Jangseong-gun, Jeollanam-do, is drawing attention as it plans to significantly expand support for senior centers to better reflect current realities.
With the county council's final approval of the supplementary budget on the 31st, Jangseong-gun will invest 1.494 billion KRW across five sectors to support senior centers.
This move to make support for senior centers more realistic is the result of actively incorporating residents' opinions gathered through the 'Dialogue with Residents' held earlier this year.
The first notable change is the expansion of support for the renovation and repair of senior centers. Jangseong-gun has doubled the support amount from the previous limit of 5 million KRW per center to 10 million KRW per center, recognizing that the former was not practical. This is expected to quickly resolve facility issues that could cause inconvenience to senior center users.
The subsidy for purchasing side dishes and other food supplies has also been revised. The county has refined the subsidy system from a standard of 20 members to 10 members. For a senior center with 60 registered seniors, monthly support will increase by 90,000 KRW from 270,000 KRW to 360,000 KRW.
Support for standing tables, a pilot project aimed at seniors with mobility difficulties, will be initially implemented as a pilot considering the size of the senior centers, with plans to expand from the second half of the year.
Sixty-seven senior centers will receive four-season ceramic ondol mats, which are highly preferred by seniors, and replacement of home appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators, and televisions will be supported up to 2 million KRW per item. In addition to operating expenses, substantial support will continue for ▲ eco-friendly grains ▲ water purifier rental fees ▲ special heating and cooling costs ▲ and senior center programs.
Furthermore, the safety of senior centers will be thoroughly checked. The county plans to conduct electrical safety inspections at all senior centers in the region. These inspections will be entrusted to specialized electrical safety management organizations, and repairs or facility replacements will be promptly carried out as needed.
Kim Han-jong, the mayor of Jangseong-gun, stated, “We will spare no effort to support seniors so they can spend a comfortable and happy old age,” adding, “We will listen more closely to residents' opinions and promptly improve any unrealistic aspects through proactive administration to open a new era of happiness for all residents of Jangseong.”
Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Jo Han-gyu bless4ya@asiae.co.kr
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