Seocho-gu Father Center Plays Key Role as 'Happiness Healing Planner'

First Nationwide Opening in 2016 with a Total of 307 Courses and 4,603 Students, Establishing the 'Seocho-gu Lifelong Education Signature Brand'

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seocho-gu (Mayor Cho Eun-hee) operates the nation’s first happiness healing space for fathers, the ‘Seocho-gu Father Center,’ which plans to play a significant role as a ‘Happiness Healing Planner’ for fathers exhausted by COVID-19 through various on-tact programs.

The Seocho-gu Father Center, established in 2016 as a happiness space for fathers, is based on Mayor Cho Eun-hee’s administrative philosophy that “Korea thrives when fathers thrive.” It aims to restore the body and mind of fathers who have worked the hardest and busiest in modern society demanding various changes, helping them find true life balance and happiness.

Recognizing the prolonged COVID-19 situation leading to longer family time at home and considering the possibility of individuals falling into depression, the district plans to develop and provide content that allows fathers and families to engage in activities in a more comfortable environment and enables fathers to actively enjoy time with their families.

First, on the 10th, the district will offer content to help fathers, who are spending extended time at home due to COVID-19, with spring cleaning to refresh their homes and add vitality by “Spring Cleaning Know-How for a Happier Family Space.”

The content includes ▲Part 1: ‘Refrigerator Organization Method’ to maintain health and reduce food expenses ▲Part 2: ‘5-Minute Kitchen Organization for Easier Work’ to store items so that even first-time guests can easily find them ▲Part 3: ‘Closet Organization Method for Both Dad and Kids to Become Experts’ ▲Part 4: ‘Decorating the New Semester Kids’ Room to Boost Concentration’ which teaches furniture arrangement and organizing kids’ belongings for the new school term. These four episodes will be distributed free of charge through Seocho-gu’s official YouTube channel.

In April, an online course called the ‘Home Delivery On-Tact Program’ will open, delivering materials so families can enjoy fun time together at home.

▲A home recreation course ‘Exciting Home-Stay Play Family Game Room’ where the whole family can communicate and enjoy games with simple tools ▲‘Fun Family Cup Drumming (Mr. Trot Edition)’ where the family learns and performs a cup percussion performance set to hit songs from Mr. Trot ▲A dad cooking class ‘Dad’s Artistic Table Made Easy with All-Purpose Sauces,’ where participants receive deliveries of fermented soybean paste, red pepper paste, and seasonal spring vegetables from the Morning Letter Healing Meditation Center’s Natural Food Research Institute Director Seo Mi-soon to cook together.

Additionally, in June, the center will host the ‘1st Father Center 5P Essay Contest’ to provide fathers who have been running breathlessly with an opportunity to reflect on their lives. In October, the ‘2nd Happy Father Photo Contest’ will be held to create memories and harmony between fathers and their families.

The winning entries will be showcased through an online virtual exhibition.

So far, the Seocho-gu Father Center has offered a total of 307 courses with 4,603 participants. Popular courses such as cooking and yoga fill up immediately upon opening, establishing the center as a flagship lifelong education project in Seocho-gu. Many local governments nationwide have been inquiring to benchmark this model.

Going forward, the district plans to conduct specialized programs unique to the Father Center by reflecting participants’ feedback.

Key specialized programs include ▲Special lectures to cultivate the ability to read and respond to trends in the 4th Industrial Revolution era ▲Career and academic guidance lectures providing education information for parents of elementary, middle, and high school students ▲Financial education lectures teaching essential financial knowledge.

Seocho-gu Mayor Cho Eun-hee said, “Through the Seocho-gu Father Center, we will continue to provide various healing programs so that fathers who have worked tirelessly can gain energy to start their second life and find happiness in life.”

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