Gwangjin-gu Publishes White Paper on COVID-19 Local Infection Prevention and Response

Utilizing as a Disaster Response Manual for Future Emergencies... Dense and Proactive Quarantine System to Block Secondary Local Infections... Differentiated Local Economy Revitalization and Small Business Support Policies

Kim Seon-gap, Mayor of Gwangjin District, conducting disinfection

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gwangjin-gu (District Mayor Kim Seon-gap) is publishing the "Gwangjin-gu COVID-19 White Paper," which documents the entire process of preventing and responding to local infections of COVID-19 that was overcome together with the residents.

The publication of the white paper was initiated to record all procedures from the onset of COVID-19, including specimen collection, epidemiological investigations, and quarantine measures, to be used as a crisis response manual. It also aims to review response issues and improvement measures to serve as a disaster response textbook in the event of future urgent disasters.

The white paper will comprehensively record all matters promoted by Gwangjin-gu based on objective facts from January 28, when the 24-hour Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters began operation, until the situation ends, categorized by field.

Gwangjin-gu plans to include ▲response process and system ▲blocking the spread of secondary local infections through meticulous quarantine activities ▲revitalization of the local economy and support for small business owners ▲support for the livelihood stability of welfare classes ▲cases of cooperation with residents ▲evaluation and reflection in the white paper.

In particular, it intends to draw interest through Gwangjin-gu’s unique proactive and differentiated prevention and response methods, as well as touching cases of overcoming the crisis together with residents.

The district focused on blocking the spread of secondary local infections through meticulous quarantine activities. First, multilingual banners were posted mainly in Yangkkochi Street, where many foreign visitors gather, and a screening clinic was installed at the nearby Jayang Health Center for proactive response.

Also, before the Shincheonji group infection occurred, on February 12, proactive cooperation letters were sent to various religious facilities requesting temperature checks, hand sanitization, and mask-wearing from the entrance during religious ceremonies.

Furthermore, by visiting directly and checking the availability of preventive supplies, the district listened to opinions from each facility to identify risk factors, provided masks, and conducted quarantine activities to prevent group infections.

Gwangjin-gu was the first autonomous district in Seoul to install a temporary screening clinic inside a university, conducting secondary testing (after the first screening at quarantine stations) for international students. After the first confirmed case among international students, a temporary residence facility was prepared for stronger prevention, and medical staff conducted home visits for testing.

Additionally, thermal imaging cameras were installed at Dong Seoul Terminal, where many outsiders enter, from the onset, and later temperature checks were conducted on disembarking passengers to block external infection routes.

Along with meticulous quarantine activities, Gwangjin-gu did not overlook residents’ hardships. For small business owners suffering economic difficulties due to the prolonged COVID-19 situation, the district introduced the "Gwangjin-type Emergency Operating Fund," a special loan with zero interest for one year (including existing borrowers) and exemption from guarantee fees, the first of its kind in Seoul.

Moreover, to provide easy and fast support, a one-stop support center involving banks, guarantee foundations, and the district office was set up and operated in the Gwangjin-gu Office parking lot.

Alongside this, Gwangjin-gu became the first autonomous district in Seoul to develop and operate a public delivery app with low brokerage fees and no advertising fees, and is promoting the "Gwangjin-type Small Business Employment Retention Support Project" to assist small businesses with fewer than five employees affected by COVID-19.

To revitalize the stagnant local commercial district, the district also implemented ▲a total of 42.2 billion KRW in emergency operating funds for small business owners ▲early execution of 147.1 billion KRW in local finances in the first half of the year ▲priority selection of local companies in private contracts ▲extension of payment deadlines for local taxes and postponement of tax audits ▲full closure of district cafeterias ▲support payments for businesses closed or suspended due to COVID-19 ▲free collection of food waste from small restaurants.

Moments when the district and residents united to overcome difficulties are also included. Early in the outbreak, the district held countermeasure meetings with about 90 related organizations and professional groups to listen to residents’ opinions and gather wisdom.

Communication returned with warmth. Residents took the lead in quarantine and prevention publicity campaigns.

Also, various donations such as homemade cloth masks and blood donation certificates, the continuously spreading Good Landlord Movement, handwritten letters, and health foods showed warm support for the hardworking staff.

Kim Seon-gap, mayor of Gwangjin District, is visiting a sewing factory to inspect cloth masks.

Special preventive activities for residents are also thoroughly recorded. Early in the COVID-19 outbreak, the district distributed masks and conducted quarantine at facilities related to children and the elderly, delivering masks to vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, elderly seniors, and severely disabled persons with mobility difficulties.

Additionally, in cooperation with the sewing industry, the district began producing "National Safe Cloth Masks," distributing them to recipients of social benefits, low-income families, single-parent families, self-quarantined individuals, and their families.

For daily prevention, hand sanitizers were placed in all elevators, free rental of disinfectant sprayers was provided to residents, and transparent partitions were installed in civil service offices.

Furthermore, the white paper will also reflect stories of healing together after the COVID-19 situation calmed down and tasks that need to be addressed.

The Gwangjin-gu COVID-19 White Paper is scheduled to be written within two months after the situation ends, produced at around 300 pages, and will be distributed free of charge to residents.

Kim Seon-gap, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, said, "Recorded activities are future history, and what is not recorded will all be forgotten. We intend to meticulously document our district’s story of overcoming the pandemic situation as one and share it with residents and utilize it for future responses."

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