Gwanak-gu Promotes Specialized Projects Considering Characteristics and Resident Needs of 21 Neighborhoods

Gwanak-gu's 2023 Neighborhood-Specific Projects Carefully Cater to Everyone from Seniors to Children

Enhancing Resident Satisfaction through Expanded Care for Single-Person Households and Vulnerable Groups, Safety and Cleaning, and Educational Programs

Dong neighbor helper (right) is explaining the mushroom cultivation method.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) is discovering and promoting 2023 neighborhood-specific projects that reflect the characteristics and resident demands of 21 neighborhoods to improve residents' quality of life and activate public-private cooperation.

Last year, amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, the district implemented projects closely related to residents' daily lives, such as care and welfare for vulnerable groups, neighborhood safety, and cleaning, which resulted in high resident satisfaction. Accordingly, the project budget per neighborhood was increased from 3 million KRW to 5 million KRW this year.

First, various projects are being promoted to foster warm social networks among neighbors and create resident-led welfare communities.

In Sillim-dong, reflecting the neighborhood's characteristics with many young and middle-aged single-person households, the 'Youth Companion Project' is underway in cooperation with local real estate agencies to provide information on single-person household support projects and welfare services from the lease contract stage, enabling early detection of high-risk households.

In Boramae-dong, the 'Let's Make It Together! Gwanak Premium! Single-Person Household Networking' project forms relationships with single-person households through talent donations by neighborhood watchers, while Namhyeon-dong's 'Zero Solitary Death Volunteer Group' conducts welfare checks and provides items to prevent solitary deaths targeting households at risk, actively addressing social isolation and solitary death prevention among single-person households.

Additionally, residents, local welfare institutions, and neighborhood community centers collaborate to share food and side dishes, building relationships while simultaneously monitoring vulnerable households.

Distinctive neighborhood projects include Miseong-dong's 'Our Child 「Todak Todak」' gifting chicken sets on birthdays of children from single-parent families; Cheongnim-dong's 'A Strong Day 「Bread Good (good) Bread Good (good)」' providing bread regularly; Haengun-dong's 'Ganggam Side Dishes' purchasing and delivering healthy side dishes while checking on residents; and Inheon-dong's 'Tong (by the community leader) Tong (connected) I (side dishes)' where local residents cook side dishes and welfare officers deliver them to vulnerable households.

Creative ideas for a pleasant and safe neighborhood include Samsung-dong's 'Anyone Can Be a Firefighter! Throwable Fire Extinguishers!' distributing extinguishers to fire-vulnerable groups; Nangok-dong's 'Our Neighborhood's Clean House'; Sinwon-dong's 'Ganggamchan Protects! Creating a Clean Village'; Daehak-dong's 'Prohibition of Unauthorized Posting on Utility Poles' with sticker attachments; and Seorim-dong's 'Waste Battery Collection Reward System.'

Notably, this year features the professionalization and diversification of extensive educational programs. Seonghyeon-dong has opened a Barista Level 2 certification class, Nanhyang-dong offers informatization education using smartphones for the digitally marginalized, installing the 'Seoul Salpimi App' for participants to strengthen the welfare safety net.

Cheongnyong-dong supplements the fact that community center users are mainly middle-aged and elderly by providing foreign language education targeting children.

Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “Neighborhood-specific projects tailored to local characteristics often involve modest budgets but have high resident impact. We will actively promote neighborhood-specific projects reflecting diverse resident needs to enhance satisfaction with administrative services.”

The 'Middle-aged and Senior Job Hope Platform' established on the 4th floor of the YDP Future Lifelong Learning Center

Yeongdeungpo-gu Creates 6,868 Public Sector Jobs to Revive the Local Economy

Customized Job Creation and Support for Youth, Middle-aged, Career-Interrupted Women, and Small and Medium Business Owners

Continuous Job Services Including Job Fairs and Integrated Job Support Center Establishment

Yeongdeungpo-gu (Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) announced plans to create a total of 6,868 public sector jobs this year to aid the recovery of the local economy. The district aims to accelerate job creation under the vision of 'Yeongdeungpo, a Future City Vibrant with Jobs.'

According to the 'Comprehensive Plan for Regional Job Target Disclosure System,' the district will execute 22 tasks across five sectors to create a total of 6,868 jobs this year. Among these, 6,081 jobs (88.5%) are designated for employment-vulnerable groups such as career-interrupted women, multicultural families, low-income individuals, and seniors. Beyond public jobs, the district plans to focus on building infrastructure for quality job creation and nurturing talent to lead the 4th industrial revolution.

First, the 'Youth Dream Narae Project' offers young job seekers in the region opportunities to experience public administration. A total of 40 people will be hired this year, providing chances to strengthen employment capabilities for youth actively seeking jobs.

Additionally, various employment and entrepreneurship programs support core talent development related to the 4th industrial revolution, including the opening of the Seoul Youth Center 'Yeongdeungpo Orang,' operation of Yeongdeungpo Architecture School, training young digital marketing experts, operating a metaverse platform, and beginner coding education for youth.

Efforts are also made to create jobs for middle-aged individuals and career-interrupted women to re-enter the workforce. Programs include operating the Middle-aged Job Hope Platform, caregiver certification courses, training specialized personnel for maternal and newborn care, housing management technology education, and online store startups.

The district plans to hold job fairs in May and October to provide on-site 1:1 interviews between employers and job seekers and operate various employment support programs. Furthermore, the upcoming establishment of the 'Yeongdeungpo-gu Integrated Job Support Center' will offer one-stop integrated services such as rapid information provision and linkage of private and public jobs, employment education, and job counseling.

Support is also extended to promote products and online commerce market entry for small and medium business owners and one-person enterprises. The media creation space 'Studio Yeongwon' offers studio rental, video equipment support, and live commerce education for product promotion.

Moreover, the district supports social enterprises that provide jobs by hiring 30-50% vulnerable groups among their employees. Yeongdeungpo-gu actively fosters win-win enterprises to provide various social services such as housekeeping, caregiving, and care for low-income and single-person households.

Furthermore, through medium-scale knowledge industry and complex development, the district aims to create diverse jobs and enhance urban competitiveness. Currently, 33 knowledge industry centers operate in the district, with more than 12 additional centers planned, expecting positive synergy effects through complex occupancy by manufacturing, knowledge-based industries, information and communication industries, and venture companies.

Since February this year, the district has been conducting the 'Mullae-dong Machinery and Metal Cluster Status Survey.' It seeks ways beneficial to both small business owners and local residents, envisioning the area's 10-year future and promoting the transition to a future-oriented smart industrial structure in semi-industrial zones. Additionally, plans to establish governance for urban regeneration around Yeongdeungpo Gyeongin-ro are underway to prepare for a leap toward a future city through groundbreaking job creation.

Mayor Choi Ho-kwon said, “In these difficult times, we will support residents' stable lives by creating quality jobs. We will also continuously strive to discover jobs aligned with changes such as digital innovation to build a vibrant Yeongdeungpo full of jobs.”

Gwangjin-gu Extends Energy Voucher Application Deadline to February 28

Heating Cost Burden Increases Due to Gas Price Surge... Winter Support Amount Doubled

Application Deadline Extended to February 28, Eligibility Expanded to Housing and Education Benefit Recipients

Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Kyung-ho) is accepting extended applications until February 28 following the government's increase in energy voucher support amounts and expansion of eligible recipients.

The energy voucher system supports energy-vulnerable groups in purchasing fuels such as electricity, city gas, LPG, and briquettes. Due to recent cold waves and soaring gas prices increasing heating costs, support amounts have been temporarily raised and the application period extended.

First, the support amounts have doubled compared to the previous winter energy voucher amounts: 248,200 KRW for single-person households, 334,800 KRW for two-person households, 445,400 KRW for three-person households, and 583,600 KRW for households of four or more. For those who have already applied, the increased amount will be reflected automatically from the 8th without a separate application.

Additionally, income eligibility, previously limited to livelihood and medical benefit recipients, has been temporarily expanded to include housing and education benefit recipients.

Energy vouchers are available to households meeting both the income criteria above and the following household member characteristic criteria. The latter applies if the recipient or household members are elderly, infants, disabled, pregnant women, severely ill, single-parent families, or child-headed households.

The district is actively promoting the program through neighborhood community centers to ensure no eligible recipients miss out due to lack of information on eligibility or application methods.

Especially for those with mobility difficulties, responsible officials are conducting applications on their behalf.

Eligible applicants can apply by visiting their local neighborhood community center or through the Bokjiro website by February 28.

Mayor Kim Kyung-ho of Gwangjin-gu said, “Heating costs have increased due to recent energy price hikes. We will do our best to ensure all eligible recipients receive benefits.”