Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju Proves to Have the Nation's Best Local Welfare Safety Net

Minister of Health and Welfare Commendation for Social Service and Social Economy, Excellence Awards in Two Regional Welfare Project Categories

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City (District Mayor Park Byung-gyu) has consecutively received awards in government evaluations related to building a local welfare safety net and social welfare services, proving its welfare administrative capabilities at the highest national level.

The district announced on the 20th that it received the Minister of Health and Welfare Commendation in the evaluation of the "2022 Social Economy Promotion Support Project in the Social Service Sector," hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and organized by the Central Social Service Agency.

This is analyzed as a recognition of the value and significance of the resident-participatory care cooperative "Neulhaengbok Geongang Bapsang Social Cooperative," which was promoted together with local residents and welfare activists.

Through Neulhaengbok Geongang Bapsang, Gwangsan-gu established a resident-led social service platform, supporting safe food for vulnerable groups and strengthening social care functions.

In particular, by collaborating with the Gwangju Medical Welfare Social Cooperative, the district promoted a community-integrated care project, providing customized healthy side dishes and lunch boxes to households in need of care, establishing itself as a model of proactive visiting welfare services.

Additionally, Gwangsan-gu was selected as an excellent local government by winning excellence awards in two categories?providing visiting health and welfare services and creating social service jobs?in the 2022 local welfare project evaluation hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

In the "providing visiting health and welfare services" category, the district received high evaluations for discovering vulnerable households through public-private cooperation and establishing and operating the Gwangsan-type protection system by promoting the "Gwangju-type Community Integrated Care" collaborative project.

In the "creating social service jobs" category, the district was recognized for promoting Gwangsan-type service jobs and expanding social service jobs reflecting consumer demands.

With these awards, Gwangsan-gu secured a total prize money of 32.5 million KRW.

Park Byung-gyu, Mayor of Gwangsan-gu, said, "We will continue to take the lead in realizing a welfare community where no one is left out through a meticulous delivery system," and added, "We will do our best to build a universal welfare service environment together with local residents."