Gwangju Nam-gu, Coronavirus Impact... Senior Centers and More 'All Stop'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Nam-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City (District Mayor Kim Byeong-nae) has decided to suspend various programs for residents held at the district office, as well as the operation of senior citizen facilities such as senior centers and cultural activity facilities, due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection in the local community.

According to Nam-gu on the 6th, resident informatization education and smartphone education programs, which about 185 residents have been participating in since the beginning of this month, were closed from the 5th.

In addition, 92 resident autonomy programs held at 16 administrative welfare centers in the district, which provide learning opportunities to residents and promote individual cultural life enjoyment, will also be put on hold.

Various facilities used by the elderly, such as senior centers and senior welfare centers, will also be directly affected.

First, the operation of 236 senior centers and social welfare facilities in the district, including Nam-gu Senior Welfare Center, Bundo Anna Gaemi Ggotdongsan, Yangji Comprehensive Social Welfare Center, and the Gwangju Metropolitan City Federation of the Korea Senior Citizens Association, will be suspended until the 18th.

However, for vulnerable elderly people who have relied on these facilities for meals, alternative food supplies will be provided during this period to ensure they do not skip meals.

Along with this, family movie screening programs operated at Pureungil Library and Youth Library will be suspended until the novel coronavirus situation ends, and Nam-gu Cultural Center, Nam-gu Arts Center performance hall, and Nam-gu Living Culture Center will temporarily close until mid-February according to each facility’s schedule.

Furthermore, Nam-gu plans to receive 300 boxes of ‘Clear Sky Gift Boxes’ soon, sponsored by Kookmin Bank and Good Neighbors, each box containing 25 masks, mouthwash, and sanitizers, and intends to promptly distribute these supplies to senior centers and elderly facilities in the district as quickly as possible.

A Nam-gu official said, “This decision was made to prevent the further spread of the novel coronavirus infection in the local community,” and added, “We will do our best to overcome this crisis situation as early as possible.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.