Jongno-gu 'Donuidong Saetteul Village Project' Wins Presidential Award at Local Autonomy Management Competition

From 2015 to 2019, a total budget of 5.2 billion KRW invested to improve physical environment such as village environment enhancement and home repair support... Efforts also made to improve social environment through support for Happy Village School and community activities

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Jongno-gu (Mayor Kim Young-jong) achieved the great honor of receiving the Presidential Award at the 16th Korea Local Autonomy Management Competition for its project “Warm Urban Regeneration, Hopeful Nest Saetteul House.”

The Korea Local Autonomy Management Competition is the most prestigious policy contest aimed at discovering local governments that have achieved outstanding results through excellent policies.

This year, 235 projects across 10 categories submitted by metropolitan and basic local governments nationwide fiercely competed.

The Saetteul Village project in Jongno-gu, which won the Presidential Award this time, targets the Donui-dong jjokbang (small room) area, which had long been stigmatized as a high-crime zone, isolated from the local community. Although about 85 buildings with approximately 740 jjokbang rooms and 600 residents live in this area, essential convenience facilities such as bathrooms or toilets per household, resting spaces, and community places were lacking, resulting in very vulnerable living conditions with communication between residents completely cut off.

Accordingly, from 2015 to 2019, Jongno-gu promoted various projects to support the sustainable self-reliance and independence of jjokbang residents and help them lead humane lives.

With a total budget of 5.2 billion KRW, efforts were made to improve the physical environment?such as ▲village environment improvement ▲house repair support ▲creation of resident communal facilities?and the social environment?such as ▲Happy Village School ▲support for community activities. As a result of the concerted efforts of participants from various fields including public officials, village activists, village architects, and general coordinators, not only environmental changes but also personal changes among residents living in the jjokbang area led to “small but meaningful changes.”

Among these, the creation of the resident communal facility “Saetteul House” (20-2 Donhwamunro 9ga-gil) is noteworthy. To support residents’ living convenience, community support, and independence, a space was created with a total floor area of 578.03㎡, consisting of one basement floor and five above-ground floors, equipped with a kitchen, shower room, sarangbang (community room), counseling office, and laundry room.

Opened in April last year, Saetteul House goes beyond simply providing living conveniences; it serves as an essential communication, education, and job welfare integrated network space for jjokbang residents and plays a pivotal role as the village’s focal point.

From land acquisition to design, construction, and opening, the facility was built through a process of communication and alignment with residents’ perspectives, providing an opportunity to raise awareness that it is a precious living space where residents live together.

Mayor Kim Young-jong said, “The rebirth of the once poor and marginalized Donui-dong jjokbang area into Saetteul Village is the result of the wholehearted cooperation and interest of local residents, experts in various fields, and public officials working together with their best efforts. We will spare no administrative support so that jjokbang residents can regain their will to live and lead vibrant lives. We will continue to strive to create a community without welfare blind spots where all residents can enjoy a happy and safe life equally.”

Meanwhile, Jongno-gu also won the Presidential Award at the 2018 National Design Team Performance Sharing Competition for its “Donui-dong Customized Pest Control Solution Project.”

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