Yangcheon-gu Obtains Re-certification as a Family-Friendly Organization

[Seoul District News] Yangcheon-gu Obtains Family-Friendly Certification through Reassessment by Ministry of Gender Equality and Family until November 2024 · Continues to Lead Work-Family Balanced Workplace Culture... Guro-gu Publishes 'Yaho! Guro Expedition Team' Children's Book... Gangseo-gu Supports Installation of 'Window Ventilation Air Purification System' in Daycare Centers... Yongsan-gu Reacquires Family-Friendly Institution Certification from Ministry of Gender Equality and Family... Eunpyeong-gu Wins 'Grand Prize' in 2021 Social Economy Revitalization... Dongdaemun-gu Evaluated in Seoul's 2021 Disaster Response Safety Korea Drill Inspection

Yangcheon-gu Office Workplace Daycare Center

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yangcheon-gu has reacquired certification as a family-friendly institution, organized by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.

The family-friendly certification is a system that grants certification through evaluation to companies and public institutions that exemplary operate family-friendly systems such as support for childbirth and child-rearing, flexible work systems, and fostering a family-friendly workplace culture.

Yangcheon-gu first obtained the ‘family-friendly certification’ in December 2016 and passed the validity extension review once in 2019. With the expiration of the validity period (2 years), the district will maintain its status as a model family-friendly institution until November 2024 through this recertification.

The district has consistently worked to create a family-friendly workplace culture through ▲support for employees with childbirth and child-rearing ▲operation of flexible work systems ▲designation and operation of Family Day ▲establishment of special leave systems such as long-term service, child care, and family care ▲operation of employee recreational facilities.

Additionally, it has continuously expanded employee welfare benefits such as establishing women’s lounges within the district office and supporting comprehensive health checkup expenses, thereby improving in-house welfare.

Based on this, in June, a document review for family-friendly certification and an employee satisfaction survey were conducted. Then, in September, after an on-site inspection by related institutions, it passed the approval for family-friendly certification and obtained recertification valid until November 2024.

Kim Soo-young, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, said, “We will continue to strive to boost employee morale by discovering and implementing welfare systems suitable for the organizational environment,” adding, “We will carefully ensure that the currently operating family-friendly systems are effectively established to create a workplace culture where work and family can coexist.”

Guro-gu (Mayor Lee Sung) has published ‘Yaho! Guro Exploration Team.’

On the 17th, Guro-gu announced, “The booklet was produced to help children understand Guro-gu and instill pride as residents of Guro-gu.”

‘Yaho! Guro Exploration Team’ is a guidebook for children containing information about Guro, including its history, festivals, and attractions. It is produced as a small booklet measuring 110mm×188mm, with 25 pages of information included in a total of 38 pages.

The booklet, designed for children, features characters and vibrant colors tailored to the children’s perspective.

The detailed contents include information about Guro-gu in 15 categories, such as the roles of the district office, district council, health center, and community service centers; symbols of Guro-gu; cultural assets and historic sites; youth activities; youth facilities; and libraries.

Guro-gu plans to publish a total of 2,000 copies to be used and distributed at children and youth events. To make the booklet easily accessible to anyone, an electronic book (e-book) version was also created and posted on the district office website.

A Guro-gu official said, “We hope this publication will be an opportunity for children to increase their pride and confidence in the Guro-gu where they live,” adding, “We will continue to do our best to provide residents with useful information about Guro-gu.”

Seoul Gangseo-gu (Mayor Roh Hyun-song) daycare centers are becoming clean air zones.

The district announced that by the end of this month, it will install 173 window ventilation-type air purification systems in 96 daycare centers in the area. The purpose is to protect children’s health from harmful environments such as viruses and fine dust and to reduce parents’ anxiety about the spread of COVID-19.

Earlier, in March, the district was selected for the ‘2021 Seoul City Fine Dust Reduction Autonomous District Specialized Project Contest,’ laying the groundwork for this project.

After conducting demand surveys and on-site inspections for each daycare center, 96 centers were selected as targets, and installation began in earnest this month.

The installed window ventilation-type air purification systems operate by purifying outside air through a five-stage filter and circulating it with indoor air.

In particular, the air quality measurement sensor attached to the device measures levels of fine dust and carbon dioxide, and when indoor air quality deteriorates, it automatically ventilates.

Also, since automatic ventilation is possible without opening windows, there is no worry about children shivering in the cold during winter.

In addition to installing these window ventilation-type air purification systems, the district plans to continuously improve indoor air quality in daycare centers by supporting air purifier maintenance costs.

Mayor Roh Hyun-song said, “This project was promoted to safely protect children from fine dust and viruses,” adding, “We will continue to do our best to create a safe and pleasant childcare environment so that children, the future protagonists, can grow up healthily.”

Yongsan-gu (Mayor Sung Chang-hyun) passed the family-friendly certification review organized by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and was re-certified as a family-friendly institution.

‘Family-friendly certification’ is a system that evaluates and certifies companies or public institutions that exemplary operate family-friendly systems such as support for childbirth and child-rearing, flexible work systems, and fostering a family-friendly workplace culture to support workers’ work-family balance.

The district has created an environment where home and work life can be harmoniously balanced, receiving new family-friendly certification in 2016, extending certification in 2019, and obtaining recertification this year.

In 2021, a total of 504 institutions were re-certified as family-friendly institutions, including large corporations (87), small and medium enterprises (181), and public institutions (236), with an overall average score of 89.8 points.

Yongsan-gu achieved a high score of 99.4 points. By category: ▲Leadership of top management 15 points (full score 15 points / public institution average 13.4 points) ▲Utilization rate of childcare leave and reduced working hours for female workers 99.4% (public institution average 85.7%) ▲Utilization rate of childcare leave for male workers 10.8% (public institution average 30.6%) ▲Return rate after childcare leave 100% (public institution average 95.2%) ▲Employment retention rate after maternity leave 100% (public institution average 96.1%) ▲Utilization rate of spouse’s paternity leave of 10 days or more 90% (public institution average 75.2%) ▲Utilization rate of flexible work system 42.5% (public institution average 44.7%) ▲Implementation of leaving work on time twice a month.

The certification is valid until November 2024, and the district plans to conduct a recertification review in 2024 to maintain its status as a family-friendly institution when the validity expires.

Mayor Sung Chang-hyun of Yongsan-gu said, “Yongsan-gu is creating a workplace culture where work and family can be harmoniously maintained and operating excellent family-friendly systems,” adding, “We will continuously strive to develop a balanced and flexible organizational culture so that employees can achieve greater results at work based on harmonious families and ultimately make residents happier.”

Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) announced on the 17th that it won the ‘Grand Prize’ in the social economy activation category of the ‘2021 Regional Welfare Project Evaluation.’

Organized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the ‘Regional Welfare Project Evaluation’ assesses welfare projects of local governments nationwide every year to improve local welfare levels and secure local government momentum for national policy tasks.

Eunpyeong-gu received the grand prize in the social economy activation category this year, achieving the remarkable feat of winning the top prize for four consecutive years since 2018.

The district developed and actively promoted pioneering social economy policies in the social service sector and made various efforts to activate the social economy. It was recognized for excellence in building a foundation for social economy activation and efforts to revitalize the social economy.

This year, the district newly promoted ▲the public-private collaborative delivery system ‘Social Economy Activation Committee formation and operation’ ▲‘Eunpyeong-gu regional specialized projects’ for co-growth and market support of the social economy. Additionally, existing projects such as ▲operation of the social economy intermediary support organization ‘Eunpyeong-gu Social Economy Hub Center’ ▲various youth projects for nurturing healthy Eunpyeong youth ▲development of the ‘Eunpyeong-type integrated care model’ centered on social economy organizations were steadily pursued through public-private cooperation, resulting in this year’s grand prize.

Mayor Kim Mi-kyung of Eunpyeong-gu said, “Currently, 328 social economy organizations are actively operating in Eunpyeong-gu. While quantitative growth of social economy organizations is important, it is now time to focus on qualitative growth. We will actively support the self-sustainability and capacity building of social economy organizations,” adding, “We will strive to provide better social services to each resident.”

◆Dongdaemun-gu ▲Park Yong-cheon, Finance Department

Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) was selected as an excellent institution in the Seoul City evaluation of the ‘2021 Disaster Response Safe Korea Drill (organized by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety).’

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety conducts the ‘Disaster Response Safe Korea Drill’ annually to protect residents’ lives and minimize damage through rapid evacuation and appropriate situation response during disasters. This year, due to the worsening COVID-19 situation, on-site drills were not conducted, and discussion-based drills were held instead.

On November 4, the district conducted a discussion drill assuming a large fire at a multi-use facility (Gyeongdong Market) with the Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters working group, Dongdaemun Fire Station, Dongdaemun Police Station, and eight related agencies. Reflecting the location characteristics of a traditional market, the roles of each agency during a fire were checked, and improvement measures were derived to strengthen disaster response capabilities according to various situations, resulting in a successful drill.

During the drill period, the district actively promoted to residents the behavioral guidelines in case of disaster to raise safety awareness in daily life.

From 2017 to 2021, the district has continuously been selected as an excellent institution in the Disaster Response Safe Korea Drill, enhancing its reputation nationwide. Following the welfare sector’s Bodeumnuri project, it has also elevated its status in the safety sector, firmly establishing Dongdaemun-gu as a desirable place to live.

Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol of Dongdaemun-gu said, “Being selected as an excellent institution for five consecutive years is the result of all stakeholders working together,” adding, “We will improve shortcomings based on evaluation results and further strengthen excellent capabilities. We will continue to do our best in safety management policies to build a safer and happier city for residents.”

Seoul Gangseo-gu (Mayor Roh Hyun-song) announced the promotion candidates below grade 5 for the first half of 2022 on the 17th.

◆Gangseo-gu ▲Jang Joo-min (Administrative Support Division) ▲Kim Dong-yeon (Autonomous Administration Division) ▲Hwang Mi-yeon (Cooperation and Decentralization Division) ▲Hyun Seok-dong (Education Support Division) ▲Choi Soon-hyang (Family Policy Division) ▲Han Eung-ho (Safety Management Division) ▲Baek Jin-gi (Construction Management Division)

‘Jjamppong Seonsu,’ a Chinese restaurant located in Seongbuk-gu (CEO Park Ji-hoon, Park Pureun), has prepared a fiery Christmas sharing event.

From December 23 to 25, for three days, 5,000 won Jajangmyeon will be sold at a shocking price of 2,000 won in the ‘Black Merry Christmas’ event.

This fiery event was prepared for socially disadvantaged children in the area. All proceeds from Jajangmyeon sales during the event will be used through the Community Chest of Korea to help disadvantaged children have a warmer winter.

A representative of ‘Jjamppong Seonsu’ said, “We want to deliver warm happiness to children in our area who need help ahead of Christmas,” adding, “We hope more people will participate.”

Local residents who heard the news said, “Jajangmyeon is more than just food; it carries meaning as a meal shared with family and others on important occasions like moving day or graduation. It’s a great idea that it’s connected to charity,” and “I plan to visit deliberately to support them because I can enjoy delicious Jajangmyeon at a low price and help vulnerable children.”

Seongbuk-gu Mayor Lee Seung-ro, who heard the meaningful sharing news, said, “I deeply appreciate Jjamppong Seonsu for preparing wonderful sharing for disadvantaged children and encouraging many to join in, especially during these difficult times due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.”

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