Seo-gu District in Gwangju Receives Gender Equality Policy 'Minister of Employment and Labor Award'

Highly Praised for Redesignation as a Women-Friendly City and Operation of a Dedicated Organization

Seo-gu District in Gwangju (District Mayor Kim Ikang) announced on October 2 that it received the Minister of Employment and Labor Award in the local government category of the '2025 Gender Equality Policy Awards'.

Seo-gu District in Gwangju received the Minister of Employment and Labor Award in the local government category of the '2025 Gender Equality Policy Awards'. Photo by Seo-gu District Gwangju

The 'Gender Equality Policy Awards', co-hosted by Women’s Newspaper Co., Ltd. and the National Network of Women Local Council Members and organized by the Local Autonomy Development Institute (ICOLA), recognizes outstanding organizations that have enhanced the effectiveness of gender equality policies and contributed to spreading a culture of gender equality in their regions.

Seo-gu District was highly evaluated for several initiatives, including: redesignation as a women-friendly city (2023-2027) and operation of a dedicated organization; strengthening the gender impact assessment system; establishing a gender-responsive budgeting and statistics framework; and building a cooperative system among civil society, the private sector, and the administration for a women-friendly city.

Seo-gu District has established an integrated care and safety network model tailored to local needs, including: operating eight women- and family-friendly villages and providing community-based care systems such as after-school, weekend, and customized care for children with developmental disabilities; expanding participation in care through male caregiver-centered communities and the introduction of a 'Dad & Daughter Class' in 2025; and implementing practical safety infrastructure such as maintaining safe alleys, appointing female safety monitors, installing secure parcel lockers, and distributing home safety kits, thereby realizing gender equality policies that residents can truly experience.

Kim Ikang, Mayor of Seo-gu District, stated, "Seo-gu District has continuously implemented gender equality policies that residents can feel, based on a cooperative system among civil society, the private sector, and the administration," adding, "We will further advance our policies to create a gender-equal city where care and safety are part of everyday life."