February 9 Hearing Precision Test Yangcheon-gu Signs MOU with 25 Medical Institutions to Achieve Public-Private Cooperation
Hearing precision tests conducted to screen for hearing loss and abnormalities caused by airport noise
Based on the assessment and analysis of hearing loss among residents in affected areas, reasonable support will be requested from the government
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Lee Gi-jae) announced that on the 9th, it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with 25 participating medical institutions to support hearing (precision) tests and to promote the full-scale project for improving the health and welfare of residents affected by airport noise.
This initiative was prepared at the district level as a major pledge project of the 8th local government term to proactively respond to residents suffering physically from chronic airport noise-related hearing abnormalities (hearing loss, tinnitus). Accordingly, from now on, those eligible for hearing (precision) test support will be able to receive free hearing (precision) tests for hearing loss screening at medical institutions partnered with Yangcheon-gu.
The support target is approximately 1,000 residents who have lived for more than five years in airport noise-affected areas, with applications and selection scheduled for March. The district plans to steadily carry out the project annually and eventually expand the test subjects to all residents in airport noise-affected areas.
The test items include pure-tone audiometry, speech audiometry, and impedance audiometry. Subjects will receive a primary basic hearing test, and if abnormalities are found, a secondary precision hearing test will be conducted.
Prior to this, the district selected medical institutions capable of conducting hearing (precision) tests and willing to participate in the project, then signed MOUs with those institutions. This agreement is meaningful as it establishes measures that residents in airport noise-affected areas can feel through public-private cooperation based on administrative power and medical expertise.
The signing ceremony was attended by Lee Gi-jae, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, and representatives of medical institutions including Ra Ki-hyeok, Director of Hongik Hospital, and Hwang Chan-ho, President of the Korean Otorhinolaryngology Society. Key agreement items include ▲agreement period and support procedures ▲hearing test items and costs ▲billing and payment procedures for test costs ▲presentation of test opinions and mutual support regarding hearing tests.
Lee Gi-jae, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, stated, “Starting with this hearing (precision) test support, we will work to establish further medical measures,” and added, “We plan to use objective data by identifying the actual hearing loss status of residents in noise-affected areas to reasonably request government support in the future.” He also emphasized, “We will cooperate well with medical institutions to improve the health and welfare of residents in noise-affected areas and do our best to make our district a model case for airport noise-affected areas nationwide.”
Gwangjin-gu Distributes Spare Masks in Buses and Taxis
Distribution Targets Buses and Taxis Where Indoor Mask Wearing Remains Mandatory
Prevents Passengers from Being Denied Public Transport Due to Forgotten Masks and Helps Prevent Infectious Disease Spread
Total of 101,350 Masks Distributed... Passengers Can Request Masks from Drivers
Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Kyung-ho) will distribute spare masks inside buses and taxis where mask-wearing remains mandatory on the 15th.
From January 30, following the government’s adjustment plan for indoor mask mandates to level 1, mask-wearing indoors has shifted from mandatory to recommended, except in ▲vulnerable facilities ▲medical institutions and pharmacies ▲public transportation, where indoor mask-wearing remains mandatory.
During this transitional phase of daily life recovery, the district anticipates confusion among residents regarding mask-wearing and has decided to distribute spare masks in city buses, village buses, and taxis. This is to ensure residents who forget masks are not prevented from using public transport and to prevent the spread of infectious diseases due to unmasked passengers.
Approximately 101,350 masks will be distributed to bus companies and taxi operators, including individual taxis. Each of the 92 buses will receive 300 masks, and each of the 1,475 individual and corporate taxis will receive 50 masks.
From the 15th onward, passengers in Gwangjin-gu who do not have or are not wearing masks on buses or taxis can request masks from drivers and wear them.
Kim Kyung-ho, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, said, “We will distribute spare masks to cover even the smallest details so that residents do not feel inconvenienced,” and added, “We will continue to strive to create a convenient and safe transportation environment.”
Yongsan-gu Selects Key Tasks for Proactive Administration in 2023
32 Key Tasks Identified by Departments and Community Service Centers
Five Final Focus Areas Selected Including Urban Safety Network and Resolution of Daily Life Inconveniences
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yongsan-gu recently held a Proactive Administration Committee meeting and finalized five key proactive administrative tasks that are closely related to residents’ lives and require preemptive responses.
The selected projects are ▲Recovery of the people’s economy: ‘Support for Revitalization of Yongsan Campus Town’ ▲Urban safety network construction: ‘Smart City Integrated Platform Construction Project’ ▲Cultural activity recovery: ‘Post-COVID-19 Era Cultural and Arts Revitalization Project’ ▲8th local government pledge: ‘Promotion of Use of Yongsan Park Sports Facilities’ ▲Resolution of daily inconveniences: ‘Community-based Smart Sewage Odor Improvement Project’.
Before the committee meeting, departments and community service centers identified 32 projects requiring focused promotion, including long-unresolved issues and those needing innovative and creative solutions. After internal preliminary review, eight projects were selected in the first round, and five were finalized through the Proactive Administration Committee, which includes civilian members.
The Proactive Administration Committee consists of five internal members including the deputy mayor, and six civilian experts such as lawyers, engineers, and architects.
The district plans to incorporate the selected tasks into the proactive administration implementation plan and conduct regular performance evaluations. If difficulties arise during policy implementation, the district will seek solutions and support through proactive administration support systems such as the committee and pre-consultations.
Kim Seon-su, Acting Mayor of Yongsan-gu, said, “In a rapidly changing administrative environment, swift and flexible changes by public officials are necessary,” and added, “We will do our best to produce policy outcomes that residents can feel.”
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