Yangcheon-gu Mokdong Paris Park Renovation Groundbreaking Ceremony

[Seoul District News] Dongdaemun-gu Recruiting Participants for Online Educational Programs Available During Chuseok Holiday... Yongsan-gu Providing 300,000 to 1,500,000 KRW Support for Good Landlords... Guro-gu Renovates Gaeung Mountain Area Including Installation of Jarak-gil... Seodaemun-gu Hosting '2021 Seodaemun Cultural Heritage Night'... Seongbuk-gu Successfully Completes Non-face-to-face Volunteer Programs for Youth Including 'Reading Seongbuk-gu Through Videos'... Nowon-gu Establishes 'Art Vaccine Gallery' at Vaccination Center

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) will officially begin the renovation project of Mokdong Paris Park, created to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Korea-France diplomatic relations, starting from the 26th.

Mokdong Paris Park holds significant meaning in the history of Korean parks and has long been loved by residents. Among Seoul’s various parks, it is a symbolic space with special historical value as the only park established to commemorate the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations with France.

Yangcheon-gu held a proposal contest for the Paris Park renovation in May last year and completed the basic and detailed design services in June this year.

The Paris Park renovation project aims to open the park by the end of December. To prevent safety accidents during construction, the district is installing protective barriers around the park from August 19 to 25.

Through this renovation, the district plans to transform the entire park space focusing on ▲creating a waterfront area composed of a ground fountain and mirror pond ▲expanding sports facilities ▲building a community center ▲complementing the circular walking trail, thereby enhancing the symbolic value of the commemorative park and adding rich value to visitors’ daily lives.

Once completed, Paris Park is expected to be reborn as a citizen’s park where various generations mingle, and where past and present, as well as Korean and French cultures, coexist.

Additionally, the district plans to provide spaces for resident interaction and communication and seasonal diverse events to satisfy urban residents’ desire to enjoy culture in nature. It will also lay the foundation for a cultural park city in Yangcheon through resident-led park management education programs.

For more details about the Paris Park renovation project, please contact the Parks and Greenery Division of Yangcheon-gu Office.

Kim Soo-young, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, said, “I hope the renovation of Mokdong Paris Park, which has been loved for over 30 years, will preserve past memories while creating a space that can present the vision of a future park city.”

Dongdaemun-gu Offers Neighborhood Learning Center Online Programs to Feel Chuseok Holiday Atmosphere

Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) provides various online programs through neighborhood learning centers so residents can feel the Chuseok holiday atmosphere at home without going out.

Although the district has offered various neighborhood learning center programs for residents, in September, it has prepared programs especially designed to reduce holiday and COVID-19 stress and to allow families to enjoy the festive mood together during Korea’s traditional Chuseok holiday.

The September neighborhood learning center programs total 12, including ▲Traditional dessert making for Chuseok ? Ice Wolbyeong and Five-colored Baramtteok ▲Our Neighborhood Creator ▲Drawing with Plus Pen without Paint ▲Perfect for this season! Low-sugar homemade syrup making ▲Startup tasting nail art for a healthy and beautiful tomorrow ▲Upcycling sewing class ▲Completing a pop-up book from old picture books ▲100% utilization of my home, home organization ▲Travel through drawing, urban sketch ▲Environmental healing - zero waste: making natural kitchen detergent ▲Making a gallery calligraphy calendar for our home ▲Smartphone use for parents.

Anyone residing in Dongdaemun-gu can participate in the neighborhood learning centers free of charge, though some programs may require personal materials or fees.

Currently, residents wishing to participate in the September programs are being recruited and can apply through the Dongdaemun-gu Lifelong Learning Center website (Program Registration → Neighborhood Learning Center).

Application deadlines vary by course. For detailed information about neighborhood learning center operations, please contact the Education Support Division of Dongdaemun-gu Office.

Yoo Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, said, “During a time when family gatherings are difficult due to COVID-19, we have prepared special neighborhood learning center education programs so families can enjoy a joyful holiday atmosphere at home. I hope residents use these programs during the Chuseok holiday to have a safe and happy celebration.”

Yongsan-gu Supports ‘Good Landlords’ with 300,000 to 1.5 Million KRW

Yongsan-gu (Mayor Seong Jang-hyun) is launching the ‘Yongsan-style Good Landlord Support Project,’ the first in Seoul’s 25 districts to provide cash support to landlords who reduce rent.

This aims to revive local commercial districts by spreading a voluntary and sustainable win-win atmosphere between landlords and tenants.

The support targets commercial landlords who have signed a ‘win-win agreement’ to reduce rent. Landlords who have received Seoul Love gift certificates through the Seoul-style Good Landlord Support Project can also apply.

Eligible applicants are landlords of commercial properties in Yongsan with a converted deposit (monthly rent × 100 + deposit) of 900 million KRW or less, subject to the Commercial Lease Protection Act, who have reduced or plan to reduce rent from January to December this year, or landlords participating in the Itaewon Star Shop project. For Star Shop project participants, support amounts are calculated based on contracts within one year from the lease agreement date.

Applicants can visit the 5th floor Job and Economy Division of the district office or submit applications by mail from September 1 to October 15. Required documents include the win-win agreement, good landlord support application, consent for personal information collection and use, a copy of the lease contract, and a copy of the tenant’s business registration certificate.

After reviewing submitted documents, the district will provide support funds ranging from 300,000 to 1.5 million KRW in October, depending on the total rent reduction amount by landlords in 2021 (from 5 million to over 10 million KRW).

The district will strictly manage post-support by checking compliance through rent payment evidence submitted upon completion of the agreement period and will recover funds in case of fraudulent receipt.

Mayor Seong Jang-hyun of Yongsan-gu said, “What merchants need as much as support funds and tax benefits is rent reduction. We hope many landlords who share the spirit of win-win cooperation in local commercial districts will participate.”

The district is also promoting the ‘Itaewon Star Shop Project’ to revitalize the commercial district by attracting attractive stores to vacant shops in Itaewon, which have been depressed due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. Twenty prospective entrepreneurs selected as Star Shops will receive up to 12 million KRW in rent support, along with rent reduction (planned), small business loans, education, and startup consulting.

Guro-gu Renovates the Area Around Gaeung Mountain

Guro-gu (Mayor Lee Sung) has renovated the area around Gaeung Mountain to improve convenience for residents using the mountain.

Gaeung Mountain (elevation 126m), located at San 53-3, Gaebong-dong, is part of the ‘Premium Guro Olle Trail’ section created by Guro-gu in 2014 and is a popular resting place for residents.

There was an observation deck at the summit of Gaeung Mountain, but it was old and posed safety risks. Therefore, Guro-gu demolished the old deck and installed a new 115㎡ observation deck. Safety railings were installed to prevent accidents, and 1,400 azaleas and 1,400 forsythias were planted around the area. Construction began in June and was recently completed.

The newly built observation deck offers a panoramic view of Guro-gu.

Guro-gu also opened the Gaeung Mountain foothill trail at the end of last year, designed for easy use by the elderly, disabled, and pregnant women. The trail around Gaeung Mountain Park is a 1.1 km long, 2.2 m wide barrier-free walking path. It was designed with a slope of less than 8% and features eco-friendly wooden deck roads to allow easy pushing of strollers and wheelchairs.

Three small rest areas and six backrest chairs were installed for resting during walks, and solar-powered lights were added for nighttime users.

Additionally, Gaeung Mountain has a forest experience center for children. The center, located behind the Gaeung Mountain Sports Center on a 2,800㎡ site, is designed for children and families who have limited access to nature to freely play in a natural environment. It includes play facilities such as wooden chairs, tables, and suspension bridges made from recycled wood.

‘2021 Seodaemun Cultural Heritage Night Tour’ Held

Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Moon Seok-jin) is holding the ‘2021 Seodaemun Cultural Heritage Night Tour’ centered around Sinchon and Independence Park areas until the 12th of next month.

The district was selected last year in the Cultural Heritage Administration’s cultural heritage utilization contest and is conducting the program under the title ‘Youth Counting Stars at Night.’ To comply with social distancing and quarantine rules, participation is online by reservation and non-face-to-face individual participation.

The walking guided night tour ‘Walking the Star Counting Path Together’ is conducted as a live broadcast where a professional guide walks the course with a camera in real time and interacts with online participants.

Although participants do not gather on-site, the program conveys the vivid feeling of walking around Seodaemun-gu and allows real-time chat for questions and answers.

The guided night tour will be held daily from September 10 to 12 with two courses: ▲Seodaemun, walking the stars of independence and freedom (5:30 PM to 7 PM) ▲Sinchon, youth seeking freedom (8:30 PM to 10 PM).

The Seodaemun course includes Independence Gate, Independence Hall, the March 1st Independence Declaration Monument, and Seodaemun Prison History Hall. The Sinchon course covers the old Sinchon Station, Sinchon Rabbit Hole, Severance Hospital Road, Lee Han-yeol Memorial, Yun Dong-ju Memorial, Yonsei-ro, and the famous street.

Online experience programs ‘One Star Night Workshop’ are prepared at workshops around Seodaemun-gu.

Classes such as making a music box for the starry night (in cooperation with ‘Ijoa Music’) and making a wood mood lamp illuminating Seodaemun (in cooperation with ‘Wood for You’) will be held live via ZOOM from September 10 to 12.

Also, participants in the starry night photo night tour (in cooperation with ‘Eli Camera’) will enjoy the photo night tour individually after attending online lectures next month.

A night performance titled ‘Music Sound in One Star’ will also be held. Planned by Disco Creative, this performance is a specially produced musical for the Seodaemun Cultural Heritage Night Tour, depicting a contemporary youth meeting youths from the past.

Originally scheduled to be held on the outdoor stage of Seodaemun Prison History Hall, it will be released as a YouTube screening on September 10 at 6 PM to comply with social distancing and allow more citizens to watch.

From August 29 to September 12, LED cubes and moon benches symbolizing the ‘2021 Seodaemun Cultural Heritage Night Tour’ will be installed around Independence Park, and typography artworks will be installed on the outer wall of Seodaemun Prison History Hall.

For detailed event schedules and participation applications, visit the official website of the ‘Seodaemun Cultural Heritage Night Tour.’ The site also provides information on safe restaurants and tourist accommodations in Seodaemun-gu.

The ‘Seodaemun Night Walk,’ which opened the Cultural Heritage Night Tour, received enthusiastic responses, with 815 participants recruited within three days last month.

Kits containing items needed for the night view tour of Seodaemun, such as film cameras and glow bracelets, were sent in advance and the tour has been ongoing since Liberation Day. Participants walk the official route or their own known night view spots in Seodaemun-gu.

The ‘Seodaemun Night Walk’ is conducted in cooperation with the travel-based social platform The Dots. Participants develop and upload their own Seodaemun night tour routes to The Dots, and outstanding participants receive souvenirs and have their routes registered as official routes on The Dots Seodaemun Night Tour page.

Participants expressed satisfaction with the kit composition reflecting the concept of the Seodaemun Cultural Heritage Night Tour and shared SNS reviews such as “It’s exciting to safely travel Seodaemun’s night views without gathering during these restrictive times.” Mayor Moon Seok-jin said, “I hope this night tour program will be an opportunity to rediscover the historical and cultural landmarks of Seodaemun-gu and reflect on their significance.”

‘Reading Seongbuk-gu through Videos’ and Other Non-face-to-face Volunteer Programs for Seongbuk-gu Youth Successfully Completed

Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) successfully operated unique non-face-to-face volunteer programs for youth during the summer vacation, allowing them to safely enjoy volunteering during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Breaking away from conventional uniform volunteer activities, the programs provided opportunities to experience volunteer spirit in video, environment, and human rights fields. Three programs were operated: ▲Seongbuk-gu historical and cultural media content (UCC) production ‘Reading Seongbuk-gu through Videos’ ▲Environment ‘The Green World We Made’ ▲Human rights sensitivity volunteer practice campaign ‘Human Rights, Between Us,’ with 76 participants.

Especially, the ‘Reading Seongbuk-gu through Videos’ program, which integrates video production?a field currently attracting the most interest among youth?received great response.

This program provided education on Seongbuk’s history, figures, and cultural heritage, along with video production training using smartphones. Students experienced and felt Seongbuk’s history themselves while gaining hands-on experience from planning to filming, editing, and production stages, moving beyond conventional volunteer programs to content focused on students’ interests, eliciting active participation.

A student who participated in video production said, “I used to think volunteering meant physically helping neighbors, but through this activity, I learned that the videos I made can be used as media to promote the region. It was a unique and meaningful volunteer program that I found interesting.”

Additionally, environmental cleanup volunteer activities ‘The Green World We Made’ taught small daily actions to reduce fine dust and zero waste learning. The human rights volunteer activity ‘Human Rights, Between Us’ broke stereotypes and prejudices through the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and role-playing care behaviors. All activities were conducted safely through online education followed by individual autonomous practice due to the social distancing level 4 upgrade.

Lee Seung-ro, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu, said, “Despite the COVID-19 crisis, I hope youth will develop interest in various community issues through non-face-to-face volunteer activities and engage in public campaigns to solve social problems, spreading a culture of volunteering and growing into valuable members of society with proper civic awareness.”

Wolgye District Sports Center Art Vaccine Gallery

Nowon-gu Creates ‘Art Vaccine Gallery’ at Vaccination Center

Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) is creating an ‘Art Vaccine Gallery’ at the vaccination center and holding exhibitions to provide mental care for residents.

With the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on daily life, cases of COVID blues are increasing. Experts agree that psychological quarantine to relieve depression and isolation is now necessary beyond simple physical quarantine. Accordingly, Nowon-gu is implementing various projects to comfort residents’ minds.

The Art Vaccine Gallery, set up in the recovery room of the vaccination center, exhibits famous masterpieces. The displayed works are specially produced replicas that vividly reproduce the brush strokes and colors of the masterpieces.

The first exhibition theme of the Art Vaccine Gallery is ‘Renoir Exhibition: Master of Light and Color.’ Works by Impressionist artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir will be exhibited until September 10. Visitors can feel Renoir’s unique soft and warm painting style through works such as ‘Girls Reading,’ ‘Two Sisters,’ and ‘Dance at Bougival.’

Following this exhibition, various themed exhibitions such as ‘Claude Monet Exhibition: The Beginning of Impressionism’ and ‘Vincent van Gogh Exhibition: Painting Light in Darkness’ will be presented. The exhibitions can be viewed at the Wolgye Community Sports Center, which is used as the vaccination center, and may change or end according to the center’s operation plan.

The district hopes the Art Vaccine Gallery will transform the bleak and tense vaccination center into a comfortable atmosphere and allow residents to find mental rest by encountering art in daily life.

Nowon-gu collaborates with nine specialized medical institutions in the area to provide mental health checkups and counseling services for residents. For residents aged 19 and over without psychiatric treatment records within one year, initial patients can receive up to three sessions per year, with a total support of 80,000 KRW, to receive counseling for COVID blues and mental health.

At the forest healing center in Bulamsan, small free programs are operated instead of regular programs suspended due to social distancing level 4. Classes such as meditation and yoga held in the open green outdoors allow participants to enjoy nature’s relaxation and soothe their tired minds and bodies.

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, “As COVID-19 enters a prolonged phase, physical quarantine must be accompanied by mental quarantine. We will continue various healing projects so that many exhausted residents can receive mental comfort and psychological healing.”

Gangseo-gu Adds Disaster Safety Facility Information to ‘Online Thematic Map’

Gangseo-gu, Seoul (Mayor Roh Hyun-song) has expanded and upgraded its online thematic map service to allow residents to easily and conveniently check various safety facility information essential during disaster situations in one place.

The thematic map service is an online platform that provides various information necessary for residents’ daily lives in map form. This upgrade significantly added information related to disaster safety facilities to the existing location-based lifestyle information such as welfare, culture, and real estate.

The map now includes detailed information on a total of 483 disaster safety facilities in the area, including ▲39 wildfire firefighting equipment storage boxes ▲82 outdoor earthquake evacuation sites ▲170 emergency evacuation facilities ▲56 emergency water supply facilities ▲136 snow removal boxes.

By accessing the thematic map service and selecting ‘Safety’ among nine basic themes?welfare, culture, economy, real estate, life, city, environment, transportation, safety?users can choose from 11 sub-themes such as emergency water supply facilities and earthquake evacuation shelters.

Facilities corresponding to the selected sub-theme are displayed as icons on the map, and clicking on them provides detailed information such as facility name, address, size, and contact information. This is expected to enable quick and efficient response during disasters.

The district plans to promptly update the map with any new changes so residents can continuously use the online thematic map service.

The thematic map service is accessible to anyone via ‘Gangseo-gu Office website → Life Information → Gangseo-gu Thematic Map’ and will be available on mobile devices in the future.

Eunpyeong-gu Installs ‘Village Management Offices’ in Residential Environment Improvement Project Villages

Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) installed ‘Village Management Offices,’ which serve as apartment management offices, in three residential environment improvement project villages with increasing old houses last month and will operate them until the end of the year to create a pleasant and safe residential environment.

The district was selected for the Seoul City-managed residential environment improvement project village management office pilot project in June this year and installed ‘Village Management Offices’ in three villages from July: Eungam Sangol Village (579-20 Tongil-ro, Eungam Sangol Dream e), Nokbeon Sangol Village (578-27 Tongil-ro, Nokbeon Sangol Dream e), and Sanse Village (19 Gajwa-ro 11na-gil, Sanse Nest). The offices are operated by village resident community operation committees, with a village manager and two administrators assigned.

The ‘Village Management Offices’ provide convenience services such as tool rental, minor house repairs, shopping services, and parcel receipt and delivery. They also patrol the village daily, report safety hazards to relevant agencies, and protect residents from safety accidents occurring in the village.

Especially, the Eungam Sangol Village Management Office conducts activities for vulnerable groups. It checks on the well-being and health of elderly living alone every morning and provides transportation support for hospital visits to elderly with mobility difficulties.

Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, said, “The installation of village management offices is expected to alleviate some inconveniences in densely populated small housing areas. We will continue to provide customized public services to improve residents’ quality of life.”

Usage of AI/VR Interview Consulting Center

Seocho-gu Acts as a Problem Solver for Youth Employment Concerns Amid COVID-19 Crisis

Seocho-gu (Mayor Cho Eun-hee) is drawing attention by promoting an employment competency enhancement project to help youth overcome the narrowing job market.

This project is part of the district’s ‘Walking with the Vulnerable’ initiative, providing customized employment competency enhancement services to over 1,200 youth from March to December. The project is designed to proactively respond to recruitment market trends and guide youth toward employment.

Representative programs include the ‘Blueprint Academy,’ which operates a comprehensive package of essential job preparation courses such as self-introduction writing, NCS and job aptitude, and interview preparation classes; the ‘AI/VR Interview Consulting Center’ tailored to recruitment trends in the 4th Industrial Revolution era; ‘Job-specific Customized Employment Lectures’ where current employees share vivid insights; and the ‘Foreign Company Employment Academy’ for youth aspiring to work in foreign companies.

Among these, the ‘AI/VR Interview Consulting Center,’ launched in March, is the district’s top specialized employment program this year. As non-face-to-face recruitment methods become a trend, the center was opened to proactively respond to changing employment methods. The AI interview program systematically analyzes personality and job suitability, while the VR interview program allows virtual experience of real interview situations.

Since opening, 140 people have experienced the program by August 20, showing high satisfaction. An additional 60 participants are being recruited on a first-come, first-served basis until December. Due to growing interest, the program will be expanded next year. Both offline and online experiences are available, and applications can be submitted via Google Forms on the Seocho-gu website’s announcements.

The ‘Job-specific Youth Employment Lectures’ offer opportunities to hear firsthand information and receive consulting from current employees at major domestic and foreign companies. From March to December, 300 youth participate in monthly real-time online lectures via Zoom. So far, 120 youth have set detailed preparation processes and roadmaps through these lectures, acquiring necessary competencies for job-specific employment strategies.

A youth participant (age 32, Jamwon-dong) said, “I was frustrated by repeated interview rejections without knowing the reasons, but through accurate and systematic feedback, I identified problems and gained confidence.”

The district also operates the ‘Foreign Company Employment Academy’ year-round for youth aspiring to join foreign companies. Unlike one-way delivery, it provides interactive, in-depth employment support services, including English resume writing, English interview skills, and recruitment processes. One-on-one consulting is provided to 300 youth, covering the entire employment preparation process. As of August, 120 have participated with very high satisfaction.

Finally, from April, ‘Self-introduction Writing’ and ‘NCS and Job Aptitude’ classes are conducted for 300 youth.

The ‘Self-introduction Writing’ class offers lectures to write competency-based self-introductions highlighting personal strengths, enabling in-depth self-analysis. The ‘NCS and Job Aptitude’ class focuses on intensive training for job aptitude analysis by major companies, preparing participants thoroughly for practical tests. These two programs concluded the first half of the year with a 95% satisfaction rate.

The upcoming ‘Interview Preparation Class’ scheduled for the second half will educate about expected questions based on self-introduction items and script writing for about 100 youth. Applications can be submitted via Google Forms on the Seocho-gu website announcements, and inquiries can be made to the Child and Youth Division.

Cho Eun-hee, Mayor of Seocho-gu, said, “We feel the harsh recruitment market daily due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. We will serve as a compass in the vast employment market so that inexperienced youth no longer feel anxious and confidently move toward a future without employment worries.”

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