Call for Summer Edition Phrases for ‘Jungnang Happiness Billboard’ from May 1 to 17
Accepting original creative phrases within 30 characters that suit the refreshing summer
Submitted works will be reviewed, selecting 1 winning piece and 5 honorable mentions
Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Gyeong-gi) announced that it will hold a contest for the summer edition phrases of the ‘Jungnang Happiness Billboard’ from May 1 to May 17.
The Jungnang Happiness Billboard is a large billboard installed on the outer wall of Jungnang-gu Office to deliver messages of hope and comfort to residents. It is refreshed every season?spring, summer, fall, and winter?by collecting season-appropriate phrases from residents.
This contest invites original creative phrases within 30 characters that convey the cool freshness of summer and resonate across generations.
Anyone residing or working in Jungnang-gu can submit one entry per person.
Completed creative phrases can be submitted through the Jungnang-gu Office website. If online submission is difficult, submissions can be made by visiting the Administrative Support Division of Jungnang-gu Office or by mail.
Submitted works will be reviewed by the ‘Phrase Selection Committee’ to select 1 winning piece and 5 honorable mentions. The winner will receive a Jungnang Love gift certificate worth 500,000 KRW, and honorable mentions will receive gift certificates worth 100,000 KRW each.
The winning phrase will be designed to match the season and displayed on the outer wall of Jungnang-gu Office from June to August.
Mayor Ryu Gyeong-gi of Jungnang-gu said, “I hope residents feel gentle inspiration and comfort when viewing the Jungnang Happiness Billboard,” and added, “We look forward to receiving many great phrases full of summer’s greenery and vitality for this happiness billboard.”
Meanwhile, in the last spring edition contest, Kim Jun-hee’s phrase “The wind is nice, the warmth is nice, this place is nice” was selected as the winning piece.
Mapo-gu’s Library Support and Resident Usage... All ‘Smooth Sailing’
Simultaneous strengthening of public library operations and reading support services including increased budget for interlibrary loan service
Enhancing communication with library directors through public library operation network and improving operational soundness
Mapo Central Library usage increased compared to last year... Continuing sustainable library services
Mapo-gu (Mayor Park Gang-su) is focusing on revitalizing public library operations and strengthening reading support services, increasing the overall budget for library operations compared to the previous year to improve the quality of library services.
Accordingly, the goal of the district to provide ‘sustainable library services’ is also evaluated to be back on track.
Currently, Mapo-gu operates 15 public libraries (4 public libraries, 2 children’s English libraries, and 9 small libraries).
To activate the interlibrary loan service supporting borrowing and returning books among these public libraries, the district allocated about 200 million KRW, which is 83 million KRW more than last year.
The interlibrary loan service allows residents to conveniently borrow and return books from other libraries at a library convenient for them. In 2022, usage increased by nearly 60% (116,296 books) compared to the previous year, making it a representative service supporting residents’ reading culture. Therefore, the district has put effort into activating this service.
In addition to interlibrary loans within the district’s public libraries, a national interlibrary loan service is also operated, allowing use of materials from libraries in other regions with agreements. Especially for vulnerable groups such as the disabled who find it difficult to visit libraries, a national book delivery service for the disabled is provided via post office courier.
Continuous investment is also made to improve the environment of small libraries and children’s English libraries by repairing worn facilities for users’ safety and convenience.
As a result, comparing the usage status of Mapo Central Library, the largest public library in Mapo, with the previous year shows a noticeable increase in residents’ library use: ▲daily visitors increased by 212 (from 1,876 to 2,088) ▲daily book loans increased by 13 (from 1,578 to 1,591) ▲daily e-book usage increased by 294 (from 5,265 to 5,559) ▲daily audiobook usage increased by 1,854 (from 5,197 to 7,051).
The district is focusing not only on expanding and strengthening infrastructure for library operations but also on communication with library directors who actually manage the libraries to improve operational soundness.
Through the ‘Public Library Operation Network Meeting’ involving library directors and district officials, the district shares major government and city policies related to libraries and explores ways to revitalize operations by library. In March, under the Welfare Cooperation Bureau Chief’s leadership, directors and staff of nine small libraries gathered to discuss ways to activate small library operations in Mapo-gu.
In June, a Public Library Operation Network Meeting will be held with all 15 public library officials presided over by the Mayor of Mapo-gu, with two more meetings planned for the second half of the year.
Mayor Park Gang-su of Mapo-gu said, “As always, our 15 public libraries including Mapo Central Library will be operated as places where all residents from infants to seniors can obtain the knowledge and information they need and develop themselves.”
Dongdaemun-gu Delivers Plaques to Newly Designated Good Price Businesses
Six new ‘Good Price Businesses’ designated contributing to price stabilization
Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Lee Pil-hyung) on the 26th designated six local businesses that contribute to price stabilization by offering affordable prices and quality services as ‘Good Price Businesses’ and delivered certification plaques.
The businesses receiving plaques this time include Yeong Kalguksu, a noodle restaurant in Dapsimni 2-dong run by a mother and daughter for nearly 20 years, famous locally for delicious, affordable, and clean food.
Through a comprehensive review of Good Price Businesses in the second half of 2022, the district newly designated six places including Yeong Kalguksu, Jeonju Gomtang, Borirang, Myeongmul Restaurant, Dotori-gun Mushroom Yang, and Gyeongdong Restaurant.
Dongdaemun-gu Mayor Ilhyung Lee (left) and the owner of 'Young Kalguksu' posing for a commemorative photo after attaching the Good Price Business certification plaque
Designated Good Price Businesses receive benefits such as support for hygiene supplies like volume-based waste bags, kitchen detergent, and toilet paper, as well as promotional support through the district website, newsletters, and SNS.
Mayor Lee Pil-hyung of Dongdaemun-gu said, “We thank the Good Price Businesses participating in local price stabilization with affordable prices during the high inflation period,” and added, “We hope residents will actively use Good Price Businesses for a mutually prosperous Dongdaemun-gu.”
The 2023 status of Dongdaemun-gu Good Price Businesses can be checked on the Dongdaemun-gu Office website.
Warmhearted Stories Continue in Seodaemun-gu, Creating a Virtuous Cycle of Sharing
Commendations for residents who contributed to extinguishing Inwangsan wildfire and companies donating premium pine trees
Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Lee Seong-heon) announced on the 26th that it awarded commendations to 13 individuals including company and organization representatives and private citizens who set examples through sharing and volunteer activities at a recent ceremony held in the district office’s large conference room.
This year’s awardee ‘Samsung Life Insurance’ donated premium pine trees from the Seosomun Building to grow in parks within Seodaemun-gu. The ‘Hongje 3-dong Community Leaders Association’ and ‘Sergeant Park Jong-ho of Hong Eun Police Station’ thoroughly cleaned the home of an elderly person where trash had accumulated.
The ‘Namgajwa 2-dong Community Security Council’ gave sports shoe vouchers to children from single-parent families, the ‘Bukgajwa 1-dong Community Security Council’ gifted side dishes to elderly living alone and congratulatory gift certificates to elementary, middle, and high school students from underprivileged families, and ‘BYC Hong Eun Branch CEO Kang Jeong-soon’ donated clothing to personnel who fought the Inwangsan wildfire.
Earlier this month, the district also awarded certificates to the ‘Ant Village Senior Citizens Center’ for guiding residents to safely evacuate through disaster broadcasts during the Inwangsan wildfire, and to members of the ‘Hongje 3-dong Saemaul Leaders Association, Disaster Prevention Corps, and Crime Prevention Corps’ who transported wildfire suppression supplies using motorcycles and other vehicles.
The district selects outstanding companies, organizations, and individuals who lead a virtuous cycle of sharing and volunteering and spread a positive image of the community through media exposure every month and awards them the ‘District Government Media Publicity Commendation.’
At the awards ceremony, Mayor Lee Seong-heon said, “All activities driven by love for neighbors and the community, including wildfire suppression, will be a great force for ‘100% Happy Seodaemun,’” expressing his gratitude.
Seodaemun-gu is holding a photo exhibition titled ‘Inwangsan Wildfire Site, Speaking Through Records’ in the district office lobby, featuring the efforts of civil, public, and military personnel including members of the Hongje 3-dong civic groups who contributed to extinguishing the Inwangsan wildfire.
More than 230 photos arranged by time vividly convey the situation at the time and raise citizens’ awareness of wildfire prevention.
Seocho-gu Studies Environment Riding Rafts and Electric Cars on Yangjaecheon Stream
Excellent urban environmental education program ‘Yangjaecheon Slow Tour’ runs free from next month until October
Expanded weekend operation from this year, enabling 7,200 children and parents to enjoy the program
Various ecological experiences including raft riding, making and throwing EM mud balls, feeding carp and ducks, and releasing loaches
Seocho-gu (Mayor Jeon Seong-su) will operate the excellent children’s environmental program ‘Yangjaecheon Slow Tour’ starting May 1 in celebration of Family Month.
‘Yangjaecheon Slow Tour’ is named to mean ‘a slow trip enjoying the stream.’ Since 2018, the district has run this environmental education program so participating children can enjoy nature at Yangjaecheon, an ecological stream in the city, and feel the importance of stream conservation.
This program, which was operated on weekdays last year, will be expanded to weekends this year. The high satisfaction rate of 97% from last year’s participants and the desire to allow working parents to comfortably participate with their children motivated this expansion.
With this weekend expansion, the number of participants is expected to increase by 50% compared to last year, allowing 7,200 children and parents to enjoy the program.
‘Yangjaecheon Slow Tour’ offers various environmental experiences and stream cleanup activities while riding rafts and electric cars.
First, the ‘ecological experience’ takes place over about 200 meters of Yangjaecheon, where participants ride a raft with a boatman dressed in hanbok and release loaches that help with environmental cleanup.
Additionally, children and parents ride a 14-seat electric shuttle car to travel about 6 km along Yangjaecheon, visiting various experiential activities and facilities. They learn about the flora and fauna inhabiting Yangjaecheon with an ecological expert guide and participate in environmental conservation activities such as throwing EM mud balls.
They also have time to see various stream facilities such as water purification installations, vine plant tunnels, and public art projects near Yeongdong 2 Bridge.
The program runs free from May to October, Monday through Sunday, with two sessions per day (10 a.m. and 2 p.m.), each lasting about 90 minutes. It is designed for children aged 5 and older and their parents, with 20 participants per session. Starting September, a nighttime program will also be offered to enjoy the autumn night atmosphere of Yangjaecheon.
Applications are accepted through the Seoul Public Service Reservation website, and detailed information can be found on the Seocho-gu Office website or by contacting the Seocho-gu Water Management Division.
Meanwhile, ‘Yangjaecheon Slow Tour’ has received high recognition domestically and internationally. It was selected as an ‘Excellent Environmental Education Program’ by the Ministry of Environment in 2019, won the Silver Award at the 2020 European Green Apple Awards, and received the Ministry of Environment’s ‘Environmental Award’ in 2021.
Mayor Jeon Seong-su of Seocho-gu said, “With the expanded weekend operation of ‘Yangjaecheon Slow Tour’ this year, I hope more children feel the importance of the environment and create joyful memories.”
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