Gwanak-gu Public Officials Actively Participate in 'Social Distancing Campaign'

Installation of Partition at the 1st Floor Information Desk of Gwanak-gu Office

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) is actively participating in the voluntary infection control measure, ‘Social Distancing - A Two-Week Pause,’ to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Since the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, the district has proactively responded by implementing a voluntary staggered commuting system for employees to prevent infection spread during rush hours, and allowing pregnant public officials who wish to do so to work from home, thereby enforcing social distancing in the workplace.

Additionally, to prevent infection, partitions have been installed at the center of every table in the 9th-floor district cafeteria to facilitate non-face-to-face dining. All employees wear masks while serving and eating, and refrain from conversation during meals, participating in creating a voluntary social distancing atmosphere.

Transparent acrylic partitions have also been installed at the first-floor information desk and the civil service office in the 7th-floor Traffic Guidance Division to block the possibility of infection transmission through droplets between visitors and staff.

The district plans to gradually expand the installation scope after conducting a demand survey on the necessity of partitions for civil service workers.

Moreover, public facilities with high usage such as education, culture, and sports centers operated by the district have been temporarily closed to preemptively block gatherings in crowded spaces, thereby promoting the spread of social distancing.

Religious facilities are continuously encouraged to refrain from group religious activities involving many worshippers and to replace them with online religious activities. Cooperation letters have also been sent to local businesses and related organizations to actively encourage participation in the ‘Social Distancing - A Two-Week Pause’ campaign.

Alongside encouraging ‘social distancing,’ the district is also striving to eliminate welfare service gaps caused by the ‘pause’ and to minimize damage to small business owners and self-employed individuals.

For high-risk management targets such as basic livelihood security recipients, elderly living alone, persons with disabilities, and low-income welfare recipients, non-face-to-face protection activities are continuously promoted through one-on-one telephone welfare counseling and monitoring to prevent care gaps.

Emergency childcare and care services are provided due to the closure of daycare centers and local children’s centers, and meal support is offered to children at risk of food insecurity to ensure no gaps in infant care and elementary school care.

Furthermore, for small business owners and self-employed individuals struggling due to the COVID-19 situation, various financial supports such as emergency business stabilization funds and additional loans from the Small and Medium Business Development Fund are provided. Efforts are also focused on minimizing damage through the spread of the ‘Good Landlord Movement,’ where building owners voluntarily reduce rent for small business tenants.

Gwanak-gu Office Cafeteria

In addition, in Gwanak-gu, a resident-centered ‘social distancing’ movement is spreading, including relay promotions of ‘Social Distancing - A Pause’ through SNS (social networking services).

Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “Despite many inconveniences, I thank the residents who voluntarily participate in the ‘social distancing’ campaign, which is a daily preventive measure. Gwanak-gu employees will also actively participate in the ‘social distancing’ campaign and continuously encourage private sector participation to overcome COVID-19 and hasten the recovery of daily life.”

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