Mayor Lee Yong-seop: "We Will Do Our Best So You Can Live Proudly and Gracefully Without Worrying About Aging"

Gwangju City Holds Opening Ceremony for New Senior Center... Basement 1 Floor and 4 Floors Above Ground

On the afternoon of the 28th, Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, attended the opening ceremony of the newly constructed 'Gwangju Metropolitan City Senior Citizens' Hall' in Sangmu District, Seo-gu, and cut the ribbon with guests including Kim Yong-jip, Chairman of the Gwangju City Council, and Oh Byung-chae, President of the Gwangju City Federation. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] The Gwangju Metropolitan City Senior Citizens' Center has been newly reopened.

On the 28th, Gwangju City held an opening ceremony in the main conference room of the Senior Citizens' Center located next to Sangmu Citizen Park in Chipyeong-dong, Seo-gu, attended by Mayor Lee Yong-seop, City Council Chairman Kim Yong-jip, Chairman Kim Ho-il of the Korea Senior Citizens Association Central Committee, Chairman Oh Byung-chae of the Gwangju City Federation of the Korea Senior Citizens Association, chairpersons of the national city and provincial federations of the Korea Senior Citizens Association, and local senior citizens.

The event began with a pre-ceremony performance by the Gwangju Municipal Changgeuk Troupe, followed by the reading of the Senior Citizens' Charter, a greeting and presentation of a plaque of appreciation by Oh Byung-chae, Chairman of the Gwangju City Federation of the Korea Senior Citizens Association, a commemorative speech by Mayor Lee Yong-seop, congratulatory remarks by City Council Chairman Kim Yong-jip, an encouragement speech by Chairman Kim Ho-il of the Korea Senior Citizens Association Central Committee, a performance and tape-cutting ceremony, and a tour of the facilities.

The new Senior Citizens' Center construction project was initiated due to various issues such as safety concerns from aging and lack of space and transportation convenience, as the existing center building in Seodong, Nam-gu, was built in 1981.

The center, with a total project cost of 7.4 billion KRW (city funds), is located adjacent to Sangmu Citizen Park, the largest administrative, cultural, and commercial hub, to enhance accessibility and convenience for senior citizens.

The center is a building with one basement floor and four above-ground floors, with a total floor area of 3,081 square meters, more than twice the size of the old center, featuring modernized facilities that allow seniors to use it comfortably and safely.

The Senior Citizens' Center houses the Gwangju City Federation of the Korea Senior Citizens Association, the Senior Job Support Center, the Senior Employment Support Center, and the Senior Citizens' Club Metropolitan Support Center, serving as a focal point for senior welfare services in Gwangju, which is actively creating an age-friendly city where anyone can live well regardless of age.

The Senior Job Support Center and Senior Employment Support Center provide income security and social participation opportunities for seniors through job placement and employment counseling, and plan to operate a barista training center on the first floor, one of the most preferred educational programs among the silver generation. The Senior Citizens' Club Metropolitan Support Center plans to develop and distribute suitable programs for the approximately 1,300 senior citizens' clubs in the region.

In particular, the second floor features an outdoor gateball court where seniors can enjoy healthy physical activities in a pleasant environment. The Gwangju City Federation of the Korea Senior Citizens Association operates various sports activity programs such as ground golf, Hangung, Go, and badminton to promote senior health, and runs a Senior Leaders University from March to November every year, inviting distinguished figures from various fields as instructors to offer diverse courses on culture and health management.

Additionally, at the opening ceremony, Mayor Lee Yong-seop received a plaque of appreciation from the Gwangju City Federation of the Korea Senior Citizens Association in recognition of his contributions to various senior welfare policies.

Chairman Oh Byung-chae of the federation said, “I am deeply moved to the point of tears to hold the opening ceremony of the Senior Citizens' Center, a long-cherished project,” and expressed gratitude for the active support of Gwangju City and the City Council and the support of many people.

Mayor Lee Yong-seop said, “We are laying the foundation for creating an age-friendly city, including the newly opened Senior Citizens' Center, the construction of a senior complex facility in the western area, and the expansion of infrastructure for dementia-specialized nursing facilities, so that seniors can live with dignity and confidence without worrying about old age,” and added, “I ask our seniors to contribute their strength and wisdom to the changes and development of Gwangju in good health.”

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