Seodaemun-gu Natural Ongdalsam Village Vitality Center Wins Seoul Community Award

Resident Operation Committee Autonomously Promotes Various Activities Including 'Neighborhood Learning Center Operation'

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Moon Seok-jin) announced on the 21st that Cheonyeon Ongdalsaem (CEO Choi Yong-sook), which operates the village vitality center, has been selected as the recipient of the ‘2020 Seoul Community Award’ organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Community Comprehensive Support Center.

This award is given to village spaces and groups that have contributed to making Seoul a better city through community activities. The award ceremony will be held online on the 24th of this month at 2:30 PM in conjunction with the Seoul Village Week commemorative event.

Cheonyeon Ongdalsaem (6 Doknipmun-ro 10-gil) opened on March 8, 2017, after remodeling the old natural pressure station.

The residents took the lead by forming a ‘Resident Operating Committee,’ registering as a non-profit corporation (Cheonyeon Ongdalsaem), and signing an operation agreement with Seoul City and Seodaemun-gu.

The committee has autonomously carried out various activities including ▲opening and rental of Cheonyeon Ongdalsaem ▲operating neighborhood learning centers ▲holding regular screenings of indie Seoul independent films ▲applying for Cheonyeon Chunghyeon urban regeneration and village community projects.

It also actively participates in various local community events such as the Doknipmun Alley Art Project and the Cheonyeon Chunghyeon Urban Regeneration Festival.

Located near elementary and middle schools, many students and parents visit to relax and share neighborhood news.

Open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 7 PM, anyone can stop by to rest or hold meetings, and there is a small kitchen available for preparing simple meals.

A ‘space keeper’ with extensive experience supporting village community activities is stationed on-site to assist residents in using the space.

Cheonyeon Ongdalsaem plans to expand its operating committee by the end of this year to further contribute to creating a ‘livable village’ through cross-generational networks and expanded resident participation.

Moon Seok-jin, Mayor of Seodaemun-gu, said, “Congratulations on Cheonyeon Ongdalsaem’s receipt of the Seoul Community Award as a leading village vitality space. I hope it will develop further as a regional hub for restoring community spirit.”

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