Reclusive loners and mentally disabled cared for with meticulous administration praised by residents: Oh Eon-seok, Dobong District Mayor, and Lee Pil-hyung, Dongdaemun District Mayor, story of supporting struggling residents gains attention [Park Jong-il, Local News]
Eo On-seok, Dobong District Mayor (second from the left), presented on 'Proactive Case Management for Reclusive Individuals' at the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Autonomous District Mayors' Meeting.
As random killings continue to occur, public anxiety is rising. These crimes are often committed by reclusive individuals or those suffering from mental disorders, prompting the government, police, and local authorities to focus intensely on devising citizen safety measures.
Not only Seoul but also various local governments are fully committed to public safety by strengthening joint patrols involving civilians, government, and police, as well as enhancing safety facilities such as CCTV.
It is urgent to establish thorough public security measures to prevent further random killings and similar incidents.
Meanwhile, some local governments are receiving positive evaluations for proactively preventing and managing these individuals. In particular, Dobong-gu (Mayor Oh Eon-seok) is drawing attention for its proactive prevention and management administration targeting ‘reclusive individuals.’
Dobong-gu Implements Preventive Administration with Programs like ‘Shopping Together’ and ‘Cooking Class Companionship’ for Reclusive Individuals
Oh Eon-seok, Mayor of Dobong-gu, presented on ‘Proactive Case Management for Reclusive Individuals’ at the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Autonomous District Mayors’ Meeting. Mayor Oh has recognized the need for the community to provide proactive support and management to prevent reclusive individuals, who have experienced isolation-induced anxiety and social dissatisfaction, from committing crimes. Accordingly, he has prepared and implemented preemptive measures.
On August 3rd, a mental health social worker from Dobong-gu, together with police, fire station, and community center staff, facilitated the hospitalization of a mental health crisis case manager. The case manager, Mr. A, has been under case management in Dobong-gu for schizophrenia over the past 2-3 years. When first met, Mr. A lacked care from his busy father and had difficulty managing his medication independently. Additionally, he exhibited violent tendencies, necessitating prompt inpatient treatment. However, due to his strong refusal, hospitalization in a psychiatric ward was not initially possible.
Instead of hospitalization, the district designated Mr. A as a case management target and proceeded with community-based treatment. A mental health social worker was assigned as his dedicated manager, and through sincere communication, a deep trust was established between them. The social worker expanded treatment efforts by involving Mr. A in ‘Dobong Hope Vaccine 23,’ a program operated by the district that encourages self-management of stress and coping strategies. Self-help groups with individuals facing similar challenges were also conducted. Ultimately, Mr. A recognized his situation and decided to be hospitalized in a psychiatric ward to reintegrate into society.
Dobong-gu is the first among Seoul’s 25 autonomous districts to assign a mental health social worker within its welfare department to exclusively manage mental health crisis cases. To prevent self-harm and harm to others, the social worker conducts stress management and social rehabilitation education through the ‘Dobong Hope Vaccine 23’ program and facilitates self-help groups to enhance bonds and social skills among participants.
In cases of severe violent tendencies or reports from nearby residents or family, the social worker intervenes immediately and, depending on the situation, coordinates hospitalization to protect both the individual and the community.
Beyond managing reclusive individuals with severe mental health issues, Dobong-gu is working to eliminate negative perceptions of reclusive households and help them adapt to society by providing tailored support systems based on age and mental health crisis status. A representative example is the ‘Dobong Healing School.’ Targeting middle-aged and older adults with reclusive tendencies, this program offers activities such as ‘Shopping Together’ and ‘Cooking Class Companionship’ with integrated case managers to facilitate social reintegration. A district official stated, “By providing positive experiences of outdoor activities, we reduce fears of social relationship formation and enhance self-achievement among participants.”
For young people who chose seclusion and isolation due to difficulties in employment and leisure during the COVID-19 period, various programs are also in operation. ‘Youth EX-I-T’ helps young people acquire social skills and achieve social independence through engaging activities, while ‘Youth Forest’ involves watching the movie ‘Little Forest’ and participating in cooking and sharing activities on themes like ‘rest’ and ‘emotions,’ supporting youth to take a step forward into society.
Mayor Oh Eon-seok of Dobong-gu emphasized, “It is crucial to proactively manage and support socially isolated households with reclusive tendencies to prevent incidents. In addition to the ongoing reclusive support and management programs, the district plans to develop and implement diverse management strategies to help reclusive individuals live as healthy members of society.”
Mayor Oh’s proactive administration, which does not neglect even socially marginalized reclusive individuals but actively brings them back into society, has earned high praise.
Since taking office as the 8th elected mayor of Dobong-gu, Mayor Oh has demonstrated strong capabilities by laying the groundwork for active regional development, including lifting altitude restrictions on Bukhansan Mountain, undergrounding the GTX-C line, and passing the strategic environmental impact assessment for the Ui-Banghak light rail project, accelerating these projects.
He is also known for maintaining a non-authoritarian relationship with district employees and showing excellent communication skills with residents, earning the affectionate nickname “Oh Seobang~” as a well-communicating mayor.
Dongdaemun-gu Forms Mental Health Choir for People with Mental Disabilities... Scheduled to Perform at Dongdaemun-gu Welfare Expo on the 6th
Similarly, Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Lee Pil-hyung) is gaining attention for operating the mental health choir ‘Cantabile’ as part of efforts to bring people with mental disabilities into society.
The district runs the ‘Cantabile’ mental health choir to support treatment and rehabilitation for people with mental illnesses.
In April, to help those struggling with societal prejudice recover their mental health and live together with neighbors as members of society, Dongdaemun-gu became the first among Seoul’s autonomous districts to establish a mental health choir composed of people with mental illnesses.
Since early this year, the district has recruited choir participants from mental health case management clients registered at the Mental Health Welfare Center. As of the end of August, the choir consists of 20 members who gather once a week at the mental health center to practice songs for performances, finding mental stability through mutual communication and solidarity.
Dongdaemun-gu Mayor Lee Pil-hyung (far right in the back) visited Jangmi Children's Park located in Jangan-dong on the 31st of last month and spent time with the children.
In its inaugural year, the choir plans to actively participate in mental health-related events hosted by the city and district to raise awareness of its founding purpose, gradually expanding its size and scope of activities. It aims to serve as a mental health ambassador, dispelling prejudice against people with mental illnesses and delivering emotional impact through song.
Any mentally disabled person actively engaged in rehabilitation and treatment can join the ‘Cantabile’ mental health choir. For detailed information on participation and activities, inquiries can be made to the Dongdaemun-gu Public Health Center’s Community Health Division or the Dongdaemun-gu Mental Health Welfare Center.
Mayor Lee Pil-hyung of Dongdaemun-gu stated, “We established the ‘Cantabile’ mental health choir to show that local residents and people with mental illnesses can walk together as members of society. Recently, with the rise in crimes involving mental illness, many may hesitate to seek treatment due to social stigma. Dongdaemun-gu operates various programs for mental health recovery beyond the choir, so residents in need are encouraged to contact the Mental Health Welfare Center anytime.”
The choir is passionately preparing for its official debut stage, a congratulatory performance at the ‘Dongdaemun-gu Welfare Expo’ on September 6.
Lee Pil-hyung, a native of Dongdaemun who attended elementary, middle, high school, and university in the district, is known for his outstanding abilities, having held key positions in national intelligence agencies. He is dedicated to developing Cheongnyangni Station as the premier hub in the northeastern region and creating a ‘City of Flowers.’
He is especially noted for his passion in communicating with residents daily and his exceptional care for people with disabilities and the homeless.
The administrations of these two autonomous districts are seen as exemplary cases demonstrating the administrative standards of Seoul’s autonomous districts.
Administration is about this: rather than seeking applause in the spotlight, it is a time when public officials who can laugh and cry together with neighbors in need are more necessary than ever.
Administration must be a beautiful act that only those with warm eyes, who watch for neighbors shedding tears in dark places, can perform.
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