Seoul City, "Preventing Care Gaps and Supporting Vulnerable Groups' Livelihood Stability Amid COVID-19 Crisis"

Discussion on Public Support Cases and Roles in Welfare Session at 'CAC Global Summit'

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Despite the crisis caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the Seoul Metropolitan Government is sharing its emergency support and care cases carried out to ensure the stability of vulnerable groups' lives and to respond to care gaps with the world.

On the 4th, Seoul presented these public support cases at the 'Welfare' session of the online international conference 'CAC Global Summit 2020' program, seeking solutions on how social welfare should support vulnerable groups amid the social crisis caused by COVID-19.

The session includes officials overseeing social welfare in Seoul and Lena Dominelli, a renowned British social welfare practice theorist and professor at the University of Stirling. Professor Lena Dominelli, who proposed the 'COVID-19 Response Guidelines for Social Workers' since the outbreak in China in January this year, will emphasize the role of social welfare during the COVID-19 pandemic in this session.

Kang Byung-ho, Director of the Seoul Welfare Policy Office, explains the background of the 'Seoul Disaster Emergency Living Expenses' program, which provided up to 500,000 won to all households with median income below 100% amid the consumption slump and employment shock crisis caused by COVID-19. He also plans to share Seoul's policy efforts and practical effects to quickly support the lower-middle class and below, who have become financially distressed due to the disaster. According to big data analysis, 79% of Seoul's disaster emergency living expenses were used in three essential livelihood sectors: distribution, dining, and groceries, demonstrating a tangible effect in emergency livelihood support.

Next, Oh Dong-jun, Director of Wolgye Comprehensive Social Welfare Center in Nowon-gu, introduces how local social welfare institutions actively respond and support vulnerable groups during the unprecedented disaster situation of COVID-19, sharing wisdom and awareness of issues gained through these experiences.

Jung Eun-ha, Public Care Support Team Leader at the Seoul Welfare Foundation, introduces how the 'Care SOS Center,' which Seoul has been focusing on since last year to realize universal care welfare, is resolving care gaps and proposes institutional improvement measures for care without blind spots. This system, currently piloted in five autonomous districts, assigns a 'care manager' at each center to provide and connect customized care services ranging from urgent household and nursing care needed due to sudden illness or accidents to everyday assistance such as hospital accompaniment.

Kang Byung-ho, Director of the Seoul Welfare Policy Office, stated, "The CAC Global Summit 2020, aimed at overcoming the COVID-19 crisis and preparing for an era of great transformation, will serve as an opportunity to explore the public role during disasters." He added, "In particular, through the case of the Care SOS Center, which fills unexpected care gaps, I hope deeper discussions will be held on how social welfare should support vulnerable groups."

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