Medical Associations in Seo-gu, Gwangju, Support Public-Private Partnership Coupling Project

Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City (Mayor Kim Ikang) has actively engaged medical organizations in the public-private partnership coupling project, which is being prioritized to eliminate welfare blind spots.

Seo-gu announced on the 18th that 55 members belonging to the Seo-gu Pharmaceutical Association, Seo-gu Medical Association, Seo-gu Korean Medicine Association, and Seo-gu Dental Association have become public-private partnership sponsors, securing 109 million KRW in sponsorship funds within three months.

Seogu recently received a donation of 24 million KRW from the Gwangju Seogu Pharmaceutical Association (President Kim Dong-jin) to support neighbors in need within the district and expressed gratitude.
[Photo by Seogu]

Notably, 49 of them, accounting for 90%, have pledged monthly regular sponsorships, and new sponsorships from hospitals and clinics continue to increase, so the scale of sponsorship funds is expected to grow further.

On the same day, Gil Kwangchae, president of the Seo-gu Medical Association, and Choi Minseong and Lee Taemin, directors of Seonhan Hospital, visited Seo-gu Office and delivered 15 million KRW in sponsorship funds for the public-private partnership coupling project.

The one-on-one public-private partnership coupling project is a differentiated welfare project unique to Seo-gu.

Seo-gu has improved the donation method, which had been limited to one-time delivery events, by linking welfare projects that require care and assistance with sponsors, leading the realization of the values of coexistence and sharing.

To this end, Seo-gu has identified 20 welfare projects in need of assistance, including support for grandparent-grandchild households, vehicle support for social welfare facilities, transportation cost support for adolescents and young adults with severe illnesses, and the "Raising Children Together" project for adolescent parents.

Additionally, with active participation from medical organizations as sponsors, welfare services for vulnerable groups have been further strengthened by supporting education and health checkup expenses for children and workers in communal living homes, and providing transportation costs to patients with severe illnesses and their caregivers who need regular hospital checkups.

Seo-gu was recognized for these achievements and received the grand prize in the regional welfare project category for public-private cooperation and resource linkage from the Ministry of Health and Welfare last year.

Kim Ikang, mayor of Seo-gu, said, “The heart and sincerity of each sponsor are precious driving forces for realizing a ‘Warm Living Government.’ We will continue to actively discover welfare projects that participants can join with clear purpose and responsibility, striving to realize a ‘Together Seo-gu’ where no one is left behind and to expand positive influence.”

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Shin Dongho baekok@asiae.co.kr