Why Did the Media Focus on Dongdaemun-gu's COVID-19 Response?

Broadcast and Newspaper Requests Continue for Coverage on Dongdaemun-gu's COVID-19 Response Measures... Notable Efforts in Quarantine, Self-Isolation Management, and Cluster Infection Investigations

Yoo Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, Checks Movement Paths of COVID-19 Confirmed Cases

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol), which is making all-out efforts on all fronts to prevent and respond to COVID-19, has been receiving continuous media coverage requests.

Under the direct leadership of Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol of Dongdaemun-gu, since January 20, Dongdaemun-gu has been actively engaged in quarantine, management of self-quarantined individuals, conducting thorough investigations to respond to cluster infections, revitalizing the local economy, caring for residents' mental health, and providing online content, attracting significant attention from broadcasters and newspapers.

Since early February, when COVID-19 began to gradually spread, all available quarantine personnel have been mobilized for intensive disinfection efforts. A 10-member mobile quarantine team disinfects vulnerable and public facilities twice a week, while 72 volunteer disinfectors sanitize areas densely populated by Chinese residents and multi-use facilities daily. Over 80 merchants from 21 traditional markets also participate, forming autonomous quarantine squads that disinfect approximately 6,000 stores in traditional markets and nearby shopping areas twice a week.

Quarantine supplies have been meticulously distributed across various sectors. As of April 17, 283,588 health masks and 71,037 hand sanitizers were provided to screening clinics, daycare centers, senior centers, residences of confirmed cases and visited businesses, multi-use facilities, traditional market merchants and customers, homeless individuals, quarantine support staff, and field enforcement personnel. Additionally, anticipating students' return to school, 34,740 cloth masks and 347,400 safety filters (worth approximately 120 million KRW) were supplied to 28 kindergartens and 49 elementary, middle, and high schools.

After confirmed cases emerged, immediate disinfection of the confirmed patients' routes and residences was conducted to prevent further transmission. Disaster safety text messages were sent on the day of confirmation, and the patients' movement paths were disclosed on the district website and social media platforms (blog, Facebook, Instagram).

The response to prevent the spread of cluster infections also drew considerable media attention.

During an in-depth epidemiological investigation of church-related confirmed cases, it was discovered that a retreat had been held from February 20 to 22. The full list of retreat participants was secured, and testing was completed by March 13. Among the 164 participants tested, 5 were positive (previously confirmed cases), and the remaining 159 tested negative.

When a confirmed case occurred at a PC bang in Hwikyung-dong, testing guidance messages were sent to a total of 934 individuals who used the PC bang from February 25 to March 11. Continuous phone calls were made, resulting in 700 people visiting the Dongdaemun-gu Public Health Center and 234 visiting health centers in other regions, completing all tests. Among them, 3 tested positive, and the rest were negative. For those with unclear contact information, the Dongdaemun Police Station assisted in reconfirming and contacting them.

For non-members, contact information was obtained by checking game login records and collaborating with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and game companies. To ensure no user was missed, GPS tracking was conducted with cooperation from mobile carriers via the Seoul Metropolitan Government, identifying 24,641 mobile phone users who stayed near the PC bang for more than 30 minutes. Text messages were sent to ensure all PC bang users could get tested. This full-scale testing of PC bang users became a model for comprehensive testing of multi-use facility users.

With the increase in overseas arrivals under self-quarantine, management of self-quarantined individuals has been intensified. Over 200 Dongdaemun-gu office staff monitor approximately 1,300 self-quarantined individuals (cumulative as of April 20) on a one-to-one basis, checking symptoms and any violations.

For families of self-quarantined individuals, four local tourist hotels participate in operating ‘National Safe Lodging.’ This lodging is provided for families of overseas arrivals who must undergo mandatory 14-day self-quarantine, offering accommodations at up to 50% reduced rates compared to regular lodging fees.

Economic support to overcome COVID-19 is also actively provided. Financial aid and interest support on bank loans are given to small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners in the area to stabilize management. For small business owners and franchisees of businesses visited by confirmed cases, rent and labor costs incurred during closure periods are compensated up to 1.95 million KRW.

During the high-intensity social distancing period (March 9 to April 14), academies and private institutes registered with the Seoul Eastern Education Support Office that were closed, as well as multi-use facilities (PC bangs, karaoke rooms, fitness centers, martial arts dojos, colatecs, etc.) registered with the district that were closed for five or more consecutive days, received 100,000 KRW per day, up to a maximum of 1 million KRW.

To share the difficulties of small merchants, the ‘Good Rent Reduction Relay Campaign’ is underway. Landlords who reduce rent receive income tax and corporate tax credits, and support is provided for building maintenance costs, monthly electrical safety inspections, and disinfection. Dongdaemun-gu also reduces rent by 50% for six months for 51 small business tenants operating in district-owned properties.

To support residents experiencing COVID-19-related depression (‘Corona Blue’), a mental health vaccine has been prepared.

The ‘COVID-19 Integrated Psychological Support Team,’ composed of 10 staff members from Dongdaemun-gu Public Health Center and the Dongdaemun-gu Mental Health Welfare Center, provides comprehensive services including mental health counseling and evaluation, high-risk group screening, and linkage to medical treatment via phone or face-to-face (after quarantine release). In cases requiring ongoing management due to psychological anxiety, in-depth counseling support is also provided.

For isolated elderly living alone who are physically and mentally exhausted, a companion plant distribution project is underway. Life support workers personally visit 542 elderly living alone who are recipients of senior tailored care services to deliver companion plants such as lettuce and crown daisy and check on their well-being.

To comfort residents unable to go out despite the full bloom of spring flowers, a video featuring spring flowers along Jungnangcheon Stream was produced and uploaded on the Dongdaemun-gu Office internet broadcast (www.dbs.go.kr) and Dongdaemun-gu Office YouTube channel (youtube.com/user/ddmdbs4you).

Rich non-face-to-face services and online content are also provided to replace suspended classes and closed facilities.

Specimen Survey of PC Bang Users in Dongdaemun-gu

At the Dongdaemun-gu Public Library integrated website (www.l4d.or.kr), books can be requested between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. (up to 5 books per person, 14-day loan period). Upon receiving an approval message, books can be picked up at a designated time and place the next day.

Additionally, e-book and audiobook services have been enhanced, allowing convenient access to approximately 40,000 e-books and 340 audiobooks on the library website.

Furthermore, for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, people with disabilities, and long-term care recipients who find it difficult to visit the library, ‘Book Greeting Service’ and ‘Book Narae Service’ are offered, allowing them to request books via phone or internet and receive them free of charge by courier.

Video lectures replacing cultural classes at community centers are also popular. Instructors of 15 popular programs such as acoustic guitar, English conversation, Namdo folk songs, line dance, Korean dance, calligraphy, and laughter therapy have donated their talents by directly filming or producing lecture materials, which are shared with students via SNS platforms like Naver Band and KakaoTalk to maintain communication.

The Seoul Oriental Medicine Promotion Center provides various online content through its website (kmedi.ddm.go.kr), blog (blog.naver.com/kmedicenter), and Instagram, including traditional medicine health methods that help boost immunity, recipes for beneficial herbal teas and medicinal foods, and information on herbal product events.

For parents worried about the postponed school opening, the monthly on-site parent admission information program ‘Parent Admission Classroom’ held at the district office is now available on the Dongdaemun Admission Counseling Center website (www.ddmjinhak.co.kr).

Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol of Dongdaemun-gu stated, “For over three months, we have been tirelessly working to prevent the local spread of COVID-19 and to heal the wounds caused by its impact on daily life. Although there were critical moments such as cluster infections, the combined efforts of staff and residents helped us avoid greater damage. We will continue to prepare thoroughly without letting our guard down until the situation is completely resolved.”

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