Expanded and Relocated to LH Seoul Yangwon District to Provide a Safe and Comfortable Shelter Considerate of the Visually Impaired
Activation of Self-Help Groups, Provision of Cultural and Educational Programs such as Braille and Informatization Education
Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi) held the opening ceremony of the ‘Jungnang-gu Shelter for the Visually Impaired’ on the afternoon of the 3rd.
The ‘Jungnang-gu Shelter for the Visually Impaired,’ which opened after expanding and relocating to LH Seoul Yangwon District, is a space created to enable visually impaired individuals, who had great difficulty using existing welfare facilities, to use it more conveniently.
With an area of 116.57㎡, approximately 29.7㎡ larger than the previous facility, it is equipped with various spaces such as a program room, counseling room, and lounge. It also provides a comfortable self-help group space to serve as a place for information exchange and socializing among the visually impaired. Additionally, considering the characteristics of disabilities, information and communication devices such as braille printers, text readers, and touchscreens have been installed to ensure no inconvenience in using the shelter.
A variety of educational and cultural programs are also operated. In addition to braille education and informatization education programs using voice-supported computers, cultural programs such as singing classes, yoga classes, and healing massages are prepared. Furthermore, a free shuttle bus for transportation-vulnerable individuals is operated to enhance convenience.
The district expects that visually impaired individuals will enjoy rest in the spacious and comfortable shelter space and experience various cultural and leisure programs, enabling more diverse activities.
Ryu Kyung-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, said, “With the opening of the Jungnang-gu Shelter for the Visually Impaired, visually impaired people who had difficulties using general social welfare facilities will have an opportunity to enjoy healthy social activities and cultural and leisure life in a safe and comfortable space.” He added, “We will spare no effort in providing multifaceted and active support for the happy and satisfying lives of the visually impaired.”
Jungnang-gu is making various efforts to improve welfare for the disabled. First, it continuously expands quality jobs and holds job fairs every year to provide opportunities for social participation and income activities. It also guarantees the mobility rights of transportation-vulnerable individuals by operating rapid chargers for electric mobility aids and supporting repair costs for mobility devices. Additionally, it has created a barrier-free forest trail leading to the summit of Bonghwasan Mountain, allowing anyone to easily enjoy rest.
Lee Soon-hee, Mayor of Gangbuk-gu, Resolves Civil Complaints Smoothly through Dong (Neighborhood) Video Conferences
Regular Video Conferences with 13 Dong and Team Leaders... ‘Realizing Field-Centered Administration’
“Listening to Even the Smallest Voices in Every Corner of the Neighborhood”
Lee Soon-hee, Mayor of Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, presided over a video conference with the heads and team leaders of 13 neighborhood (dong) community centers on the morning of the 3rd in the mayor’s office for ‘field-centered communication administration.’
The video conferences with dong and team leaders, initiated from the 8th elected term, started at the mayor’s suggestion to directly and quickly check local civil complaints and actively communicate with dong and team leaders.
In this meeting held every Friday morning, about 30 dong and team leaders and executives check the progress of projects by dong and share major issues of the district.
On the first and third weeks of each month, team leaders attend the regular video conference, while on the second and fourth weeks, dong heads participate.
On this day, Mayor Lee first said, “With the arrival of the spring thaw, concerns about collapses of fences, retaining walls, and embankments are increasing,” and urged, “Please thoroughly inspect every corner of the alleys for residents’ safety.”
After listening to major projects and issues by each of the 13 dongs, he proposed solutions and ordered organic cooperation between departments and quick responses tailored to the civil complaints.
Checking the redevelopment and reconstruction progress in Suyu-dong, Mayor Lee said, “After the formation of the association, conflicts among residents tend to intensify and information on progress is insufficient, causing difficulties.” He added, “The district office’s direct ‘Rapid Promotion Team for Reconstruction and Redevelopment’ will provide professional consulting and sufficient information in advance to help residents harmonize smoothly.”
Regarding the cracked old fences in Songjung-dong, he instructed, “Since the weather is warming, they may collapse quickly, so we must expedite safety inspections to carry out emergency repair work.”
He also urged dong and team leaders to carefully check the safety status of local retaining walls and public facilities, emphasizing, “Please carry out thorough safety management during the thaw period to protect the lives and property of residents.”
Mayor Lee Soon-hee said, “The Gangbuk-gu office slogan, ‘Gangbuk that Empowers Me,’ can be realized when the neighborhood dong and team leaders, who communicate closely with residents, care about their difficulties as if they were their own problems.” He added, “We will continue to strengthen field-centered administrative power and strive to listen to even the smallest voices in every corner of the neighborhood.”
Gwangjin-gu Holds 2023 Resident Reporters Appointment Ceremony on the 3rd for Operation of the 2023 Resident Reporters... Mayor Kim Kyung-ho Presents Appointment Certificates
Composed of Residents or Local Residents from Their 20s to 60s of Various Age Groups
Delivering Lively News of Local Events, Useful Information, and Goodwill Stories from Diverse Perspectives
Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Kyung-ho) held the 2023 Resident Reporters appointment ceremony and conducted capacity-building training on the 3rd.
The 2023 Resident Reporters program was promoted to activate two-way communication by having local residents who know the conditions and characteristics of the neighborhood discover and promote local news, and it was composed of a total of 30 members through recommendations by dong and open recruitment.
In particular, this year’s reporters expanded the age range to allow anyone aged 19 or older who is a resident of the district to participate, forming a diverse age group from their 20s to 60s. They will deliver vivid local news from the 15 dongs that make up Gwangjin-gu, including local events, useful information, and goodwill stories from various perspectives.
The appointment ceremony was held with representatives of reporters from each dong and Mayor Kim Kyung-ho of Gwangjin-gu attending, proceeding with the presentation of appointment certificates, guidance on reporter activities, and capacity-building training for the reporters.
Mayor Kim said, “I believe that the resident reporters, who know the conditions and characteristics of the neighborhood inside and out, will capture various local news well in their articles.” He added, “I hope the reporters’ activities will become a new communication channel to inform surrounding residents such as youth and those in need about the ‘Gwangjin-gu usage guide.’”
The following training was conducted by Lee Joo-hyung, a corporate PR researcher who has given numerous lectures on press release writing, under the theme ‘Planning and Writing Press Releases.’
The content included ▲coverage for press release writing ▲press release writing ▲increasing media publication rates ▲photography to enhance the sense of presence. The resident reporters actively participated in the training, even consulting the instructor about topics they wanted to cover during breaks.
Going forward, each resident reporter will write press releases based on their coverage and submit them to the Gwangjin-gu Public Relations Officer, who plans to distribute the 2023 resident reporters’ press releases to about 60 media outlets.
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