"Sharing 'Hanbok Memories' Through Photos"... Jongno-gu Holds 'Hanbok Photo Contest'

[Seoul District News] Jongno-gu Hanbok Photo Contest Held... Yeongdeungpo-gu Mayor Chae Hyun-il Participates in Making Quarantine Kits for Dementia Seniors... Seongdong Innovation Education District Project Monitored Through 'Youth's Eyes'... Gangdong-gu Opens Total of 7 Eco-Friendly Urban Gardens on 21st... Gwanak-gu and Seoul National University Recruit Participants for 2021 2nd Semester Non-Face-to-Face SAM (SNU Active Mentoring)... Gwangjin-gu Provides Proactive Quarantine Supplies for Opening at Konkuk University, Sejong University, and Presbyterian University... Seodaemun-gu and Ewha Womans University Collaborate on 'Food

Jongno-gu Holds 'Hanbok Photo Contest'

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Jongno-gu (Mayor Kim Young-jong) is hosting the '2021 Jongno Hanbok Photo Contest' to widely promote the excellence and beauty of our traditional clothing, Hanbok, and to contribute to establishing the identity of Jongno as a traditional cultural city.

This contest, which started in 2018, is now in its fourth year. Participants can submit Hanbok photos along with their stories via Instagram by September 24.

The photo themes include ▲When our mom and dad got married ▲Enjoying Hanbok time with family ▲How far have you gone wearing Hanbok? ▲Hanbok fashion show at home, among others.

Anyone who loves Hanbok can participate. The method is to follow the Instagram account ‘Jongno Hanbok Alimi (@jongno_hanbok)’ and upload photos with the designated hashtags (#2021JongnoHanbokPhotoContest #Let’sGoPicnicWithPhotos), including details and shooting locations.

Posts must be public and searchable. Entries that cannot be verified later due to hashtag deletion or other reasons will be excluded from judging.

Winners will be selected as follows: ▲Grand Prize (1 person, 2 million KRW) ▲Excellence Award (2 persons, 1 million KRW each) ▲Merit Award (3 persons, 500,000 KRW each) ▲Encouragement Award (6 persons, 100,000 KRW each) ▲Honorable Mentions (30 persons, cultural gift certificates worth 30,000 KRW each), with announcements in early October.

Additionally, to coincide with the ‘Autumn Hanbok Culture Week’ (designated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) in the same month, a meaningful exhibition showcasing past winning Hanbok photos will be held.

Mayor Kim Young-jong stated, “We organized this contest to break away from the stereotype that Hanbok is only worn on special occasions and to spread a culture where Hanbok can be naturally enjoyed in daily life. Through the contest and exhibition, we hope to inherit the beauty of traditional Hanbok and share precious memories.”

Yeongdeungpo-gu Mayor Chae Hyun-il Participates in Making Quarantine Kits for Dementia Seniors

On the afternoon of the 20th, Yeongdeungpo-gu Mayor Chae Hyun-il participated in making quarantine kits at the Yeongdeungpo-gu Volunteer Center, which will be delivered to seniors with dementia.

The ‘Our Neighborhood COVID-19 Guardians’ volunteer group, consisting of activists from the Memory Care Center and Volunteer Center Camp, produced kits containing quarantine supplies, stretching devices, fans, hand wash, and other daily necessities as part of COVID-19 cooperation projects, delivering them to the homes of dementia seniors.

Mayor Chae encouraged the volunteers participating in the kit-making activity and expressed gratitude for their meaningful sharing efforts for local seniors.

Youth monitoring team receiving basic education for the Innovative Education District project on the 13th

Seongdong Innovation Education District Project Monitored Through ‘Youth’s Eyes’

Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) has started monitoring a total of 46 after-school programs supported by the Seongdong Innovation Education District project through a ‘Youth Monitoring Team’ from this month.

The Seongdong Innovation Education District project involves Seoul City, the Education Office, the district office, the education support office, and local residents collaborating to support children and youth to grow as agents of life in schools and communities.

From 2019 to last year, monitoring was conducted by a parent monitoring team, but this year, a monitoring team of 10 youths aged 19 to under 39, active in the local Youth Support Center, was formed. This allows for a more realistic perspective reflecting the views of young adults who have graduated from school and are now members of society, enabling them to inspect education programs and provide diverse opinions.

The monitoring team, organized in pairs, began full activities on the 18th of this month.

They inspect the operation status of 46 after-school programs under four Innovation Education District public projects: ‘Seongdong On Village After-School’, ‘Reading Education with the Village’, ‘Rainbow Classroom’, and ‘Youth Village Arts Education’. They also conduct interviews with program operators and community instructors about difficulties and participant responses, along with satisfaction surveys of program participants.

To facilitate smooth monitoring, basic education was provided on the 13th of this month, introducing the Seoul-type Innovation Education District and sharing the vision for Seongdong Innovation Education District operation, along with detailed explanations of the monitoring target projects. Going forward, the youth monitoring team will collect various opinions on after-school programs and actively discover best practices from their perspective.

Seongdong Youth Support Center member Seo OO said, “Before joining the monitoring team, I didn’t know the district supported various village after-school programs for students. I hope to review and provide feedback from the perspective of a senior who has gone through adolescence, and that this will be an opportunity to participate in innovation education policies.”

Mayor Jung Won-oh of Seongdong-gu said, “Monitoring is essential for the success of village after-school education projects. If youths participate and provide opinions from the perspective of our children, we can find educational content and improvement directions that are realistically helpful.”

Gangdong-gu Opens Total of 7 Eco-Friendly Urban Gardens on the 21st

Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Jung-hoon) will open a total of seven eco-friendly urban gardens starting at 9 a.m. on the 21st, including six urban gardens (Gangil, Garaeyeoul, Amsa, Sangil, Gildong, Iljasan gardens) and the Gangdong Healing Farm, a garden designed for the disabled.

This autumn opening of urban gardens aims to increase resident participation in urban farming. From August 21 to 29, organic fertilizers will be distributed individually at each garden.

Previously, the district has been steadily working to cultivate an eco-friendly environment in the gardens and foster a healthy leisure culture. Currently, it operates a total of 6,258 garden plots across public urban gardens, private community gardens, and neighborhood community center gardens.

About 1,400 urban farmers selected through fierce competition this year will reorganize their gardens in line with the autumn crop cultivation season and encourage active participation through communication among participants. However, to prevent the spread of COVID-19, no separate opening events will be held.

For more details about garden use, please visit the Gangdong-gu Urban Agriculture Portal website or contact the Urban Agriculture Division.

Gwanak-gu and Seoul National University Recruit Participants for 2021 2nd Semester Non-Face-to-Face SAM (SNU Active Mentoring) Mentoring

Gwanak-gu is recruiting participants for the 2021 2nd semester SAM mentoring program, a school-government collaborative project with Seoul National University.

SAM mentoring utilizes Seoul National University’s excellent resources to enhance the district’s educational competitiveness and supports youth emotional development through academic guidance as well as career and counseling support.

The 2021 2nd semester mentoring will run from September 23 to December 10, recruiting 350 students from 3rd grade elementary to 2nd grade high school in local schools and community child centers.

Ninety Seoul National University students will serve as mentors, matched on average 1:4, conducting 20 sessions (2 hours each). To prevent COVID-19 spread, the program will be fully online using ZOOM.

The district plans to prioritize selection of socially disadvantaged students such as basic livelihood security recipients, lower-income groups, multicultural families, and students with disabilities to provide equal educational opportunities.

The application period is until September 2. Institutions wishing to participate (schools, community child centers, welfare facilities, etc.) can register classes and mentees through the SAM mentoring matching system website.

All programs are free. Mentors receive volunteer scholarships, volunteer credits or 1365 volunteer hours recognition, and expense reimbursements. For more details, contact the Seoul National University SAM Mentoring Office.

Gwangjin-gu Provides Preventive Support with Quarantine Supplies to Universities Including Konkuk University, Sejong University, and Presbyterian University Ahead of Semester Start

Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Sun-gap) delivered COVID-19 quarantine supplies to three local universities (Konkuk University, Sejong University, Presbyterian University) on the 20th.

In preparation for the second semester start and the arrival of foreign students, the district supplied a total of approximately 139,000 quarantine items including masks, fever checkers, hand sanitizers, disinfectant sprays, and medical gloves.

Additionally, from September to November, the district plans to provide extra personnel for intensive campus disinfection to prevent community spread of COVID-19.

This measure was prepared following the ‘Emergency Quarantine Measures Meeting between District Office and Universities to Block COVID-19 Spread’ held on July 23.

Mayor Kim Sun-gap said, “We will maintain continuous cooperation with universities and uphold a thorough quarantine system to create a safe community and campus free from COVID-19.”

Previously, the district was the first nationwide to conduct secondary testing and home visits for Chinese international students at local universities during the early COVID-19 outbreak and established a dedicated response team for international students to build a joint response system.

Eunpyeong-gu Trains ‘Promotional Content Production Experts’ for Youth New Deal Jobs

Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) has been operating the Seoul-type New Deal Youth Job project ‘Promotional Content Production Expert Training Program’ since 2018.

The Seoul-type New Deal Youth Jobs provide participants with work experience and skill enhancement opportunities while promoting entry into private sector jobs, supporting job creation and employment.

Through the ‘Promotional Content Production Expert Training Program’, Eunpyeong-gu nurtures young experts who assist in planning and producing promotional content for the district. Currently, three staff in video/image fields and one in photography work in the district’s Public Relations Office. Since 2018, this program has led to youth employment and entrepreneurship, and last year it won the Seoul Mayor’s Award for New Deal Youth Jobs.

Yoo Byung-woo (30), who joined the video field in March last year, has been planning and producing promotional content himself this year, posting it on the district’s media hub website ‘Eunpyeong In Media’ and the district’s YouTube channel, leveraging his education and practical experience.

Yoo said, “At first, I was scared to appear in public institution videos watched by many people, but now I’m proud because the ‘I am a City Person’ content is well received, and I’ve gained confidence in video work. The New Deal Youth Job project has been a great experience for me to learn practical skills and improve professional capabilities as I aspire to become a professional YouTuber.”

Oh Hyun-jin, head of the Media Promotion Team, said, “Excellent young talents learn practical skills and enhance professional capabilities through the New Deal Job project and will be able to contribute to the community. Seoul City and Eunpyeong-gu need to deeply consider the necessity and importance of Seoul-type New Deal Youth Jobs to solve youth employment issues.”

Meanwhile, in January, the district created the ‘Eunpyeong In Media’ website with New Deal Youth Job participants to serve as a hub for various media content of Eunpyeong-gu. It provides an overview of the district’s policies, services, and related organizations, and vividly conveys unique stories produced by residents. Yoo Byung-woo’s content can be viewed on the ‘Eunpyeong In Media’ website (www.ep.go.kr) and the district’s YouTube channel.

Seongbuk-gu Provides 2nd Round Employment Incentive for Youth

Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) is providing a second round of employment incentives to youth who are unemployed or struggling to find jobs due to COVID-19.

This support targets unemployed youth who have fallen into a blind spot of COVID-19 damage support, providing 500,000 KRW in local love mobile gift certificates per person to those who meet eligibility requirements such as being within two years of graduation (completion, dropout, or expulsion) from their highest education level and actively seeking employment.

The detailed eligibility conditions are for unemployed youth who did not apply for the first round of employment incentives in the first half of the year and meet all five criteria: ▲Resident of Seongbuk-gu as of the announcement date (August 23) ▲Born between 1986 and 2002 ▲Within two years after graduation (dropout, completion, expulsion) of highest education ▲Not enrolled in employment insurance ▲Not receiving overlapping benefits such as unemployment benefits or National Employment Support System (Type 1).

Applications are accepted from August 23 to September 30 via the Seoul Youth Portal (youth.seoul.go.kr), where detailed requirements and submission documents can be checked. After eligibility screening, results can be confirmed on the same site.

Mayor Lee Seung-ro said, “I deeply regret the employment anxiety and livelihood difficulties youth face amid the prolonged COVID-19 crisis. I hope this second support will provide some relief and help them overcome employment barriers. We will continue to do our best to support youth employment and entrepreneurship.” Seongbuk-gu Job Economy Division Youth Support Team

Seodaemun-gu and Ewha Womans University Train ‘Food Plan Practice Experts’

Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Moon Seok-jin) is collaborating with the ‘Ewha Womans University Food Culture Center’ to train ‘Food Plan Practice Experts’ to establish an urban food plan foundation.

The ‘Food Plan’ refers to a strategy encompassing food production, distribution, consumption, and circulation, aiming to create a social environment that smoothly delivers food from producers to consumers.

The district will operate the ‘1st Food Plan Practice Expert Training Academy’ free of charge from September 29 to December 1 at Seodaemun Community Village Table in Bukahyeon-dong and Ewha Womans University.

This is a basic introductory course for nurturing food-related consultants, content developers, digital promotion activists, educators, and entrepreneurs, consisting of 12 sessions totaling 40 hours of theory and practice.

The curriculum covers basic concepts of food plans, dietary education, food safety, food and consumer ethics, production and distribution, sustainable Korean cuisine connecting generations, life-cycle nutrition management, and vegetarian culture.

Lectures will be delivered by university professors, researchers, cooperative and food service industry representatives.

Especially, practical training by instructors from the Korean Traditional Food Research Institute, exploration of Seodaemun-gu’s food culture, planning of dietary education programs for target groups, and presentations of personal food plan activity plans will enhance participants’ interest and active engagement.

The district is recruiting participants among residents with food-related activity experience, majors, nutritionists, and certified cooks.

Applicants can download the application form from the Seodaemun-gu website notice board and submit it via email (kca1745@naver.com) by 6 p.m. on the 31st of this month. After document screening and interviews, 20 participants will be selected.

Mayor Moon Seok-jin said, “We expect that various food plan activists will be produced through this course and that they will help establish a ‘sustainable food virtuous cycle system’ online and offline.”

Dongdaemun-gu Offers Online Employment Lectures by Current Employees of Promising Companies Every Tuesday and Thursday in September from 7 to 9 PM

Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) will operate ‘Online Employment Lectures with Current Employees of Promising Companies’ starting in September.

These lectures feature live online classes where current employees from major companies such as LG, CJ, SK, Shinsegae, as well as IT companies like NCSoft and Woowa Brothers, share vivid insights on job characteristics and employment know-how that job seekers dream of.

Notably, the lectures are interactive rather than one-way, addressing pre-submitted and live questions to thoroughly answer all job seekers’ inquiries.

The lectures will be held online in real-time every Tuesday and Thursday in September (excluding the Chuseok holiday) from 7 to 9 p.m., totaling eight sessions.

Applications open from August 23 via the Dongdaemun-gu website under district news (search ‘Employment Lectures’) or the application page. Each session accepts 50 participants, who will receive individual notification messages to join the online lectures. For details, contact the Dongdaemun-gu Job Policy Division.

Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol said, “We hope these lectures help young job seekers struggling in the frozen employment market to get jobs at their desired companies. Dongdaemun-gu will continue to implement various projects so that youth can hold hope and boldly challenge the future.”

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