Songpa-gu Creates Shared Office Space to Support Youth Entrepreneurship and Employment

Creation of ‘Youth Shared Office’… Equipped with 2 Offices, Meeting Room, and Startup Education

Space for Prospective Youth Entrepreneurs and Companies Hiring Out-of-School Youth

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) has created its first youth shared office to support the diverse dreams of young people and began operation in January.

The office, located on the 2nd floor of the Happy Housing in Samjeon-dong, Songpa-gu (40-5, Baekjegobun-ro 32-gil), is called the ‘Songpa Youth Tomorrow Finding Shared Office’ and provides opportunities for youth with excellent ideas to start businesses and for companies hiring out-of-school youth.

With the recent trend of lowering startup ages, although there are various startup spaces for women and young adults, there are relatively few startup spaces for youth with less social experience, leading to the establishment of a dedicated office space.

The youth shared office consists of two open-plan offices (total 14 seats) and a meeting room. Each team can have up to 7 members, accommodating 2 to 4 teams in total. The maximum residency period is 2 years. It is available for youth aspiring to start a business and companies that have hired or plan to hire out-of-school youth.

Currently, three companies planning to hire out-of-school youth have moved in. Recruitment for prospective youth entrepreneurs is ongoing. Youth with innovative startup ideas can inquire at the Ogeum Youth Center, which manages the operation.

The representative of a newly moved-in company said, “We are developing an online job matching and education platform in the wellness and cultural arts fields, and we plan to provide job education and company matching for out-of-school youth wishing to enter related fields,” adding, “We hope to become a company that grows together with out-of-school youth through this business.”

The district plans to offer benefits such as startup education support, field-specific mentor support, and prototype production support using the Ogeum Youth Center’s Fab Lab (Fabrication Laboratory), a youth-specialized facility, to resident companies.

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, “We must pay attention so that youth with various dreams beyond academics can nurture their futures within the local community,” and added, “We will strive to support the companies residing in the Songpa Youth Tomorrow Finding Shared Office to grow well so that youth can create more diverse futures in Songpa.”

Gwangjin-gu Reopens Jayang 4-dong Public Library After Remodeling

Replacement of Old Facilities Such as Air Conditioning and Heating, and Space Reorganization

Separated Bookshelf and Reading Areas Transformed into an Open Space

Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Kyung-ho) completed remodeling of the Jayang 4-dong Public Library and reopened it on the 13th.

The existing Jayang 4-dong Library, built in 2008, was a 15-year-old facility with bookshelves located in the center, creating a cramped and stuffy feeling.

To improve user satisfaction through efficient space reorganization and replace outdated facilities such as air conditioning and heating, the district secured 669 million KRW from Seoul’s special adjustment grant and began comprehensive remodeling on October 17 last year.

The newly reopened Jayang 4-dong Library separates bookshelf and reading areas, transforming into a cool and open space. Notably, unique designs were applied to the bookshelves to provide diverse book curation. Book curation refers to selecting multiple books on a specific theme and recommending them to readers.

At the library entrance, a digital display and book sterilizer were installed to provide information on programs, facilities, and library usage. Inside the materials room, book search PCs were installed to enhance user convenience.

Additionally, the existing multimedia room was replaced with an expanded lecture room, where various reading culture programs will be held. The operation office was relocated to the front to respond promptly to user needs.

The operating hours of Jayang 4-dong Library are from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. in summer, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in winter, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends, operating daily from Monday to Sunday. Closed on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month, legal holidays, and temporary closure days.

Kim Kyung-ho, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, said, “We will continue to improve the environment of aging libraries,” and added, “We will create a good environment for reading and make Gwangjin a place where reading is enjoyable.”

Yongsan-gu, Yongsan History Museum Winter Vacation Experience Program

Held on the 11th, 13th, 18th, and 20th... From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Yongsan-gu (Mayor Park Hee-young) is conducting the winter vacation experience program ‘HaHaDongDong, Exploring Yongsan.’

‘HaHaDongDong, Exploring Yongsan’ is an experiential activity to learn about old place names and origins of Yongsan shown on the ‘Joseon Seongsido’ and ‘Gyeongjo Obudo’ maps. Participants use large maps and crossword puzzles to understand the lifestyle of people during the Joseon Dynasty reflected in old village names.

The program runs from the 11th to the 20th (Wednesdays and Fridays) from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. A total of 20 families participated in the sessions held on the 11th and 13th.

Participant Im Yoon-bae said, “I learned that the southern mountain, called Namsan, originated from being located in the southern part of the capital,” and added, “I had a meaningful and fun time with my child.”

The district began accepting participants on a first-come, first-served basis through the Yongsan History Museum website from December 26 last year. Participation is free.

The Yongsan History Museum is also holding a special exhibition re-examining Yongsan’s appearance in various media such as Lunar New Year, dramas, and movies. It consists of two zones: Zone 1 ‘Yongsan Reflected in Media’ and Zone 2 ‘Yongsan Absorbed by the Public.’ The exhibition runs until September 15. Admission is free. Detailed information including operating hours can be found on the museum’s website.

A district official said, “The winter vacation program registration was filled within two days due to enthusiastic interest,” and added, “We will continue to develop content that allows anyone, regardless of nationality or age, to feel familiar with the Yongsan History Museum.”

The district renovated the former Yongsan Railroad Hospital (built in 1928), a registered cultural heritage site, into the Yongsan History Museum and opened it to the public in March last year. The two-story building with a total floor area of 2,275㎡ offers various themed exhibitions and experiences, as well as a rooftop garden where visitors can enjoy Yongsan’s present-day view and relax.

Seodaemun-gu Creates Year-Round Green ‘Arae Forest Path’ at Gajwa Station

Installed 10 Large Planters (Total Area 40㎡) in the Station’s Basement Level 1

Planted 580 Air-Purifying Plants of 30 Species Including Oak Rubber Tree and Bamboo Palm

Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Lee Seong-heon) recently created an indoor garden called the ‘Arae Forest Path’ on the basement level 1 of Gajwa Station on the Gyeongui-Jungang Line.

The district installed 10 large planters in the station’s unused space and planted 580 air-purifying plants of 30 species, including Monstera, Oak Rubber Tree, and Bamboo Palm.

Additionally, a ‘sub-irrigation system’ was installed to ensure stable growth of plants indoors.

The district created this 40㎡ green space inside Gajwa Station, which is used by an average of 14,000 people daily, to improve air quality and increase the green coverage perceived by the eye throughout all seasons.

Prior consultation with Korea Railroad Corporation was conducted to ensure that the ‘Arae Forest Path’ does not interfere with pedestrian flow or facility management.

Lee Seong-heon, Mayor of Seodaemun-gu, said, “We will continue to strive to create pleasant green resting spaces for citizens.”

Jongno-gu Wins Excellence Award in Idea Category at the 1st Smart Garden Competition

Planted 9 Species and Over 1,100 Plants on 1st and 4th Floors of Seoul National University Dental Hospital to Provide Comfort to Patients and Caregivers

Jongno-gu (Mayor Jeong Moon-heon) won the Excellence Award in the idea category at the 1st Smart Garden Competition for its smart garden installed at Seoul National University Dental Hospital.

Co-hosted by the Korea Arboretum Management Institute and the Korea Garden Design Association, and sponsored by the Korea Forest Service, this competition was held to discover excellent technologies and designs and promote garden culture.

The award-winning work by Jongno-gu is an indoor vertical garden created by planting 1,116 plants of 9 species, including coralberry, on a 34㎡ wall space on the 1st and 4th floors of Seoul National University Dental Hospital.

The district aimed to bring positive change and comfort by using green plants in the dental hospital waiting room, which had a hard and artificial atmosphere where patients and caregivers waited for treatment.

Since the installation of the smart garden, patients who previously waited anxiously and bored have experienced changes. They cautiously touched the plants to see if they were real or artificial, became curious about the plant names, took photos, and waited more comfortably than before.

Jeong Moon-heon, Mayor of Jongno-gu, said, “I hope the smart garden at Seoul National University Dental Hospital remains a space that offers healing and peace to hospital visitors and residents,” and added, “We will continue efforts to create nature-friendly spaces that add greenery and vitality throughout the region.”