[This Person] Jung Won-oh, Seongdong District Mayor, Shares Essential Worker Leading Policies with East Asian Countries

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong District, giving a keynote presentation at the National Social Solidarity Economy Local Government Council Talk Concert in September last year

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, participated as a co-host in the '10th East Asia Inclusive Cities Network Workshop (hereinafter Workshop)' held from the 19th to the 20th, presenting Seongdong-gu's core policy case of 'Protection and Support for Essential Workers' and sharing it with East Asian countries.

The East Asia Inclusive Cities Network is a conference held annually in rotation among member cities, involving various experts, scholars, and activists related to housing welfare and urban studies such as housing, urban issues, poverty, and homelessness from Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Since 2016, Seongdong-gu has participated every year, sharing leading policies such as gentrification prevention and smart inclusive cities with activists from each city.

This workshop, held online, was divided into four areas under the theme of 'Inclusive Cities for the Socially Vulnerable in the COVID-19 Era': the reality of socially vulnerable groups, the role and challenges of the public sector, and the role and potential of civil society.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, participated as the Korean representative in the 'Role and Challenges of the Public Sector' alongside the Yao City Government of Japan and the Taipei City Government of Taiwan, presenting the case of the 'Protection and Support Policy for Essential Workers,' emphasizing the importance of public roles and policies highlighted during the COVID-19 era.

He named workers who perform face-to-face tasks risking infection to maintain the normal functioning of our society as 'essential workers,' and publicized the reality that despite performing critical functions, their social value is not properly recognized as they are exposed to infectious disease risks, employed under unstable employment forms, and paid low wages.

He also explained various support policies implemented, such as establishing an institutional foundation through ordinances, prioritizing COVID-19 vaccinations, and providing quarantine supplies for them.

Additionally, he revealed the entire process of legislating the ordinance within eight months by promoting social campaigns like the 'Thank You, Essential Workers' SNS campaign and the movement to improve the titles of apartment security guards, spreading a social atmosphere that respects essential workers, and emphasizing the public sector's role in changing perspectives to respond to crises centered on people and daily life.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “I hope that through this workshop, the value of essential workers will be re-evaluated, and a forum for in-depth discussions on improving their working conditions will be established in cities around the world, including East Asia.”

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