Wando-gun, Eup and Myeon Chiefs Personally Support New Year's Greetings and Family Video Calls

‘All Stop’ Campaign Launched... Checking on Parents' Well-being, Love Call Center Gains Popularity

Wando County is conducting a New Year's bowing service by town and township heads as part of the New Year holiday all-stop campaign. (Photo by Wando County)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Kyung-pil] Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do announced on the 3rd that since the 18th, it has been vigorously promoting the "Everyone Stop" campaign to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the Lunar New Year holiday by urging people to refrain from traveling to and from their hometowns.

The "Everyone Stop" campaign focuses on implementing a total of 24 key tasks, among which the "Love Call Center" has received particularly positive responses.

The "Love Call Center" operates from the 25th of last month until the 10th of this month. When hometown residents who do not visit their hometowns apply to their towns or townships for "Checking on Parents' Well-being," the town or township head personally pays respects to the elderly, delivers Lunar New Year gifts, supports video calls, and helps them watch videos of their children’s New Year greetings.

Although there were few applicants at the beginning of the operation, as time passed, more hometown residents expressed their intention to participate in the "Everyone Stop" campaign, and these days, the town or township heads are so busy visiting villages to pay respects whenever they have time.

In particular, even if "Checking on Parents' Well-being" is not separately requested, town or township staff frequently support video calls when they visit each household to identify travelers going to or returning from their hometowns.

As of the 2nd, a total of 2,794 residents and hometown people have expressed their intention to refrain from traveling to and from their hometowns during the Lunar New Year holiday.

A hometown resident in Seoul who decided not to visit their hometown this Lunar New Year said, "It is heartbreaking to think of my parents who were waiting for the holiday to see their children," but added, "Still, I am grateful that they provide video calls and check on my parents’ well-being, which gives me some peace of mind."

An elderly person in Yaksan-myeon said, "Although I understand that it is an unavoidable situation due to COVID-19 and feel a bit empty, I am thankful that the township head and staff came to pay respects and keep me company."

Governor Shin Woo-cheol said, "It is unfortunate not to be able to meet family and relatives during the Lunar New Year, but if you apply for checking on your parents’ well-being, I and the public officials will take care of them as if they were our own parents and will spare no administrative support," adding, "For our safety, I ask that you refrain from traveling to and from your hometown during this Lunar New Year holiday."

Meanwhile, in Wando-gun, for the purpose of the "Everyone Stop" campaign, travelers to their hometowns visit after undergoing COVID-19 diagnostic tests, and those returning from their hometowns take COVID-19 diagnostic tests after returning.

Additionally, they operate a "Traveler Voluntary Reporting System," where travelers call the town or township safe call number to certify their visit, organize village guardian disinfection volunteer groups to identify and manage traveler lists, and promote Lunar New Year food sharing, online ancestral rites, and special disinfection of passenger ships.

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