Jungnang District to Distribute 100,000 National Safe Cotton Masks

Distribution of 100,000 National Safe Masks Begins March 25
Masks Provided to Seniors with Mobility Issues and People with Disabilities
Alleviating Mask Shortages for Residents
Supporting Local Sewing Businesses Facing Economic Hardship

[Asia Economy, Reporter Park Jongil] Jungnang District (District Mayor Ryu Gyeonggi) will distribute 100,000 National Safe Masks starting from March 25.

The National Safe Mask is a washable mask made of double-layered pure cotton fabric, with an electrostatic filter that can be inserted and replaced. Each set includes one cotton mask and four electrostatic filters.

The Korea Apparel Testing & Research Institute, a testing agency designated by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, evaluated the performance and safety of the National Safe Mask. The mask passed tests for cotton safety and electrostatic filter efficacy. Quality control is managed by the National Safe Mask Production Council and the Jungnang Fashion Sewing Cooperative Association.

Starting March 25, approximately 8,000 out of the total 100,000 masks will be distributed to all district office employees, social service personnel, the Facilities Management Corporation, Jungnang Police Station, and Jungnang Fire Station employees for pilot use.

From March 31, the remaining masks will be distributed sequentially through local community leaders, with one set per person provided to seniors aged 65 and older with mobility difficulties and to people with disabilities.

Masks will also be distributed to local community centers, allowing residents who wish to receive them to do so.

This distribution of National Safe Masks aims to alleviate the inconvenience experienced by residents due to the mask shortage.

Additionally, since the masks are produced by local fashion sewing businesses, this initiative is expected to help revitalize the local economy, which has been impacted by COVID-19. Unlike disposable masks, these masks can be washed and reused, making them environmentally friendly.

This support for the National Safe Mask was decided at the general meeting of the Seoul Northeastern Districts' Fashion Sewing Industry Development Council (Chairman Ryu Gyeonggi) held on March 13. The meeting was attended by 25 participants, including the district mayors of nine northeastern districts (Jungnang, Jongno, Jung, Seongdong, Gwangjin, Dongdaemun, Seongbuk, Gangbuk, and Dobong), representatives of local sewing cooperatives, officials from the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Small Business Research Institute, and members of the National Safe Mask Production Council. They reached an agreement on the production and public procurement of the National Safe Mask.

Jungnang District has proactively distributed masks to low-income residents, seniors living alone with weakened immune systems, people with disabilities, pregnant women, and those in need of health care, as well as to multi-use facilities and public transportation facilities.

Going forward, the district will continue to secure as many masks as possible for COVID-19 prevention, share them with public health care groups, and actively support the successful implementation of the government's five-day mask distribution system.

Ryu Gyeonggi, Mayor of Jungnang District, stated, "Through the distribution of the National Safe Mask, we will resolve the difficulties in mask supply and minimize residents' anxiety." He added, "We expect this initiative to both protect residents' health and help local small sewing businesses overcome their management difficulties, achieving a win-win effect."

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