Gangbuk-gu’s Neighborly Sharing ‘Uri Dongne Iutsachon Project’ Promotion

Resident-led Sharing and Care Club ‘Nanumiyut’ Promotes ‘Nanumgage’ Providing Goods and Services to Low-Income Neighbors

Songcheon-dong Flower Sharing

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gangbuk-gu (Mayor Park Kyum-soo) is promoting the ‘Uri Dongne Iutsachon Project,’ where local residents identify welfare needs within the community themselves and help neighbors in need.

The Uri Dongne Iutsachon Project consists of ‘Nanum Neighbors,’ clubs formed to support and assist each other among neighbors, and ‘Nanum Stores,’ where local small business owners voluntarily donate goods and services to support neighbors in difficulty.

The district plans to expand Nanum Neighbors from 7 neighborhoods operated last year to 9 neighborhoods. Residents will be recruited mainly through the neighborhood community centers to form clubs, with regular education and meetings provided to encourage sharing of cases and know-how by neighborhood. In 2019, a total of 80 people were active in 12 clubs.

A representative Nanum Neighbors club, Songcheon-dong’s ‘Kkotboda Nanum,’ has been providing side dishes and checking on vulnerable groups since May 2018. As a result, in 2019, it was selected as an outstanding club and received a commendation from the Seoul Mayor.

Suyu 2-dong Nanum Neighbors ‘Gachi, Gachi’ delivered crops harvested from the community center rooftop garden to elderly and disabled households in difficult circumstances. They also made and shared holiday food with the elderly during last Chuseok.

Nanum Stores operate in all 13 neighborhoods in the district. The district discovers Nanum Stores and signs agreements to connect residents in need with the respective businesses. These stores must participate at least once a month and maintain donations for over a year.

Last year, 39 stores carried out Nanum activities worth approximately 15.7 million KRW for 5,292 neighbors. Food such as lunch boxes, meat, and eggs, as well as items like magnifying glasses and shoes, and services such as hairdressing were provided.

Park Kyum-soo, Mayor of Gangbuk-gu, said, “In these difficult times due to COVID-19, I hope residents build closer relationships through the Uri Dongne Iutsachon Project,” adding, “We will continuously increase Nanum clubs and Nanum Stores and actively discover support targets in welfare blind spots to make Gangbuk-gu a warm local community.”

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