What Is the Story Behind Seongbuk-gu Office Officials Saving Business Owners Who Closed Due to COVID-19?

Seongbuk-gu 'Hanmaeum Study Research Group' Develops Measures to Address Increasing Blind Spots Due to More Diverse and Complex Household Characteristics After COVID-19... Mr. A, Who Had Given Up on Public Welfare Programs, Expresses Gratitude for Officials Helping Him Find a Way to Stand Up Again with Courage and Hope

To address the blind spots where urgent needs for public welfare support are not met due to legal criteria, civil servants from the Seongbuk-gu Office’s Livelihood Security Division have formed the ‘Hanmaeum Study Research Group’ on their own initiative, actively collaborating beyond departmental barriers to find solutions.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] A (54), who lives in Jangwi-dong, Seongbuk-gu, closed the restaurant he operated earlier this year due to the impact of COVID-19.

He took on construction work to repay loans and make a living, but after injuring his back in an accident, he was unable to continue. Unable to repay overdue loans, he faced bankruptcy and could not afford medical treatment due to lack of money. Since divorcing his spouse 10 years ago, he had lost contact with his son, and due to his son's income, it was difficult to secure basic livelihood benefits.

The Seongbuk-gu Department of Livelihood Security officer judged that A was not receiving actual support from his son and requested an open case meeting to discuss ways for him to become a basic livelihood recipient, as well as connections to jobs and medical support.

As a result, through the review of the local Livelihood Security Committee, the son was excluded from the investigation as a support obligor, benefits were secured, a local hospital was connected for medical support, and assistance was provided to obtain employment through the local self-sufficiency center.

A, who had given up thinking he would not qualify for public welfare programs just because he had a son, expressed gratitude, saying that the officials considered his situation and actively sought solutions, giving him the courage and hope to stand up again.

For blind spots where urgent help from public welfare programs is not provided due to legal criteria, the ‘Hanmaeum Study Research Group’ is actively collaborating beyond departmental barriers to find solutions.

The ‘Hanmaeum Study Research Group’ is a voluntary group formed by investigation and management officers of the Seongbuk-gu Office Department of Livelihood Security. Currently, about 20 members are active. To resolve welfare blind spots encountered in their respective workplaces and realize inclusive welfare, they study cases together twice a month and collaborate without departmental barriers. Each study session discusses about 15 to 20 households.

Seung-ro Lee, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu, said, “Compared to February 2020, welfare benefit applications increased by more than 44% in February this year, requiring emergency measures,” adding, “With the lives of marginalized groups becoming more difficult due to COVID-19 and increasingly complex and diverse household types raising concerns about welfare blind spots, I am very proud and thankful as the head representing 450,000 Seongbuk residents and as one of them to see welfare officials voluntarily researching cases and collaborating to support even one more household.”

A public official from the Seongbuk-gu Office Department of Livelihood Security, active in the ‘Hanmaeum Study Research Group,’ said, “We strive to collectively consider and solve problems faced by residents exposed to various difficulties, such as cases difficult to interpret clearly under guidelines, households struggling to maintain livelihoods based on household characteristics or living conditions, and those not protected under the support obligor criteria,” adding, “Although we often have to work overnight beyond our regular duties, the joy of giving hope and courage to people like A, who had given up on public support, motivates us to do our best.”

Seongbuk-gu compiles the cases discussed by the ‘Hanmaeum Study Research Group’ and publishes a manual once a year. This is to provide residents with consistent and predictable services and to facilitate smooth welfare operations based on research cases and various experiences from fieldwork. It includes 84 welfare projects across 11 fields such as welfare, health, and employment.

Seongbuk-gu plans to continue efforts to eliminate welfare blind spots caused by lack of knowledge about systems or difficulties in application procedures, while strengthening the professionalism of welfare administration and realizing trusted administration.

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