People Busy but Happy Ahead of Chuseok?

Seoul District Mayors Smile Brightly While Managing Dozens of Daily Tasks, from Preparing Chuseok Gifts for Neighbors in Need to Visiting Shops and Encouraging Merchants

Park Gang-su, mayor of Mapo-gu, warmly greets a merchant while visiting Ahyeon Market to purchase ritual supplies.

"I am usually busy with a full schedule, but with the Chuseok holiday overlapping, there is no time to rest. Helping neighbors in need with the mindset that no one should spend Chuseok alone makes me happy."

These are the words of a district mayor in Seoul.

As the Chuseok holiday approaches, Seoul district mayors are busily working without pause.

Seoul district mayors are participating in preparing Chuseok gifts for neighbors in need or visiting traditional markets to encourage merchants.

On the afternoon of the 26th, Park Kang-su, Mayor of Mapo District, visited Mangwon Market and Ahyeon Market to promote the use of traditional markets ahead of the Chuseok holiday. He listened to the difficulties faced by merchants struggling with the economic downturn and high prices, and purchased ritual items such as seafood, meat, and fruit to encourage the merchants. Mayor Park said, "During this time of ongoing price increases, I hope everyone can warmly and abundantly celebrate Chuseok by purchasing quality goods economically at traditional markets." He added, "Mapo District will do its best to stabilize the livelihood economy and revitalize the local economy."

Choi Ho-kwon, Yeongdeungpo District Mayor, Sets Out to Deliver Songpyeon

On the morning of the 25th, Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo District, participated in a songpyeon sharing volunteer event at a public site in Mullae-dong (Mullae-dong 3-ga 55-6) to practice neighborly love. This sharing event, hosted by the Korean Red Cross Yeongdeungpo District Council, was organized with the hope that neighbors who must spend Chuseok alone can have a warm holiday. About 20 members of the Korean Red Cross, including Mayor Choi, filled holiday packages with songpyeon (rice cakes), noodles, soy milk, and other food items. These holiday packages will be delivered to 200 households, including elderly living alone and single-parent families in each neighborhood.

Seogang-seok, Mayor of Songpa District, visits the home of a solitary elderly person to exchange greetings.

On the 25th, ahead of the Chuseok holiday, Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa District, visited low-income elderly living alone and multicultural families to exchange greetings and share warm hearts.

In his first schedule of the day, Mayor Seo visited the home of an elderly person living alone, offered holiday greetings, and checked on their health. Notably, he spent a joyful time conversing with the AI companion robot "Hyosoni," which the district supports and the elderly person was using well, drawing attention.

At this occasion, the elderly person said, "The robot reminds me to take my medicine like a grandchild, so I feel less lonely and it helps a lot in daily life," expressing gratitude to the district.

Lee Pil-hyung, the mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, is making songpyeon to deliver to neighbors in need within the community, wearing a joyful expression.

On the morning of the 25th, Lee Pil-hyung, Mayor of Dongdaemun District, conducted a "Chuseok Songpyeon Sharing Volunteer" event to celebrate the great national holiday of Chuseok. Sponsored by Kookmin Bank Dongdaemun District Branch, about 40 volunteers belonging to volunteer camps and organizations in each neighborhood gathered at the Dongdaemun District Volunteer Center (30 Sagajeong-ro) for this songpyeon sharing volunteer work. The volunteers personally purchased ingredients, prepared songpyeon filling, made, steamed, and packaged the songpyeon with care, delivering the handmade songpyeon to a total of 420 vulnerable households in the district so that even marginalized neighbors can have a warm and abundant Chuseok.

Minister of Unification Kim Young-ho (right) and Lee Ki-jae, Mayor of Yangcheon District, who volunteered for North Korean defectors (center)

On the afternoon of the 25th, Lee Ki-jae, Mayor of Yangcheon District, participated in a "Side Dish Sharing Volunteer" event for elderly living alone with North Korean defectors at the Seoul Southern Hana Center located in Hanbit Comprehensive Social Welfare Center, along with Kim Young-ho, Minister of Unification. At the event, Mayor Lee, Minister Kim, and members of the Somangdure Volunteer Group, composed of North Korean defector volunteers, prepared and packaged side dishes to be delivered to 20 elderly living alone households in the basement first-floor senior dining hall of the welfare center.

Lee Soo-hee, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, visiting a welfare facility

On the 25th and 26th, Lee Soo-hee, Mayor of Gangdong District, visited four welfare facilities in the district. Starting with Seongnae Comprehensive Social Welfare Center on the 25th, she visited Parangmaeum Welfare Center and Gangdong Dream Village, and the next day visited Amsa Rehabilitation Center to deliver holiday consolation money and encourage the staff. At Seongnae Comprehensive Social Welfare Center, Mayor Lee prepared gift packages containing groceries and personally delivered them to elderly households receiving basic living subsidies. At Parangmaeum Welfare Center, a vocational rehabilitation facility for the disabled, she worked alongside disabled workers in pairs to pack clothes. At Gangdong Dream Village, a child care facility, and Amsa Rehabilitation Center, a residential facility for severely disabled persons, she delivered holiday consolation money and toured the facilities to encourage the staff’s hard work.

Although Chuseok is a joyful holiday to meet family and share affection, district mayors are busily moving to support elderly living alone and single-person households who must spend the holiday lonely and desolate.