Yongsan-gu Expands Food Market Delivery Service for Vulnerable Groups

Delivery of Goods to Community Service Centers or Applicant's Homes to Expand to All Districts from April after Pilot Operation in 3 Districts

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Yongsan-gu (Mayor Seongjang Hyun) Food Bank Market Center has expanded its home (delivery) service for vulnerable groups who find it difficult to go out due to COVID-19.

January to March is a pilot operation period. Among residents of Hannam, Seobinggo, and Bogwang-dong, who find it difficult to use the center due to distance, Food Market users can request by phone, and the center will send goods to the local community service center or the applicant's home (limited to those with mobility difficulties).

The usage frequency is once per person per month.

The district plans to supplement any issues that may arise during the pilot period and expand the delivery service to the entire district starting in April.

A district official said, "Previously, delivery services were operated only for those with mobility difficulties, but from this year, related services will be provided to all Food Market users," adding, "We will continue to improve the system to ensure no inconvenience in using the facility."

The Food Bank Market Center is a social welfare facility that supports food and other living supplies to low-income residents such as children at risk of hunger and elderly living alone in the region, according to the 'Act on the Promotion of Donations of Food, etc.'

The district center is located at 345 Hangang-daero, with a total area of 195.56㎡ across basement levels 1 and 3, and includes a warehouse (basement 1 and 3), a store (ground floor 1), and offices (ground floor 2). It is entrusted to the Yongsan-gu Council of Assembly Members, and has three staff members.

The support targets include 53 places such as free meal centers and social welfare facilities (Food Bank) and 755 individuals including basic livelihood security recipients, near-poverty groups, and emergency support recipients (Food Market). Among them, individual users can visit the market once a month and take up to four items (within 100,000 KRW) of their choice.

The usage period is two years from the date of selection. In July, 300 new beneficiaries will be recruited.

In addition to regular users, emergency support recipients such as households broken by domestic violence or divorce, and crisis families due to the death, unemployment, injury, or illness of the head of household (main income earner) are recruited as needed.

The usage period for emergency support is six months from the application date. Please inquire at the local community service center.

Furthermore, from January 18 to 29, the district will conduct the Lunar New Year donation sharing campaign "Tonghana." Donation boxes will be installed in the lobby of the district office 2nd floor (civil service office) and in front of elevators 6 and 7 on the 5th floor to encourage voluntary participation from residents and officials.

Additionally, the district plans to ensure thorough facility operation through activities such as operating "Food Sharing Day" to promote donation culture, movie viewing "Seat Sharing" with CGV, and charity concerts this year.

Seongjang Hyun, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, said, "Last year, there were difficulties in operating the Food Bank Market Center due to COVID-19," and added, "This year, we will expand home services so that residents can use the facility more conveniently and closely."

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