Seongnam City Selected as 'Outstanding Institution' for Atopy and Asthma Prevention Management Project

Operating 105 Safe Schools
Atopic Dermatitis Prevalence
Decreased by 23.1 Percentage Points Over 13 Years

Seongnam City in Gyeonggi Province announced on the 17th that the Sujeong District Public Health Center was selected as an outstanding institution and received a commendation at the "2025 Gyeonggi Province Atopy and Asthma Prevention Management Project Performance Competition."

Officials from Seongnam City Sujeong District Public Health Center, selected as an outstanding institution at the "Atopy and Asthma Prevention Management Project Performance Competition," are taking a commemorative photo. Provided by Seongnam City

This competition, organized by the Northern Gyeonggi Atopy and Asthma Education Information Center, evaluated 29 public health centers in Gyeonggi Province across three categories and nine criteria, including the operation of Atopy and Asthma Safe Schools, capacity building for project managers, and implementation of regionally specialized projects.

Seongnam City received this commendation in recognition of its achievements in operating Atopy and Asthma Safe Schools.

Each year, at the beginning of the school term, the Sujeong District Public Health Center designates Atopy and Asthma Safe Schools by accepting applications from daycare centers, kindergartens, and elementary schools, based on the selection criteria of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.

When the project was first introduced in 2011, only two elementary schools participated as Atopy and Asthma Safe Schools; as of this year, the number has increased to 105.

Currently, children at 54 daycare centers, 8 kindergartens, and 43 elementary schools are receiving support for disease prevalence surveys and preventive management of these conditions.

Educational materials tailored to each age group and programs such as traveling puppet shows are also provided.

For children from vulnerable groups and those recommended by school principals, annual medical expenses of 200,000 won and moisturizers are provided, and vacuum cleaners are lent to the families of children with these conditions.

Thanks to these efforts, Seongnam City has reduced the prevalence rate of atopic dermatitis from 29% in 2012 to 5.9% this year, marking a 23.1 percentage point decrease over the past 13 years.

An official from the Sujeong District Public Health Center stated, "We will continue to expand the designation of Atopy and Asthma Safe Schools and operate year-round atopy and asthma counseling rooms within the public health center to strengthen the prevention and management of allergic diseases."