Since the inauguration of Park Il-ha, Mayor of Dongjak-gu in the 8th local government term, his love for employees has been evident through initiatives such as ‘providing officetels for employees without homes,’ ‘supporting jeonse deposit loans,’ and ‘1,000 won breakfast’ support. These improvements in employee welfare have become a hot topic as a ‘new change’... Including the direct opening of the first psychological counseling center operated by a Seoul autonomous district, 25 new welfare programs and 14 expansions have been implemented.
Since the inauguration of Park Il-ha, Mayor of Dongjak-gu in the 8th local government term, employee welfare has greatly improved, and it is known that employees are satisfied, drawing attention.
After taking office in the 8th term, Mayor Park expanded 14 welfare projects and created 25 new projects to build a safety net that allows employees to work diligently.
This reflects Mayor Park’s intention that improving employee welfare ultimately benefits the residents of the district.
A career bureaucrat with extensive field experience as the former Director of Wonju Regional Land Management Office and Director of Construction Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, Mayor Park is known for working harder than anyone else, visiting flood damage sites last year after his inauguration.
Because of this, it is known that employees sometimes work under tough conditions, but Mayor Park’s ‘warm heart’ to make welfare the highest level for these employees seems to be revealed in this way.
First, housing support is provided for public officials without homes. Two new public officials are supported with officetels.
Also, 13 public officials without homes will be supported with jeonse deposit loans for housing located in the area. In this case, if they live in a house with a deposit of 650 million KRW or less on a jeonse basis, up to 50% of the deposit, with a maximum of 200 million KRW per person, will be supported.
A newly hired public official A (25) in Dongjak-gu, who came alone from a provincial area to Seoul, was speechless at the high housing prices but welcomed the welfare system that allowed support for housing space. He also expressed gratitude, saying he could even have breakfast for just 1,000 won.
Along with this, for employees’ mental health, in May, the first psychological counseling center ‘Maeum Tok’ was opened inside the government building among 25 autonomous districts in Seoul. Within a month of opening, 26 people (57 cases) participated, and 1:1 counseling and regular check-ups are operated regularly through prior reservations. Starting next month, psychological counseling rooms visiting each dong (neighborhood) will also be conducted.
Additionally, a ‘healing program’ for rest and recovery at Gapyeong Jat Hyanggi Pureun Forest has started. The main programs include meditation, barefoot walking, and woodworking experience. Since June, life keeper education for suicide prevention has also been conducted.
In particular, in Dongjak-gu, employees can have breakfast for just 1,000 won. Although it is known that regular breakfast helps improve health conditions such as diabetes, it is difficult to practice.
In this era of high prices, the affordable ‘1,000 won breakfast’ is popular among employees. On the last Wednesday of every month, ‘World Food Day’ is held to experience food cultures from around the world.
Public official B in Dongjak-gu said, “Mayor Park Il-ha proposed this so that employees could eat breakfast without burden and stay healthy.”
In addition, ‘home safety equipment’ is provided for single-person household employees living in the area, and ‘portable protective equipment’ is provided to protect public officials handling civil complaints. Applicants for home safety equipment can receive support for desired items such as smart doorbells, window stoppers, or portable emergency bells within 200,000 KRW.
Mayor Park Il-ha said, “I will do my best to improve employee welfare,” adding, “This is ultimately the shortcut to creating a working organization that benefits the residents.”
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