Opening of Seocho 50 Plus Center Online (YouTube)

Opened on the 21st as a space for growth, learning, and sharing for the 5060 generation, featuring career development, life design, and community

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Interest in the ‘Seocho 50 Plus Center’ is unusually high.

It has been receiving enthusiastic responses even before its official opening. This reflects how much the 50s and 60s generation has been thirsty for a cultural space dedicated solely to them, drawing significant attention.

Seocho-gu (Mayor Cho Eun-hee) will officially open the 'Seocho 50 Plus Center,' established with the vision of supporting the successful second half of life for the 50s and 60s generation, known as the "new middle-aged," and becoming a "true partner that enhances the value of the 50+ generation," at 2 p.m. on the 21st.

Although the center was completed in November, it has been operating online proactively due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

It is the first center to open in the southeastern region of Seoul (Seocho, Gangnam, Songpa, Gangdong), and over 1,000 people have already registered their interest on the website, showing a warm response.

The opening event, carried out amid this enthusiasm, will not be a typical ceremony but will be held in an ontact format via YouTube (channel name: Seocho 50 Plus Center), featuring various events such as congratulatory messages, facility tours, quizzes, and dance videos.

In particular, the facility tour will also introduce the unique features of the ‘Seocho 50 Plus Center’ that only Seocho offers.

Right next to the center is ‘Naegok Neutinamu Shelter,’ a cultural and leisure complex space for seniors, allowing the middle-aged and elderly to enjoy Seocho’s exclusive one-plus-one services together. Career development and preparation for employment or entrepreneurship for the second round of life can be done at the 50 Plus Center, while cultural and leisure activities such as health dance, sauna, movie watching, and mental health care including dementia treatment can be enjoyed at the ‘Naegok Neutinamu Shelter.’

Another special feature is the O-rak Room (hobby and leisure room), a space where the 50+ generation can share various hobbies they enjoy. It is equipped with a 3D printer capable of three-dimensional printing, a UV flatbed printer that can print on materials such as metal, acrylic, and wood, a mug transfer machine to put your own drawings on mugs, a lettering sticker cutter for sheet cutting production, and a 3D pen to create three-dimensional sculptures by hand, allowing innovative ideas to be unleashed endlessly.

There is also an on-air broadcasting room that streams online lectures so that the 50+ generation can take classes in their desired space without worrying about COVID-19.

An incubator space for startups has also been created. The Nest (shared office) rents out space to individuals or organizations that have formed public-interest groups or wish to prepare for startups, supporting the 50+ generation’s dreams through customized consulting and special lectures for capacity building.

The ambitiously prepared center by the district was remodeled from the existing Naegok-dong Community Center, spanning from the basement first floor to the third floor above ground (total floor area 1,309.76㎡). It is richly equipped with various spaces for the 50+ generation, including a restaurant and sports area on the basement floor, a book caf? on the first floor, lecture rooms, multimedia rooms, and community rooms on the second floor, and shared offices, online lecture rooms, and hobby and leisure rooms on the third floor.

Upon entering the center, the ‘Today’s Excitement boo-k boo-k’ book caf? immediately catches the eye. Filled with books in various fields such as humanities, hobbies, and health, the book caf? is a place where anyone can stop by to nourish their mind, and counselors are on site to answer various questions.

The second floor is designed as a space where the 50+ generation can open up their potential and prepare for the prime of their lives. It consists of spaces for learning various courses called Baewo-bom (lecture rooms), learning IT devices such as computers and smartphones called Ikhyeo-bom (multimedia rooms), active activities called Moyeo-bom (auditorium), and sharing common interests called Hamkkehae-bom (community rooms), providing places where the 50+ generation can learn and share.

The third floor, designed as a space to support hopeful futures and dreams, includes the Lululala Lounge (rest area) for taking a break and the ‘Toktok’ comprehensive counseling room where counselors are available for consultations related to the seven major life areas (work, finance, social contribution, social relationships, family, leisure, health).

Meanwhile, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, face-to-face group programs are currently not being conducted.

The Seocho 50 Plus Center website and YouTube channel ‘Seocho 50 Plus Center’ have been launched, providing useful content such as community recruitment, shared office applications, and online special lecture programs.

Seocho Mayor Cho Eun-hee said, “The 50 Plus generation corresponds to noon in a 100-year life. Now, having finished the morning session, they are starting the afternoon session.” She added, “We will spare no effort to be a plus for residents so that they can spend a wonderful afternoon of life with the Seocho 50 Plus Center.”

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