Promotion of 36 projects in 5 areas including jobs, economy & housing, education, welfare & culture, and participation
Survey results of 426 young people show high demand for job-related needs such as vocational education and job fairs
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Lee Gi-jae) announced that it has established a plan to invest 5.1 billion KRW in 36 youth policy projects in five major areas including jobs this year for local youth, the 'core generation' leading the future of Yangcheon, and reported this at the Yangcheon-gu Youth Policy Committee meeting held on the 21st.
Before the full-scale policy establishment, the district conducted a youth policy demand survey targeting 426 local youths for a month in November last year to select a vision and detailed tasks specialized for Yangcheon-gu.
The survey results showed that the top youth policy Yangcheon-gu should focus on was vocational education and job experience (35.2%), followed by holding job and startup fairs (26.5%) in second place. The most urgent policy needed in the economic field was identified as financial support for securing housing space (60.1%). Among other culture-related policies, expanding cultural facilities ranked first (28.4%), and many also hoped for support for self-diagnosis programs for youth mental health (22.5%).
Reflecting these results actively, under the vision of "Yangcheon, a city where youth want to live!", the district plans to promote 36 projects in five major areas?jobs, economy & housing, education, welfare & culture, and participation & rights?aiming to guarantee various opportunities, spaces, and participation for youth.
In the 'job sector,' which showed the greatest demand from youth, about 1.4 billion KRW will be invested in 14 projects including the 'Youth National Qualification Exam Fee Support Project,' which supports up to 100,000 KRW per person for qualification exam fees for unemployed youth; the 'One-stop Startup Support Service' centered on the Startup Support Center; operation of the 'Metropolitan Job Cafe' for employment support; the 'Youth Internship Project' to expand sustainable jobs based on cooperation with private companies; the 'Youth Store Development Project' supporting part of rent and interior costs for youth who start businesses with creative ideas; and the job fair 'Jobda (JOB多) Day.'
For the 'economy & housing projects' aimed at forming a foundation for youth independence, about 2.8 billion KRW will be supported for five projects including the 'Hope Double Youth Account,' an asset formation project for working youth; the 'Youth Tomorrow Savings Account,' an asset formation project for low-income working youth; the 'Youth Cooperative-type Customized Community Housing Support Project' providing comfortable housing spaces for youth with weak independence foundations; and the 'Youth Monthly Rent Temporary Special Support Project' to alleviate youth housing cost burdens.
For 'education projects' for a better tomorrow for youth, the 'Youth Employment Education Program' linking vocational education necessary for employment such as certification acquisition and jobs will be expanded, and about 120 million KRW has been allocated for four projects including the 'Yangcheon-gu University Student Scholarship' to reduce university students' education expenses.
In the 'welfare & culture' sector to promote youth welfare, 700 million KRW will be invested in seven projects. The 'Youth Center Yangcheon Orang,' a space supporting youth capacity development and cultural life as well as a local youth policy delivery channel, will be established and start operation in the first half of the year. The 'Youth Mental Health Voucher Support Project' supporting youth psychological counseling service costs will also continue.
Additionally, new projects such as the 'Yangcheon Cultural Arts Ecosystem Foundation Project' supporting youth artists' cultural and artistic projects and the 'Family Care Youth Support Project' will be launched.
Lastly, the 'participation & rights' sector provides opportunities for youth to actively communicate with the local community and participate proactively from policy establishment to execution and evaluation to seek developmental directions. Six projects including the operation of the 'Youth Policy Committee' that discovers and deliberates youth policies; operation of the 'Youth Network' supporting active youth participation in the local community; the 'Youth Policy Debate' where youth directly propose policies; and the 'Youth Challenge Project' discovering and realizing public agendas with diverse youth ideas will be invested with 80 million KRW to capture youth voices.
At the Yangcheon-gu Youth Policy Committee meeting held on the 21st, Park Joo-hee, Secretary-General of the Youth Foundation, elected as chairman, said, "As chairman, I will support with a heavy sense of responsibility and mission so that Yangcheon-gu youth policies can be a strong support base encouraging the vigorous takeoff of local youth."
Lee Gi-jae, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, said, "We must create effective youth policies by reflecting the opinions of youth, the demanders, as much as possible from the stage before policy establishment," and added, "We will continue to discover and promote youth-experience-based customized policies so that Yangcheon youth can become confident main actors in society."
Seocho-gu’s ‘Safe Return Firefly’ Operates on the Largest Scale Among Seoul Autonomous Districts
‘Safe Return Firefly’ late-night escort service achieved first place among Seoul districts last year
With 50 members, the largest number among Seoul districts, active in 25 key locations across the district
Seocho-gu (Mayor Jeon Seong-su) will operate the late-night escort service ‘Safe Return Firefly’ with the largest number of personnel in Seoul starting from March, building on last year’s record-high performance.
First, the district will operate 50 Firefly members again this year, the largest scale among Seoul autonomous districts. The Firefly members, organized in pairs, accompany residents who request the escort service via the ‘Seoul Safety App’ all the way home. Having more members than other districts is advantageous, making it easier to accept on-site requests and provide services during duty.
Last year, the district’s usage performance through the ‘Seoul Safety App’ totaled 18,836 cases, overwhelmingly the highest among Seoul’s safe return services.
Due to COVID-19 social distancing, users decreased in 2020 but have steadily increased every year since the easing of restrictions. To meet the growing demand, the district hires the largest number of Firefly members in Seoul again this year to ensure thorough service.
Key areas in Seocho, Banpo, Bangbae, Yangjae, and other zones have been selected as 25 bases, with Firefly members densely deployed throughout the district. Operating hours are from 10 PM to midnight on Mondays, and from 10 PM to 1 AM the next day from Tuesday to Friday.
Additionally, the district has established the ‘Safe Return Guardian Angel’ to strengthen patrols focusing on safety-vulnerable areas such as neighborhoods with many single women households, in cooperation with police stations. For this, the district signed a business agreement in September last year with Seocho Police Station and Bangbae Police Station to build a community safety network aiming for zero female crimes.
Besides the ‘Safe Return Guardian Angel,’ the district operates various ‘Guardian Angels’ in different fields: the ‘Illegal Filming Guardian Angel’ inspecting illegal filming devices in private facilities; the ‘Comforting Guardian Angel’ providing legal counseling for violence victims and psychological counseling for sexual violence victims; and the ‘Smart Guardian Angel’ linked with the CCTV integrated control center and the Safety App to monitor residents in crisis situations in real time.
Seocho-gu Mayor Jeon Seong-su stated, “Through operating the Safe Return Firefly again this year, we will create a dense local safety network enabling safe late-night returns, and by newly operating Seocho’s unique ‘Guardian Angels,’ we will make Seocho safe in many ways.”
“No More Illegal Filming”… Eunpyeong-gu Supports Regular Bathroom Inspections
Applications accepted anytime from local facility and institution managers, private managers, and business owners
On-site inspections using illegal filming detection devices conducted 1-2 times per month
Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) supports regular inspections of public and private restrooms to prevent illegal filming crimes and alleviate social anxiety.
The district selects special management target restrooms from the applications received and conducts on-site inspections 1-2 times a month, also taking follow-up measures such as attaching safe restroom stickers.
Locations requiring illegal filming inspections include restrooms, changing rooms, showers, and similar places.
Managers of local facilities and institutions, private facility managers, and business owners can apply to receive regular restroom inspection support. However, applications are not accepted for spaces used personally such as private homes.
Inspection costs are fully free, and applications can be submitted by visiting Eunpyeong-gu Office or via email. For more details, check the district website notices or contact the Family Policy Division.
Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, said, “To eradicate digital sex crimes, we will continue to strengthen regular illegal filming inspections.”
Dongdaemun-gu Restarts the Mobile Health Bus
Mobile Health Bus, suspended due to COVID-19, resumes operation from March... Providing visiting health management services
Free provision of various health management services tailored to residents’ needs... Contributing to health promotion and extension of healthy lifespan
Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Lee Pil-hyung) will resume operation of the Mobile Health Bus, which provides visiting health management services to residents in areas with poor healthcare access, starting in March.
The Mobile Health Bus began operation in 2012 but was suspended in 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19. With social distancing lifted, it is scheduled to resume in March.
Before restarting, the district reorganized the Mobile Health Bus health management services based on the 2021 health service demand survey results, focusing on visiting health promotion projects and promotional programs centered on ‘prevention and management of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases,’ ‘obesity prevention and management,’ and ‘physical activity,’ which showed high demand, aiming to improve residents’ health management levels.
The Mobile Health Bus offers free services including ▲blood pressure measurement and health counseling ▲metabolic syndrome screening and health counseling ▲alcohol metabolism type tests and self-alcohol diagnosis as part of drinking reduction programs ▲mobile smoking cessation clinics ▲health lifestyle practice campaigns such as physical activity, obesity prevention, and nutrition management ▲AI and IoT-based elderly health management projects ▲simple dementia screening tests and customized counseling ▲suicide prevention management programs including depression and stress management.
Eligible users are seniors aged 65 and over and health-vulnerable groups within the district. For more information, contact the Dongdaemun-gu Public Health Center.
Jang Seung-hee, Director of Dongdaemun-gu Public Health Center, said, “We plan to provide health management services to elderly and residents in areas with poor medical access by resuming the Mobile Health Bus operation,” adding, “We will continue to discover and provide health management services needed by residents and take the lead in creating a healthy and happy Dongdaemun-gu.”
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