Improving Accessibility for Socially Vulnerable Groups... Yeongdeungpo-gu Children's Park Renovation

From late April, renovation of ‘Gochu-mal Children’s Park’ including replacement of aging playground and rest facilities

Improvements to Wonji, Yangpyeong, and Seogang Children’s Parks by June including slope ramps, elastic flooring replacement, and garden creation

Accompanying socially vulnerable groups such as seniors and people with disabilities... enhancing safety and convenience for residents

Yeongdeungpo-gu (Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) announced that from late April, it will accelerate the renovation of aging facilities at ‘Gochu-mal Children’s Park’ to create a park that accompanies socially vulnerable groups such as seniors and people with disabilities.

The district plans to improve park facilities that residents use daily into spaces where socially vulnerable groups and others can gather together, thereby enhancing resident convenience and improving quality of life.

In particular, Gochu-mal Children’s Park is frequently visited not only by children but also by many seniors living nearby due to the entry into an aging society. Seniors tend to spend more time near their homes rather than traveling long distances due to physical decline and economic reasons, and those visiting Gochu-mal Children’s Park spend their leisure time there walking, doing strength exercises, and socializing with acquaintances.

Wonji Children's Park Walking Trail

Accordingly, from late April, the district will invest 500 million KRW to renovate aging facilities at Gochu-mal Children’s Park. To create a park that everyone can use healthily and enjoyably, the project includes ▲replacement of aging playground equipment such as combination play sets, slides, and swings ▲replacement of aging rest and convenience facilities such as benches and drinking fountains ▲repair of worn playground flooring and raised or damaged sidewalks ▲maintenance of flower beds with soil erosion and planting of trees in vacant lots.

Additionally, the district plans to carry out facility improvement works at Wonji Children’s Park, Yangpyeong Children’s Park, and Seogang Children’s Park by June this year. At Wonji Children’s Park, stairs at the park entrance will be replaced with slope ramps for socially vulnerable groups such as seniors and people with disabilities, and handrails will be installed in restrooms and uphill paths, significantly enhancing safety and convenience.

At Yangpyeong Children’s Park, the gravel walking path will be replaced with soft elastic flooring, and at Seogang Children’s Park, old containers will be removed and a garden where visitors can enjoy a variety of annual flowers will be created in their place.

Yeongdeungpo-gu Mayor Choi Ho-kwon said, “Parks are spaces where all residents can come to heal their tired bodies and minds and enjoy healthy and leisure activities,” adding, “We will continue to do our best to create parks that warmly embrace socially vulnerable groups through continuous facility improvements.”

Dongjak-gu launches ‘Woori Aiji Kimi’ to eradicate child abuse

‘Woori Aiji Kimi’ formed with about 100 members, full-scale public-private cooperation launched

Dongjak-gu (Mayor Park Il-ha) held the launching ceremony of ‘Woori Aiji Kimi,’ a public-private cooperation network to eradicate child abuse, on the 12th.

‘Woori Aiji Kimi’ consists of about 100 residents of Dongjak-gu who are raising children under 18 years old and are interested in child welfare and human rights.

They will conduct promotional activities to improve awareness of child abuse and encourage positive parenting practices within the local community. They will also participate in various activities such as ▲monitoring neighboring children ▲reporting suspected child abuse cases ▲child abuse prevention campaigns.

All attendees at the launching ceremony pledged mutual cooperation through a joint declaration to ensure children are raised healthily in a safe environment. Following this, child abuse prevention education focusing on specific cases was conducted.

Reports of child abuse have increased since 2020, with 44 cases in 2020, 116 in 2021, and 151 in 2022. Dongjak-gu plans to focus administrative efforts on strengthening the child safety net.

Dongjak-gu Mayor Park Il-ha said, “Prevention is more important than post-incident measures in child abuse,” and urged, “I hope all members of the community will be vigilant about child abuse and show interest in their neighbors.”

Yangcheon-gu supports youth preparing for independence with first ‘Yangcheon-type Independent Experience Home’

On the 13th, Yangcheon-gu and Changil Church sign agreement for Independent Experience Home to support stable social adaptation of youth preparing for independence

Through public-private cooperation, free provision of housing space, costs, household goods, employment education, and one-on-one mentoring

Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Lee Ki-jae) announced that it will operate the first ‘Yangcheon-type Independent Experience Home’ to strengthen the independence capabilities of youth preparing for independence who have finished protection in child care facilities or group homes and help them adapt to society.

The ‘Yangcheon-type Independent Experience Home’ is a space where youth preparing for independence live for six months to one year in a housing environment similar to actual independent living, cultivating their will for independence through programs such as employment and mentoring while preparing to enter society.

Reflecting the regional characteristic of having the largest number of child care facilities among Seoul’s autonomous districts, the district prepared this project and signed a business agreement with its public-private cooperation partner Changil Church on the 13th to receive support for housing space, management fees, rent, and household goods such as appliances and furniture.

The target residents of the Independent Experience Home are two youths aged 18 to 24 who are preparing for independence or have already become independent but face difficulties living alone in local child welfare facilities.

Interior of Yangcheon-type Independent Living Experience Home for Youth Preparing for Self-Reliance

Residents will receive free housing space as well as psychological and emotional support, one-on-one mentoring for social network formation, and a barista job experience program.

The district plans to expand the operation based on this year’s project outcomes.

Additionally, the district will form a working-level council with Changil Church and child welfare facilities to hold regular meetings, monitor the adaptation process of resident youth, and connect necessary local resources.

Yangcheon-gu Mayor Lee Ki-jae said, “The Yangcheon-type Independent Experience Home will be a reliable stepping stone where youth preparing for independence can trust and lean on,” adding, “We will continue to build a dense support network so that youth preparing for independence can smoothly settle as healthy members of society.”

Eunpyeong-gu assigns road names to Gupabal Stream walking trail

This month, 150 basic road number plates installed on Gupabalcheonseo-gil and Dong-gil

Road naming facilitates accurate location identification and rapid rescue

Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) announced that it has assigned road names to the 6.8 km round-trip section of the Gupabal Stream walking trail to enable accurate location identification in emergencies.

The Gupabal Stream walking trail in Jingwan-dong is a popular spot for many residents for exercise and family walks. Accurate location identification in emergencies now allows for rapid rescue and first aid.

Previously, the district established a road naming plan in September last year and conducted resident opinion collection procedures. Newly created road names ‘Gupabalcheonseo-gil’ and ‘Gupabalcheondong-gil’ were assigned basic numbers for each section, and in April this year, 75 basic road number plates were installed on Gupabalcheonseo-gil and 75 on Dong-gil, totaling 150.

Basic numbers assign numbers to certain sections of roads to indicate locations, similar to road addresses. This system can be used like road addresses to identify exact locations when there are no buildings or specific facilities nearby.

In the future, the district is considering assigning basic numbers to other popular visitor spots such as the Eunpyeong Dulle-gil trail in addition to Gupabal Stream.

Eunpyeong-gu Mayor Kim Mi-kyung said, “I hope residents visiting Gupabal Stream can enjoy walks with peace of mind by accurately identifying their location and also use it as a meeting place,” adding, “We will continue to do our best to make Eunpyeong a safe place to live.”