Kim Mikyung Eunpyeong District Mayor, Lee Seungro Seongbuk District Mayor, Oh Eunseok Dobong District Mayor, Jin Gyohun Gangseo District Mayor Visit Markets, Visit Elderly Living Alone, Spend Time with Multicultural Families
As the Chuseok holiday approaches, Seoul district mayors are warmly visiting traditional markets to shop and checking on elderly people living alone.
They also organized events with multicultural families who may feel marginalized to comfort them.
Kim Mi-kyung, Eunpyeong District Mayor, Shops with Four Elderly at Chungam Senior Center and Visits Traditional Market
On the 11th, Kim Mi-kyung, mayor of Eunpyeong District, visited Sin-eungam Market to observe the livelihood scene and listen to the voices of merchants.
Mayor Kim inspected the prices at the traditional market ahead of the Chuseok holiday, encouraged the hardworking merchants despite difficult economic conditions, and listened to their difficulties. She also promoted to residents the active use of traditional markets for holiday shopping.
The shopping event included Mayor Kim Mi-kyung and four elderly people from the district-run Chungam Senior Center. They used pre-purchased Onnuri gift certificates to shop, revitalizing the traditional market.
Mayor Kim Mi-kyung said, “I thank the merchants who strive to maintain and revitalize traditional markets where our culture and history can be felt, despite difficult economic conditions such as high prices and high interest rates. I hope everyone actively uses Onnuri gift certificates to shop economically at traditional markets and actively participate in revitalizing the local economy.”
Lee Seung-ro, Seongbuk District Mayor, Attends Traditional Culture Experience with Saemaeul Women's Association and Multicultural Families
On the 10th, Lee Seung-ro, mayor of Seongbuk District, held a traditional culture experience event with multicultural families at ‘Yehyangjae’ located in Seongbuk-dong, together with the Saemaeul Women's Association (President Choi Pil-geum) to celebrate the Chuseok holiday.
Under the theme “Diverse Us, Happiness Made Together in Seongbuk,” the event was organized to promote our culture and foster harmony and communication through traditional culture experiences with multicultural families during Chuseok.
About 40 members of the Seongbuk Saemaeul Women's Association and multicultural families enjoyed traditional games, making beoseon-scented sachets (herbal pouches), and making songpyeon (rice cakes). The songpyeon made that day was delivered along with prepared side dishes to about 100 households including multicultural families, women's welfare facilities, and child welfare facilities.
Choi Pil-geum, president of the Seongbuk Saemaeul Women's Association, which organized the event, said, “Multicultural families may feel more longing for their families in their home countries during holidays like Chuseok, so we prepared this event. Seeing everyone enjoy and be happy makes me think we should create more opportunities like this in the future.”
Mayor Lee Seung-ro said, “Seongbuk District is a representative multicultural city with eight universities and over 40 embassies, home to many international students, diplomats, and marriage immigrant families. We make various efforts to understand and communicate each other's cultures so that everyone can take pride as Seongbuk residents and participate in the community. I sincerely thank the Saemaeul Women's Association for organizing this event, and Seongbuk District will do its best to realize a happy Seongbuk where no neighbors are left out.”
Oh Eun-seok, Dobong District Mayor, Visits Elderly Living Alone to Comfort Them
On the 11th, Oh Eun-seok, mayor of Dobong District, visited two households of elderly people living alone to convey his regards for Chuseok. On that day, Mayor Oh checked if the elderly had any difficulties in daily life and listened to their opinions on welfare services supported by the district.
The elderly resident ○○○ (80) said, “I am grateful for the various support from the district. Also, I am glad and happy that you came to visit and check on me today.” Another elderly resident ○○○ (67) said, “Visiting like this for Chuseok makes the holiday atmosphere come alive. Thank you.”
Mayor Oh Eun-seok said, “I am the one who is grateful to be warmly welcomed by the elderly like this. We will continue to carefully monitor and support the elderly so that they have no inconveniences in their daily lives.”
Jin Gyo-hoon, Gangseo District Mayor, Takes Care of Livelihood by Visiting Banghwa-dong Bangsan Traditional Market
On the 11th, Jin Gyo-hoon, mayor of Gangseo District, visited Bangsan Traditional Market in Banghwa-dong ahead of the Chuseok holiday to take care of livelihood issues.
Mayor Jin visited various stores in the market, greeted merchants for the holiday, listened to their difficulties, and encouraged merchants struggling due to the economic downturn. He purchased food items such as apples, songpyeon, and roasted seaweed, and checked prices on site.
He also talked with residents shopping for holiday necessities, listened to their inconveniences, and responded directly.
He handed out his personal mobile phone number and business card, asking residents to contact him anytime if they have any inconveniences. Mayor Jin said, “I visited the site to hear the voices of market merchants and residents ahead of the Chuseok holiday. We will implement various policies to stabilize prices and revitalize the local economy.”
Mayor Jin’s communication efforts for livelihood will continue. On the 12th, he plans to visit Nambu Alley Market and Kkachisan Market, and on the 13th, he will visit Hwagok Central Market, Songhwa Mural Market, and Hwagok Bon-dong Market to check on livelihood.
The efforts of district mayors to care for residents who are easily marginalized during holidays such as Chuseok and Lunar New Year continue.
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