Playing Instruments and Listening to Music for Emotional Stability
One Session per Week, Total of Six Sessions
Mental Health Treatment Costs Also Supported
Yeongdeungpo-gu (District Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) announced that it will conduct ‘Visiting Music Psychotherapy’ to help elementary school students suffering from depression and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) receive early treatment and grow up healthily.
The music psychotherapy aims to help overcome psychological difficulties and restore mental health. Music is known to be effective in expressing and regulating emotions, reducing depression and anxiety, and improving self-esteem.
The target group is elementary school students suffering from depression or ADHD. A music psychotherapist visits their homes to provide one-on-one therapy. Children choose instruments they are interested in, such as drums, guitar, cymbals, and piano, and freely play with the therapist or listen to music, taking time to care for their minds.
The music psychotherapy is conducted once a week for a total of six sessions. If home visits are difficult, therapy is also available at the district public health center’s counseling room. The district will continue case management and connect with medical institutions afterward.
Parents of elementary school students who received music psychotherapy last year expressed satisfaction, saying their children showed more positive emotions and became much brighter in daily life.
In addition, the district supports mental health treatment costs for children and adolescents from low-income families who need treatment for depression and anxiety, helping early diagnosis and treatment and reducing the medical expenses burden on families.
According to the 2022 Mental Health Survey by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, 16.1% of children and adolescents experience mental disorders at least once in their lifetime, highlighting the importance of attention and treatment for mental health issues.
Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, said, “Our children are the foundation of our society, so we must pay close attention not only to their physical health but also to their mental health. I hope elementary school students facing mental health challenges will heal their minds through music psychotherapy and grow up healthy and happy.”
‘Songparun’ Academic Support Center Kicks Off New School Year ‘Study Mode’
Learning support programs for school opening run from March to April... Registration started on the Songparun website on the 12th
▲Improving elementary literacy and thinking skills ▲Learning and academic counseling for middle and high school students ▲Parent communication, empathy, and learning guidance
Songpa-gu (District Mayor Seo Gang-seok) is supporting students to enter ‘study mode’ for the new school year. From March, the Songparun Academic Support Center will operate various educational programs for two months to prepare for the new semester.
The district began recruiting students on the 12th, ahead of the school opening. The educational programs, consisting of 11 classes, focus on increasing students’ interest in new semester studies and cultivating self-directed learning abilities.
Classes are offered for elementary, middle, and high school students as well as parents. The subjects include ▲Improving literacy and thinking skills for elementary students ▲Learning strategies and academic counseling for middle and high school students ▲Enhancing parent communication, empathy, and learning guidance.
First, basic Korean language and math programs for elementary learning are offered. The ‘Literacy Class through Reading and Writing’ focuses on improving literacy, the foundation of all learning, with classes for grades 2-3 and 4-5 held over eight sessions. ‘Creative Math through Play’ helps students become familiar with math and develop thinking and problem-solving skills, with classes for grades 2-3 and 4-6 conducted over four sessions.
Middle and high school students can benefit from special lectures on learning strategies and academic counseling. A ‘High School 1st Year Admission Strategy Special Lecture’ is held to guide new high school students in finding customized admission strategies amid complex entrance exam systems.
Additionally, ‘1:1 Academic Consulting’ helps middle and high school students develop admission strategies linked to their career paths. The ‘MLST Learning Strategy Test and Counseling’ supports individual learning and psychological counseling for students from 5th grade elementary to 2nd year high school, available by prior reservation.
Parent education programs addressing difficulties in children’s studies and parenting are also offered. Professor Cho Yoon-jung from Sungshin Women’s University delivers a lecture titled ‘Why Doesn’t Our Child Study on Their Own?’ and Min Hye-young, author of ‘The Great Question Habroota That Changes My Child,’ teaches communication methods for parents and children.
Other programs include parent group counseling to relieve parenting stress and learning strategy diagnosis programs that interpret children’s specialized test results.
Participation is on a first-come, first-served basis and can be applied for online via the Songparun Education Portal. Classes are held at the Songparun Academic Support Center on the 2nd floor of Jamsil Youth Center (22 Olympic-ro 8-gil) and the Songparun Head Center (3rd floor of Songpa KT).
Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, “We prepared these programs to reduce confusion among young students amid rapidly changing entrance exam situations and help them establish strategic study plans. We will provide administrative support so that students can develop their best abilities with a fresh mindset for the new school year.”
‘Ddaengddaengi’ Happiness Index Rises! Dongdaemun-gu Strengthens Pet Policies
From operating dog playgrounds to expanding convenience facilities for owners
This year, plans to support treatment costs for abandoned animals and hold a dog walking competition
Dongdaemun-gu (District Mayor Lee Pil-hyung) is promoting various policies to foster a mature pet culture as the number of registered pet dogs in the area reaches 22,000, reflecting a steady increase in pet families.
Last year, the district expanded the dog playground located at Jungnangcheon, separating areas for large dogs and small to medium dogs. The playground is equipped with shade tents, benches, and dog play equipment, allowing dogs and their owners to use it freely. It is open 24 hours a day for visits anytime.
Additionally, to make the dog rest area at Yongdu Park more comfortable for visitors, the district replaced the shelter and old fences. For the convenience of dog owners, dog waiting stations (leash holders) were installed in three neighborhood parks and two children’s parks. Owners can safely leave their dogs while using public restrooms, which is convenient and helps prevent accidents.
As the number of pets increases, so does the occurrence of abandoned animals. Dongdaemun-gu cooperates with specialized protection centers to safely care for abandoned and lost animals. When adopting abandoned animals within the district, adoption fees up to 250,000 KRW are supported. The district also plans to implement a ‘Treatment Cost Support Project for Abandoned Animals’ for those requiring medical care.
Furthermore, the district plans to provide medical expense support and temporary foster care for socially vulnerable groups such as basic livelihood security recipients, near-poverty groups, and single-parent families. It will also hold dog behavior correction training, dog culture classes, and a dog walking competition where owners and dogs can participate together, leading efforts to create a pet-friendly environment.
Lee Pil-hyung, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, said, “We will actively promote various policies to create a Dongdaemun-gu where owners and pets are happy together. We ask for continuous interest and participation from residents to foster a mature pet culture.”
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