Seongbuk Residents, Religious Leaders, and Businesspeople Unite to Overcome COVID-19

Frontline Medical Staff and Officials Receive Flood of Support Items Like Handwritten Letters, Snacks, and Socks... Residents Donate by Participating in Neighborhood Disinfection, Mask Making, and Monetary Contributions... Religious Groups Donate Funds and Conduct Online or Temporarily Suspend Services... Landlords Join Good Rent Campaign by Waiving or Reducing Rent

The Seongbuk-gu Church Association, formed by the union of 64 churches, donated 15 million won in sponsorship funds to low-income families struggling financially due to COVID-19. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, they also decided to suspend all gatherings for two weeks and conduct online (video) worship services.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] As the COVID-19 outbreak caused local communities to lose vitality, the efforts of the Seongbuk-gu community to help overcome the crisis have drawn attention.

Organizations sent snacks and other items considering the health of medical staff and workers on the front lines of quarantine. Residents of Jeongneung 4-dong rolled up their sleeves to disinfect the neighborhood themselves, and religious groups temporarily suspended large gatherings such as Dharma assemblies and worship services. Landlords voluntarily joined the "Good Landlord" movement, continuing efforts to overcome the crisis.

The Seongbuk-gu Korean Medicine Association (President Yang Taegyu) sent herbal medicine. The Seongbuk-gu Medical Association (President Lee Hyang-ae) and the Seoul Nurses Association (President Park Insook) sent four boxes of snacks and ten boxes of fruit. The National Health Insurance Service Seongbuk Branch (Branch Manager Kim Mikyung) sent six boxes of walnut cookies. The staff of Wolgok Comprehensive Social Welfare Center (Director Lee Byungjun) delivered snacks and beverages. Representatives of these organizations said, "We want to personally express our gratitude to the medical staff and workers who have been working hard every day, but to prevent the spread of infection, we have decided to deliver snacks instead," offering comfort for their hard work.

Local businesses also stepped up. Hyundai Department Store Mia Branch (Manager Cha Junhwan) sent 40 snack sets. Roadwalk, located in Hawolgok-dong (CEO Park Baejun, Bae Inhyo), sent 500 pairs of socks along with a letter saying, "We were moved by the way the staff at the screening clinics care for citizens like family."

Religious organizations also participated. The Sisters of the Holy Mother (Mother Superior Baek Induk Maria) and the Sisters of the Holy Family (Mother Superior Lee Youngja Priska) sent snacks and heartfelt letters. The handwritten letter saying, "I pray that the day will come soon when we can say we fought together and won," provided great comfort to medical staff and workers.

A Seongbuk Public Health Center official said, "Everyone is mentally and physically exhausted from intense work without a break for over 40 days, but thanks to unexpected support and concern from others, no one has lost their smile," adding, "We will do our best to protect the health and safety of residents until the day COVID-19 ends."

Interest and care for neighbors who might face difficulties due to COVID-19 are also continuing. The Seongbuk-gu Church Association (President Gil Seongun, Seongbok Central Church), formed by 64 churches in the area, donated 15 million won to support low-income families struggling to make a living due to COVID-19. They also decided to suspend all gatherings for two weeks and hold online (video) worship services to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Buddhist community also contributed. The Seongbuk-gu Buddhist Temple Association (President Monk Sangyeon, Dabuljeongsa Temple) donated 15 million won to local residents struggling to maintain their livelihoods due to COVID-19, and Heungcheonsa Temple (Chief Monk Jeonggwan) donated 10 million won. Gaewunsa Temple (Chief Monk Wonjong) donated 1,000 masks and 2,000 hand sanitizers. Each temple has suspended Dharma assemblies until the COVID-19 situation ends, and more temples are joining this effort.

A Seongbuk-gu official expressed gratitude, saying, "The determination and active cooperation of the religious community are decisively helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19."

Residents also rolled up their sleeves. On the 6th of last month, a resident sent 500 masks to the Seokgwan-dong Community Center to be used by vulnerable groups who find it difficult to obtain masks despite needing them. A resident of Seongbuk-dong made 300 cloth masks for low-income vulnerable groups. Resident Lee Bunam of Anam-dong made 40 cloth masks himself and delivered them to the community center, asking that they be given to marginalized neighbors.

Mr. Kang, a resident of Gireum 2-dong who identified himself as a basic livelihood security recipient and is 58 years old, said he wanted to give even a small help when neighbors are in trouble, as he has received much help from many people. He visited the community center and donated 1,187,360 won. Kang’s good deed has inspired various stories of kindness from different groups, including a Jeongneung Kyunghee Taekwondo student who donated 280,000 won saved from pocket money, and a job seeker who sent a box of ramen saying they would share more when employed.

Residents of Jangwi 2-dong said, "The health and safety of public officials working tirelessly day and night are also important," and delivered 500 portable hand sanitizers. Residents of Jeongneung 4-dong are putting all their efforts into COVID-19 quarantine support. Since the 18th of last month, they have been conducting disinfection activities at multi-use facilities more than twice a week to block the spread of COVID-19 in the area. Seven traditional market merchant associations in Seongbuk-gu are also conducting their own disinfection to reassure visitors. Equipment needed for disinfection activities is supported by local village banks and others based in the area.

Roadwalk, located in Hawolgok-dong (CEO Park Bae-jun, Bae In-hyo), sent 500 pairs of socks along with a letter stating, "We were moved by the way the staff guarding the screening clinics cared for citizens like family."

Landlords also stepped up. They pledged to exempt or reduce rent for tenants suffering huge losses due to the spread of COVID-19. The "Good Landlord" movement, which started at Jeongneung Market last month, is spreading throughout Seongbuk-gu, including Gireum-dong, Seokgwan-dong, and Anam-dong. Since the "Good Landlord" movement is highly effective for small business owners affected by the COVID-19 situation, Seongbuk-gu plans to closely cooperate with merchant associations and provide incentives to landlords participating in the movement.

A tenant in Jeongneung 3-dong who received a monthly rent exemption of 1 million won said, "As days with zero sales continued, I was heartbroken, but when I received a call from the landlord saying they would not charge rent, I felt relieved and tears welled up," adding, "Even in these difficult times, I feel motivated to keep going."

Public officials did not remain idle either. To ease the difficulties of small business owners, they voluntarily participate in using traditional markets and small neighborhood restaurants and blood donation campaigns. A merchant at Donam Market said, "Due to COVID-19, business is almost at a standstill, but even though there is a distance, district office employees deliberately come to use the restaurant, so sales are maintained somewhat, and the public officials are very reassuring," expressing their appreciation.

Lee Seungro, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu, said, "I feel the greatness of the 450,000 members of Seongbuk-gu who continue to show consideration and practice without waiting for anyone else in this national crisis," and expressed his determination, saying, "We will focus all administrative power to minimize the damage caused by COVID-19 and achieve early recovery."

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