Seodaemun-gu, 'Youth Family Care Discovery and Support Project' Recognized as an Excellent Case by Seoul City

Selected as an Excellent Case in Yakja Donghaeng Index Performance Evaluation

The 'Youth Family Care Discovery and Support Project' in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, was selected as an excellent case in Seoul City's 'Yakja Donghaeng Index Performance Evaluation.' The photo shows a home counseling session for youth family care in Seodaemun-gu. Provided by Seodaemun-gu.

Seodaemun-gu District in Seoul’s initiative, the ‘Youth Family Care Discovery and Support Project,’ was recently selected as an exemplary case in the ‘Livelihood and Care’ category of Seoul City’s ‘Vulnerable Companion Index Performance Evaluation.’

The ‘Vulnerable Companion Index’ is a metric that evaluates how much policies have helped vulnerable groups, selecting projects that contributed to spreading the value of vulnerable companionship and improving citizens’ quality of life as exemplary cases. The city praised Seodaemun-gu for “proactively identifying youth engaged in family care, who are emerging as a new welfare blind spot, and providing systematic support.”

In fact, the district was the first nationwide to establish a support system for youth family caregivers and was the first autonomous district in Seoul to participate in the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s ‘Daily Care Service’ project, leading efforts to support youth family caregivers.

Results have followed. According to the district, Mr. A, a 30-year-old resident of Hongje-dong, struggled financially and was unable to prepare for his future while caring for parents with physical illnesses and mental disorders. However, after undergoing a needs assessment and welfare counseling, he was selected as a recipient of the daily care service (meal nutrition management) and Seoul City’s pilot project for guaranteed income, enabling him to overcome his difficulties.

Ms. B, a 23-year-old resident of Bukgajwa-dong, faced challenges preparing for employment while caring for her mother who suffers from Parkinson’s disease and uterine cancer. The district connected her with daily care services (meal nutrition management) and sponsorships (Onnuri gift certificates, scholarships, etc.) and continues to monitor her situation.

Mr. C, an 18-year-old resident of Yeonhui-dong, is a child from a single-parent household receiving basic living subsidies whose mother suffers from cerebrovascular disease. Due to the nature of his major (beauty), the high cost of practical training made continuing his studies difficult. However, earlier this month, he received the ‘Seodaemun-gu Cafe Pokpo Happiness Scholarship,’ allowing him to pursue his dream of becoming a beautician.

Seodaemun-gu plans to continue its efforts to support youth family caregivers while also striving to eliminate welfare blind spots and stabilize the lives of low-income vulnerable groups.

Lee Seong-heon, Mayor of Seodaemun-gu, said, “With this selection as an exemplary case by Seoul City, we will redouble our efforts to promote welfare policies that accompany socially vulnerable groups. We will do our best to ensure that the burden of family care does not become an obstacle for youth preparing for their future.”