers who have devoted themselves throughout the year.

The program began with a traditional Korean music and musical congratulatory performance, followed by ▲2022 volunteer activity video viewing ▲congratulatory speeches ▲awards for outstanding volunteers ▲commendations for distinguished volunteers, with several dignitaries attending, including the Deputy Speaker of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, the Chairperson and members of the District Council, and the Director of the Songpa Volunteer Center, celebrating the Volunteer Day ceremony.

Awards for outstanding volunteers were given based on cumulative volunteer hours: ▲Pine Tree Gold Award (over 10,000 hours) to 2 individuals ▲Pine Tree Silver Award (over 5,000 hours) to 7 individuals ▲Pine Tree Bronze Award (over 1,000 hours) to 55 individuals ▲Forsythia Award (over 200 hours) to 482 individuals.

Commendations for distinguished volunteers were awarded to 20 individuals and 10 groups selected through recommendations from local volunteer organizations and activity sites.

Additionally, outside the venue, a photo booth for four-cut photos and a DIY keyring booth were operated, providing additional enjoyment for volunteers attending the ceremony.

Currently, the district has ▲over 180,000 volunteers ▲193 registered organizations ▲362 activity sites ▲21 camps working together to care for neighbors and communities, raising the happiness level of Songpa.

An award recipient said, “Volunteering is a source of vitality in my life,” and “I have continued volunteering for over 30 years because I gain so much personally from the activities.”

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa District, expressed, “I deeply thank all those who have stepped forward with exceptional volunteer spirit and dedication at disaster sites and in difficult life situations. I hope that through the tireless activities of our volunteers, the culture of volunteering will spread and the local community will develop further.”

Jung-gu, Seoul (Mayor Kim Gil-seong) held a donation ceremony with the welfare corporation ‘Sharing Happiness Welfare Foundation’ (Chairman Hong Seung-cheol) in the mayor’s office on the afternoon of the 29th of last month.

In response to concerns about infection among vulnerable groups due to the resurgence of COVID-19, the Sharing Happiness Welfare Foundation donated 192 boxes of hand sanitizers worth 150 million KRW. The items will be distributed to low-income families, senior centers, and social welfare facilities.