[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Koo Dae-sun] Gyeongbuk Province received the Grand Prize at the 1st Korea Healthy Age-Friendly City Policy Awards held on the 8th, hosted by Konkuk University Institute for Healthy Aging Society, Seoul Shinmun, and sponsored by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
This competition evaluated 283 local governments including 17 metropolitan cities and provinces across eight areas such as social participation, jobs, and community care. Gyeongbuk Province was honored with the Grand Prize as its representative senior welfare model, ‘Gyeongnodang Happiness Teacher,’ received high scores.
The 1st Korea Healthy Age-Friendly City Policy Awards are given to local governments that actively implement age-friendly policies through creative policies and infrastructure to enable seniors to live healthy and vibrant social lives.
The ‘Gyeongnodang Happiness Teacher’ project is Gyeongbuk Province’s representative senior welfare policy in the era of super-aging society.
‘Happiness Teachers’ are assigned to Gyeongnodang, which have traditionally served as community gathering places for village elders, providing on-site customized comprehensive welfare services covering seniors’ health, leisure, education, and welfare.
Especially this year, the budget was increased by 3 billion KRW from the previous year to 19 billion KRW, planning to add 20 more Happiness Teachers and enhance the quality of welfare services for seniors at Gyeongnodang through capacity-building education.
Kim Jin-hyun, Director of the Welfare and Health Bureau of Gyeongbuk Province, said, “We are very honored that the Gyeongnodang Happiness Teacher project, now in its fifth year, has been recognized for its continuous efforts to bring happiness to the daily lives of seniors,” and added, “Going forward, Gyeongbuk Province will take the lead in creating a healthy age-friendly city where seniors can participate in society actively and healthily.”
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