Dobong-gu, Where Are the Carbon Neutral Restaurants in Our Neighborhood?

Dobong-gu (Mayor Oh Eon-seok) has embarked on a mission to find carbon-neutral restaurants within the district.

The district announced plans to identify restaurants that lead in energy saving and green living practices, designate them as 'Carbon-Neutral Restaurants,' and provide various benefits.

Restaurants selected as Carbon-Neutral Restaurants will receive a plaque, energy-saving consulting, energy-saving supplies, and up to 30,000 Carbon Sympathy Mileage points annually.

To encourage the use of Carbon-Neutral Restaurants, customers who dine at these selected establishments will also be awarded Carbon Sympathy Mileage points.

The Carbon-Neutral Restaurants will be chosen through the 'Carbon-Neutral Restaurant Search Team,' composed of local residents. Selection will be conducted via on-site evaluations by the team, and restaurants scoring above a certain threshold will be finally designated as Carbon-Neutral Restaurants. Restaurants participating in policies such as model restaurants, good stores, and reducing disposable items will receive additional points included in the total evaluation score.

The 'Carbon-Neutral Restaurant Search Team' will evaluate restaurants either recommended by merchant associations or those that apply directly, based on evaluation criteria such as energy-saving practices, enrollment in environmental mileage programs, and zero-waste implementation. Team members will receive activity fees and souvenirs as benefits for their participation.

Eligibility for the search team requires residents of Dobong-gu aged 40 to 60, belonging to the middle-aged generation, who have completed the Dobong-gu Zero-C (Zero-C) beginner course. Applications must be submitted via email to the person in charge by June 5. Application forms can be downloaded from the Dobong-gu website. Those who have not completed the Zero-C beginner course can apply after completing the beginner training course at the Dobong Environmental Education Center in May.

The district plans not only to select Carbon-Neutral Restaurants but also to implement various projects that encourage citizen participation. These include events such as finding recommended restaurants, uploading personal restaurant maps, and developing and operating seasonal and category-based (date, company dinners, etc.) recommended restaurant tour courses.

Oh Eon-seok, Mayor of Dobong-gu, stated, “The Carbon-Neutral Restaurant Search project is a triple-win initiative that fosters a carbon-neutral consensus within the community, creates future jobs for the middle-aged generation, and revitalizes the local economy. We will continue to develop the project by incorporating field opinions during implementation so that it can serve as a model case for other local governments.”