Seogu Honors in Gwangju Supports Elderly Waste Paper Collectors with Rest Assistance Funds

Up to 500,000 KRW Per Person
Cheonwon Guksi Stores Operate as Heatwave Shelters

Seogu Honors, a group of major donors in the Seo-gu district of Gwangju, has stepped up to support elderly waste paper collectors who are forced to work for their livelihood in the midst of a heatwave.

On July 29, Seogu Honors delivered over 24 million KRW in rest support funds for 66 elderly waste paper collectors, who are considered a health-vulnerable group, as well as 32 million KRW in sponsorship funds to promote the "Summer with Rest" project.

Kim Ikang, mayor of Seo-gu, Gwangju, is taking a commemorative photo with attendees after the donation ceremony of the Seo-gu Honors rest support fund at the 'Thousand Won Oasis Plaque Ceremony' held at Cheonwon Guksu Branch 5 in Nongsong-dong, Seo-gu on the 29th. Provided by Seo-gu, Gwangju

This initiative has been arranged so that, for one month in August, the elderly can put down their carts and take some time to rest. The selected elderly participants will leave their carts at the Seo-gu District Office for the month of August and receive up to 500,000 KRW per person in rest support funds, along with 20 coupons for Cheonwon Guksi, Seo-gu's signature welfare brand.

The Seo-gu District Office plans to store the carts in outdoor plazas and attach "Heatwave Rest Encouragement Notices" to raise awareness about the realities of livelihood labor and the necessity of rest. In addition, the district will also run the "Cheonwon Oasis" project, operating Cheonwon Guksi stores as cooling shelters during the heatwave.

On this day, the district held a "Cheonwon Oasis" plaque ceremony at the 5th Cheonwon Guksi store in Nongseong 2-dong. For the month of August, the operating hours of 10 Cheonwon Guksi stores will be extended from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., providing a space where any local resident can escape the heat and take a break.

Kim Ikang, the head of the district office, said, "We prepared this project so that elderly people who have no choice but to go out on the streets for their livelihood even during the heatwave can rest comfortably and protect their health," and added, "We will continue to strengthen public-private cooperation so that the positive influence of Seogu Honors can spread further, focusing on the realities of daily life."