What Changes in 2021 for Gangseo-gu, Seoul?...Including the Creation of Magok District Cultural Street

Gangseo-gu Announces 2021 District Policy Changes, Selects 54 Projects in 5 Key Areas... Magok District Cultural Street Development, Media Creator Specialized Courses... Expansion of Our Neighborhood Care Centers, Care SOS Center Emergency Care Target Expansion, Youth Autonomous Budget System Operation, Gangseo-gu Climate Change Response Roadmap Establishment... Operation of Gangseo Rest Shelter for Mobile Workers, Smart Shelter Construction

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gangseo-gu, Seoul (Mayor Noh Hyun-song) announced the "2021 Changes in Gangseo District Administration," compiling newly introduced and revised policies for the New Year of the Year of the Ox.

The district selected and publicized projects that are closely related to residents' daily lives and beneficial to know in advance, aiming to encourage residents' interest and participation in district administration and to strengthen active communication governance.

This announcement includes a total of 54 projects across five major fields: ▲Culture & Education (7 projects) ▲Welfare & Health (20 projects) ▲Economy & Environment (9 projects) ▲Safety & Transportation (5 projects) ▲Administration & Residents' Life (13 projects). In particular, many projects with high resident impact will be promoted in the Welfare & Health and Administration & Residents' Life sectors.

◆ Culture & Education Sector: Creation of Magok District Cultural Street, Operation of Media Creator Specialized Courses

A cultural street will be created in connection with cultural facilities, green corridors, cultural parks, and Magok Square within the Magok District, transforming it into a place where all residents can enjoy.

By 2022, along the approximately 1 km green corridor connecting Balsan Station to Magok Station on Subway Line 5, public art installations such as symbolic sculptures, sculptures, art benches, photo zones, free market zones, event walls, and busking stages will be installed. Various street performances and events will promote local cultural arts revitalization and contribute to the activation of surrounding commercial areas.

Specialized media creator courses will be operated to secure uninterrupted educational infrastructure even in the post-COVID-19 era and guarantee lifelong learning rights for residents.

In the prolonged COVID-19 situation, support will be provided to strengthen instructors' online utilization capabilities by offering training on using online media and practical education necessary for operating non-face-to-face lectures. In the first half of this year, training will be conducted for instructors affiliated with adult literacy classes and Gangseo Lifelong Academy, and in the second half, for those wishing to develop online educational content.

A one-person media studio will be created and operated to support youth in producing media broadcasts themselves, allowing them to freely express their imagination and creativity.

In May, the youth creator-exclusive studio "Cheongdabang (Youth Doing Broadcasting)" will open on the 3rd floor of the Gangseo Youth Center. Equipment such as computers, cameras, sound and lighting devices necessary for broadcasting will be installed to support youth creators' activities. Any youth residing in the district with a youth ID card can use the facility.

◆ Welfare & Health Sector: Expansion of Two Our Neighborhood Care Centers, Expansion of Emergency Care Targets at Care SOS Center

In February, two additional Our Neighborhood Care Centers for children requiring care will begin operation, and from April, a Working Mom Support Center will be operated, creating a child-rearing-friendly care environment.

In addition to the existing centers in Yeomchang-dong and Banghwa 3-dong, Our Neighborhood Care Centers will be established in Hwagokbon-dong and Banghwa 2-dong. Dual-income families with children aged 6 to 12 who require care can use the service regardless of income. For a monthly fee of 50,000 KRW, regular and temporary care services, cultural and artistic programs, and meals/snacks will be provided.

Additionally, in March and May, the 2nd and 3rd public workplace daycare centers will open in Deungchon-dong and Hwagok-dong. This will expand childcare support for small business workers in Deungchon-dong and Hwagok-dong and employees of small and medium-sized enterprises not obligated to install workplace daycare centers.

From April, a Working Mom Support Center will be operated to assist working mothers balancing work and family life. It will provide personal, family relationship, and workplace grievance counseling to help achieve work-family balance. It will also prevent career breaks through capacity building for working moms and conduct outreach education for employers.

The Care SOS Center, which previously supported disabled and middle-aged households aged 50 and over, will significantly expand its target this year to support all households requiring care.

To eliminate blind spots in care through establishing a public-private cooperative care support system within the district, Care SOS Centers will operate at neighborhood community centers. Households requiring care can apply at their local community center, and eight major care services will be provided: temporary home care, short-term facility care, accompaniment support, residential convenience, meal support, welfare checks, health support, and information counseling.

◆ Economy & Environment Sector: Operation of Youth Autonomous Budget System, Establishment of Gangseo-gu Climate Change Response Roadmap

The Youth Autonomous Budget System will be operated to expand policy and social participation opportunities for young people.

This year, along with operating an open labor consultation office and Gangseo youth startup mentoring, lectures on labor knowledge for working youth will be held to create a comfortable working environment in Gangseo.

Additionally, the Purureum Mind Healing School will be operated to help young people improve stress management skills through one-on-one counseling with psychological counselors and programs in art, music, and exercise therapy. The Youth Public Forum, a youth participation organization to discuss and seek solutions to youth issues, will also be operated.

To set greenhouse gas reduction targets and prepare reduction plans, Gangseo-gu will establish a 2030 Climate Change Response Roadmap.

To protect residents' lives from the climate crisis, from 2021 to 2030, annual greenhouse gas emissions surveys will be conducted in sectors such as buildings, transportation, waste, and green infrastructure, and reduction targets and plans will be set and prepared through 2030.

◆ Safety & Transportation Sector: Establishment of Information System for Safe Walking Environment, Expansion and Distribution of Resident Priority Parking ARS Sharing System

By establishing a pedestrian-centered walking safety information system, safe walking environments and optimal travel routes will be provided to residents.

A walking environment information system containing practical walking information such as slopes and curb-free paths, caution areas while walking, and public restroom locations will be established. A smartphone voice support service for the visually impaired will also be provided to make it easy for walking-vulnerable groups to use. Additionally, a mobile location search service based on road information such as altitude and slope will be established to find safe travel routes.

The ARS sharing system, which allows residents to easily use infrastructure with a phone call, will be expanded and distributed.

The resident priority parking ARS sharing system, currently operating 73 spaces near Dongshin University Apartment in Gayang-dong, will add 100 spaces this year at Gayang-dong Gongam Naru Park and Banghwa-dong Kkwonggogae Park. After parking in an empty resident priority parking space marked with ARS guidance signs, users can apply for sharing and pay usage fees via ARS phone calls. The parking fee is 100 KRW per 5 minutes, and the revenue is distributed as 30% to sharing participants, 30% to the public corporation, and 40% to the sharing company.

◆ Administration & Residents' Life Sector: Operation of Gangseo Rest Shelter for Mobile Workers, Establishment of Smart Rest Shelter

Demand for mobile labor is rapidly increasing, and while the workload of mobile workers is rising, their treatment and working conditions remain poor. Therefore, the Gangseo Rest Shelter will be operated to improve the working environment for mobile workers.

The Gangseo Rest Shelter for mobile workers is located near Magok Station (Magok-dong 745-3) with an area of 135㎡. It is equipped with a seminar room, restroom, lounge, counseling room, and provides rest space for mobile workers, as well as support for self-help groups and labor welfare programs.

To respond to fine dust, heat waves, and cold waves, a smart rest shelter will be established to provide a comfortable and safe resting place throughout the four seasons.

The smart rest shelter will be equipped with heating and cooling, air purification, thermal imaging cameras, ultraviolet sterilization, and wireless phone charging services to allow residents to rest comfortably. It will be piloted in one park within the district in July, and expansion will be considered based on the operation results.

Additionally, the district plans to implement highly impactful administrative services closely related to residents' lives, such as building a smart civil complaint waiting notification service, activating mobile newsletters easily viewed with one touch, and providing on-site marriage registration support for people with disabilities.

Detailed information on the changes in district administration can be found on the Gangseo-gu Office website under Administration Information - Gangseo Administrative Data - Other Administrative Data, and related inquiries can be made to the Planning and Budget Division of Gangseo-gu Office.

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