Songpa-gu Supports Desks for Low-Income Families

Providing 17 Households with Desk Sets Worth 350,000 KRW Each

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Seong-su) has taken the lead in creating a comfortable learning environment for adolescents from low-income families in time for the new school semester.

The district announced on the 23rd that it will carry out the 'Dream Desk Support Project' targeting 17 low-income households.

The 'Dream Desk Support Project' is part of the '100% Project for Low-Income Families' Children to Have Their Own Desk,' which the district promotes in cooperation with local community private resources (Jamsil Church).

Considering that adolescents from low-income families often study alone at home for long hours instead of attending academies or reading rooms due to financial reasons, the project supports them in having their own desks.

This year, desk sets (chair, desk, bookshelf) worth about 350,000 KRW per household will be provided to children and adolescents in urgent need of improved learning environments, such as basic livelihood security recipients, single-parent families, and multi-child households.

The district started this project in 2012 and has supported 277 households with desk sets worth approximately 67 million KRW over seven years.

Additionally, to provide safe and affordable learning spaces, the district is creating study rooms in areas lacking youth learning spaces.

In January, a new youth study room was established in Wirye Forest Shine Complex 23, and currently, five youth learning spaces are in operation: Solbaram Youth Reading Room, Songpa Jeil Youth Reading Room, Oryun Youth Study Room, and Samjeon Youth Study Room. Operating hours are from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., and usage fees range from 700 to 2,000 KRW.

Within this year, an additional study room will be created in Ogeum-dong, bringing the total number of learning spaces to six.

Park Seong-su, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, “I hope that adolescents from low-income families, who have relatively fewer opportunities for learning, will nurture their dreams for the future through new desks and local study rooms. This year, we will also complete the establishment of 'Songpa SSEM,' the district’s unique education model, to actively support youth in developing their talents without exclusion.”

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