Jongno-gu Operates 'Happiness Mailbox' Year-Round to Share Residents' Happiness Stories

Anyone Living an Everyday Life in Jongno: Submit Stories, Photos, Happiness Discourses, or Quotes about a Happy and Good Life via District Office Website, Email, Visit, or Mail

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Jongno-gu (Mayor Kim Young-jong) is making efforts to prioritize residents' happiness as the top value in district administration and to devise practical measures to enhance happiness.

As part of this, the 'Jongno Happiness Mailbox' operates year-round to discover and share residents' happiness stories.

The 'Jongno Happiness Mailbox' is a program designed to share warm and interesting stories and ideas related to happiness.

Any resident living in Jongno can participate by submitting stories or photos about a happy life or a good life.

The formats include ▲examples of happiness practice and good deeds ▲photos capturing happy stories of oneself or neighbors ▲personal happiness discourses or happiness quotes, among others.

To participate, applicants can download and fill out the application form from the integrated application section under the comprehensive civil service on the district office website, then submit it via ▲the district website ▲email to the person in charge (mjson@mail.jongno.go.kr) ▲visit or mail (Jongno-gu, Jongno 1-gil 42, Ima Building Room 406, Jongno-gu Office Health City Division Happiness Dream Team).

One participant may submit multiple entries. The district selects outstanding works monthly and awards prizes worth 50,000 KRW. Selected works are announced at the end of each month on the district office website and notified individually via text message.

For more details, please refer to the district office website or contact the Health City Division.

Meanwhile, Jongno-gu has made various attempts to diagnose the current state of community happiness and build a strong consensus with residents.

In 2015, it formed the nation's first dedicated resident happiness team, the 'Happiness Dream Team,' and began the 'Jongno Happiness Dream Project.' In 2016, it enacted the 'Jongno-gu Resident Happiness Promotion Ordinance.' This ordinance signifies a strong commitment to reflect any opinions aimed at enhancing residents' happiness in district policies without neglect.

In 2018, the district developed the 'Jongno Happiness Index,' reflecting the area's socio-structural characteristics, residents' subjective perceptions, and key policies.

The index consists of areas and sub-indicators such as ▲individual ▲family ▲Jongno environment ▲regulatory system.

Additionally, the district encourages voluntary participation in happiness policies through the 'Jongno Happiness Dream Leaders,' resident-led workshops called 'Happiness Dream Academy,' and education programs to promote happiness, striving to realize a happy and healthy Jongno.

Mayor Kim Young-jong stated, “Creating a safe environment ultimately aims for residents' happiness, and cultural development and social health are also to build a community where residents are happy and satisfied. We will continue various attempts to find happiness standards in residents' lives and incorporate them into policies.”

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