Proposal for Fund Utilization Allowing Not Only Residents but Also Workers to Enjoy Urban Benefits
Facilities for Workers, Revitalization of Cultural Industries, and Resident Welfare All Included to Support ‘Workplace, Living Space, and Resting Place’
Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, “We Will Make Seongdong-gu a City Where All Members Enjoy Urban Benefits through the Hometown Love Donation System”
Two months after the implementation of the Hometown Love Donation System, interest is gradually increasing not only in ‘what to give’ but also in ‘what to do’ with the funds.
Amid this, Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) has proactively presented a model for an urban-type Hometown Love Donation System based on fund utilization plans.
On the 3rd, Seongdong-gu revealed its fund utilization plan and expressed its ambition to create a city where workplace, living space, and resting place develop evenly through the ‘Seongdong-type Hometown Love Donation System.’
The plan is to use the funds so that not only local residents but also workers and cultural artists working in Seongdong-gu can all enjoy the benefits of the city.
Fund Utilization Plan as Important as Return Gifts
Although the term ‘hometown’ in the Hometown Love Donation System’s name may lead to the misunderstanding that donations must be made to one’s place of origin, in reality, donations can be made to any region other than the place of residence.
From the perspective of local governments, securing donors living outside their area is necessary, but aside from return gifts equivalent to 30% of the donation amount, it has been difficult to differentiate, leading local governments nationwide to focus on developing return gifts even before the system was implemented.
However, in urban areas, there are limitations to local specialty products, and criteria such as origin or production location must be observed, making it difficult to select return gifts.
As an urban district, Seongdong-gu sought a breakthrough from a different perspective. The plan is to create a sustainable donation cycle by providing donors with a sense of efficacy through attractive fund utilization plans and enabling them to actually enjoy the benefits.
Workers Not Living in Seongdong-gu Are Also ‘Seongdong People’
Seongdong-gu is a hub for social ventures and startups nationwide, with over 500 companies and investment firms gathered near Seongsu-dong. With many popular attractions, workers in the area often spend their time after work or during leisure in Seongdong-gu.
Reflecting these local characteristics, Seongdong-gu plans to establish ‘Side Seongsu’ (tentative name), a mid-point facility where nearby workers can work or rest between their workplace and home, serving as a comfortable resting and complex cultural space through the Hometown Love Donation funds.
Based on this physical hub, the district aims to encourage various communications between companies and individuals, fostering an urban salon culture centered around the Seongsu area and strengthening Seongdong-gu’s local brand differentiated from other districts.
Creating a City Flowing with Culture and Arts and Enhancing Local Residents’ Welfare
In addition to facilities for workers, there is also a plan to create an environment where culture and arts can be experienced anywhere in the city. Busking performance venues will be established at major tourist spots such as Seongsu-dong and Seoul Forest, providing infrastructure to enjoy performances anywhere in the city and aiming to leap forward as a cultural city.
Regular performances in various genres such as jazz, bands, hip-hop, and street dance will be held, offering opportunities for local residents and nearby workers to enjoy culture and arts, while also providing lesser-known cultural artists with stages and fair compensation.
Moreover, high-quality cultural viewing vouchers for concerts and more will be provided to low-income vulnerable children and youth with limited cultural access, enabling them to enjoy diverse and rich cultural experiences, thereby creating an environment where everyone living in Seongdong can enjoy cultural benefits without exclusion.
Additionally, part of the funds will be invested in expanding convenience facilities and maintaining the Healing Centers located and operated in Yeongwol and Yeosu, which serve as recreational facilities for residents’ cultural and leisure activities, providing comfortable rest and recharging time for residents tired of daily life.
Alongside this, support funds will be provided to children aging out of protective facilities to help their social settlement, and the Hometown Love Donation funds will also be used for supporting vulnerable groups, revitalizing the local community, and enhancing residents’ welfare, aiming to improve the welfare of residents living in Seongdong-gu.
"We Will Make Seongdong-gu a City Where Workplace, Living Space, and Resting Place Develop in Balance through the Hometown Love Donation System"
Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, has repeatedly expressed his ambition to create a ‘Seongdong-gu where workplace, living space, and resting place develop in balance.’ This aligns with the recently spotlighted ‘Work (職) - Residence (住) - Leisure (樂) Center Theory,’ which states that regions where people work, enjoy, and live nearby lead urban growth due to lifestyle changes.
A notable feature is the shift in perception to consider not only city residents but all people commuting to the city as members.
By establishing ‘Side Seongsu’ (tentative name) to make Seongdong a good place to work, promoting culture and arts to make it a good place to play, and enhancing local residents’ welfare to make it a good place to live, the system will be utilized so that all members can enjoy the city’s benefits.
Mayor Jung Won-oh stated, “The goal of the Hometown Love Donation System is to create a sustainable city based on local characteristics,” and expressed his ambition, “Through the Seongdong-type Hometown Love Donation System, we will make Seongdong-gu a smart inclusive city where all members enjoy urban benefits without discrimination.”
Following the preparation of fund utilization plans, Seongdong-gu is discovering return gifts that reflect local characteristics and plans to disclose them through various media including Hometown Love e-um.
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