Seohaemun-gu Bukahyeon-dong Seohaengja Checks on the Well-being of About 200 Neighbors by Phone

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Moon Seok-jin) announced on the 15th that a resident of Bukahyeon-dong has been consistently checking on the well-being of neighbors in need over the phone for more than two years, serving as a role model in the community.

The protagonist is 75-year-old Seo Haeng-ja. Seo regularly makes phone calls two to three times a month to check on the well-being of over 200 residents, including elderly living alone, people with disabilities, basic livelihood security recipients, and lower-income groups.

To do this, Seo visits the Bukahyeon-dong Community Service Center about two days a week and volunteers for about five hours a day, providing phone companionship for vulnerable neighbors.

During each call, Seo naturally continues the conversation and takes notes to enhance empathy. Long calls often follow as neighbors, with whom Seo has built affection over time, share various stories.

In particular, if the residents contacted are in crisis situations, Seo connects them with community center staff to receive welfare resources.

Seo’s “non-face-to-face neighbor care volunteer work” stands out even more during the period of social distancing amid COVID-19.

One vulnerable resident said, “I suffer from depression and have no family to talk to, so I feel very lonely, but I am very grateful that Seo listens to my story well.”

Another resident expressed gratitude, saying, “I share many heartfelt stories with the elder and receive comfort, so I look forward to the calls.”

When Bukahyeon-dong Community Service Center staff said, “Despite being in the mid-70s, Seo is full of vitality in daily life and strength can be felt in the voice,” Seo smiled brightly and said, “I think living with neighbors has made me this way.”

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