Mayor Kang Gi-jung: "Creating an Exciting Work Environment for Social Workers"

Social Workers’ Day Event: “Thank You for Your Dedication”
“Improving Treatment with Unified Wage System... Building a Comprehensive Care City”

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong attended the "3rd Gwangju Social Welfare Workers Unity Sports Festival" held on the morning of the 28th at Sangmu Citizen Park Sports Complex in Seo-gu, and took a commemorative photo before the event. Photo by Gwangju City

Gwangju City held the ‘2025 Social Workers’ Day Commemorative Event’ on the 28th to recognize the hard work of social workers. The event took place at the Sangmu Citizen Park Sports Complex in Seo-gu, hosted by Gwangju City and organized by the Gwangju Social Workers Association.

This event was prepared to celebrate Social Workers’ Day on the 30th and to honor the efforts and dedication of social workers at the forefront of the welfare field. Over 500 people attended, including Mayor Kang Gijung, Gwangju City Council Chairperson Shin Sujeong, City Council member Park Mijeong, President of the Gwangju Social Workers Association Ahn Byunggyu, and President of the Korea Association of Social Workers Park Ilgyu. The event consisted of the first part, which included an opening ceremony, congratulatory remarks, awards for distinguished service, and a vision declaration, followed by the second part, a sports event to promote unity among social workers.

Mayor Kang Gijung said, “Gwangju has been able to become a city with a comprehensive care system, such as Gwangju-style integrated care, thanks to the workers at the forefront of the social welfare field,” and added, “Improving working conditions, such as guaranteeing a unified wage system, not only creates better jobs and boosts social workers’ pride, but also directly connects to the happiness of citizens receiving services. We will continue to make greater efforts in this regard.”

The city announced the third phase of its plan to improve the treatment of social welfare facility workers, and is implementing a total of 44.5 billion KRW in two main areas and 13 projects, including the transition to a seniority-based pay system for all facilities to guarantee unified wages?a long-standing wish of the social welfare sector?introduction of health check-up leave for employee welfare, and support for comprehensive health check-up expenses to ensure workers’ health rights.

Meanwhile, Social Workers’ Day is celebrated every year on March 30 to inspire pride and recognize the hard work of social workers, following the enactment of the “Act on the Improvement of Treatment and Status of Social Workers, etc.” on March 30, 2011.