Dongdaemun-gu Mayor Lee Pil-hyung visited a goshiwon at the end of last year to hold a meeting and listen to the difficulties.
Dongdaemun District Mayor Lee Pil-hyung is receiving applause for continuing his "warm steps" to help neighbors in need during the year-end and New Year period.
At the end of last year, he visited goshiwons (small, low-cost dormitories) to check on the difficulties faced by single-person households. He is also promoting a lunchbox delivery project for children who cannot have meals.
Additionally, he received donations of beef bone broth to provide to senior citizens at community centers.
Mayor Lee Pil-hyung selected six goshiwons with relatively poor living conditions and, starting with Goshiwon A in Jangan-dong on the 23rd of last month, conducted "housing environment inspections" and "single-person household meetings." Life in the roughly 3-pyeong (about 9.9 square meters) goshiwons appeared to be more difficult than expected. During the meeting with the mayor, residents said, "The real hardship is loneliness," and "It is difficult when there is no one to take care of you if you get sick."
In response, Mayor Lee said, "In addition to physical support, we will strengthen mental welfare services such as psychological counseling, and establish a system that allows easy access to related information and support."
This goshiwon visit by Mayor Lee has continued since his inauguration as the 8th elected mayor of Dongdaemun District.
He is also delivering warm lunchboxes twice a week in cooperation with various organizations to support the healthy growth of children at risk of food insecurity.
To identify and support children facing food insecurity, the district signed a business agreement in December 2023 with the Social Contribution Network Happy Alliance, the Korea Local Finance Association, and the Happy Lunchbox Social Cooperative. From April 2024, the "Happy Two Meals Project" has been underway for one year, providing lunchboxes to 49 children at risk of food insecurity?the first such project in Seoul.
Dongdaemun District identified 49 children who were not receiving existing child meal support. Happy Alliance (Happy Narae) and the Korea Local Finance Association supported the lunchbox manufacturing costs. Additionally, Daesang Wellife, a member company of Happy Alliance, donated snacks worth approximately 27 million KRW to promote the healthy growth of the children.
The Happy Lunchbox Social Cooperative designs menus considering the children's nutrition, prepares five meals' worth of lunchboxes per week, delivers them twice weekly to homes, and manages meal hygiene.
In recognition of these efforts, the Happy Lunchbox Social Cooperative received the Minister of Health and Welfare Award for Excellence in Child Meal Projects in 2024.
One child receiving lunchboxes said, "My parents are often not at home, so I am thankful for the healthy and delicious side dishes provided."
Mayor Lee Pil-hyung stated, "During the project period, we will do our best with partner organizations to provide quality meals to children in welfare blind spots. Even after the agreement ends, we will seek continuous support measures for children facing food insecurity."
Meanwhile, Yeongsin Livestock (CEO Kim Byung-hoon) donated 1.5 tons of Korean beef bone broth to community centers to celebrate the New Year.
Yeongsin Livestock is leading efforts to promote the health of senior citizens by donating 1.5 tons of Korean beef bone broth to community centers in the area. The donated broth was delivered to 140 community centers over the course of the 10th, 14th, 15th, and 3rd.
Mayor Lee Pil-hyung said, "I thank CEO Kim Byung-hoon of Yeongsin Livestock and the officials of the Dongdaemun District branch of the Korean Senior Citizens Association for participating in this donation," adding, "I hope the senior citizens at the community centers enjoy the beef bone broth and stay healthy throughout the winter."
Residents are also responding warmly to these kind efforts. At a communication event with residents of Jeonnong 2-dong held on the morning of the 16th, one resident praised, "Since Mayor Lee Pil-hyung took office, many things seem to have changed. We can see the movement."
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