36 Residents Participate
Identifying and Supporting Neighbors in Need
In Sindang-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Kim Gilseong), residents are taking the initiative to prevent solitary deaths. This effort is called "Shin.Mun.Go" (an activity to prevent solitary deaths by checking the doors in Sindang-dong).
"Shin.Mun.Go" involves 36 residents, including members of the Community Social Security Council, honorary social welfare officials, and the Our Neighborhood Care Group. They form teams to walk through every alley, check accumulated mail, and personally visit neighbors facing economic, health, or housing difficulties to check on their well-being.
In particular, the group is focusing its activities this month, which includes Social Welfare Day. On September 11, they held a campaign throughout Sindang-dong, distributing promotional materials at laundromats, supermarkets, and other places closely connected to daily life, and asked residents to report any neighbors in need. On September 15, nine goshiwons (small, affordable housing units) and the local community center in Sindang-dong signed an agreement to expand the scope of the activities. The goshiwon representatives expressed their willingness to participate, saying, "It is reassuring to be able to look after each other."
"Shin.Mun.Go" has been ongoing since 2023. In its first year, the initiative identified 14 households in crisis, and last year, 26 households, connecting them to emergency living expenses, housing improvements, and programs for building social networks. Notably, in July last year, the group discovered a man in his seventies battling illness alone and connected him to a private housing improvement support project, which resulted in replacing walls and flooring and providing a bed, drawing attention to their efforts.
Seo Suyeon, a participant in the activities, said, "I didn't realize there were so many people struggling in our neighborhood, but it is rewarding to offer even a little help by checking in on them directly. I want to continue supporting my neighbors in the future."
Kim Gilseong, mayor of Jung-gu, stated, "It is a great encouragement to see residents actively discovering and caring for neighbors in need. Jung-gu will continue to build a robust safety net to ensure that no one is left behind."
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