[Photo] Seocho-gu Holds 30th Anniversary Ceremony of Sister City Relationship with Suginami-ku, Tokyo, Japan

[Seoul Autonomous District Photo News] Seocho-gu to hold 30th anniversary event of friendship agreement with Japan's Suginami-ku on the 20th at 3 PM in hybrid online-offline format... Gwangjin-gu Jayang-dong breaks ground for 'Small-scale Senior Welfare Center'... Geumcheon-gu conducts COVID-19 testing for all employees on the 20th... Lions Clubs International District 354-C donates goods for neighbors in Dongdaemun-gu... Chae Hyun-il, Yeongdeungpo-gu Mayor, awards commendations to honorable residents

Cheon Jeong-wook, Acting Mayor of Seocho District (right), and Ry? Tanaka, Mayor of Suginami Ward, are taking a commemorative photo after signing the "30th Anniversary Declaration Agreement of the Sister City Partnership."

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seocho-gu (Acting Mayor Cheon Jeong-wook) held a hybrid online and offline event at 3 p.m. on the 20th to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the friendship exchange agreement between Seocho-gu and Suginami-ku, Japan.

On this day, the event was conducted in a non-face-to-face manner with Acting Mayor Cheon Jeong-wook of Seocho-gu and Mayor Tanaka Ryo of Suginami-ku each signing the ‘30th Anniversary Declaration Agreement of the Sister City Agreement.’

The ceremony was attended by 10 people including Acting Mayor Cheon Jeong-wook, Mayor Tanaka Ryo of Suginami-ku, Kim An-sook, Chairperson of Seocho-gu Council, and Shin Owada, Chairperson of Suginami-ku Council.

Acting Mayor Cheon Jeong-wook, who attended the event, stated, “Through the ‘30th Anniversary Declaration Agreement of the Sister City Agreement’ with Suginami-ku, we will do our best to cooperate and unite as strong partners for both cities to grow into global advanced cities.”

Since signing the sister city agreement with Suginami-ku in 1991, the district has promoted continuous exchange projects such as ▲dispatch and exchange work of public officials from both cities ▲youth sports exchanges ▲mutual visits of public official delegations.

Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Seon-gap) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the ‘Small-scale Senior Welfare Center in Jayang-dong’ on the 20th.

As of December 2021, the population aged 65 and over in Gwangjin-gu totals 51,297, accounting for 15% of the total population. This exceeds the threshold for an aged society (14%).

The Small-scale Senior Welfare Center in Jayang-dong is being built to address the shortage of senior welfare facilities and to provide customized welfare services such as hobbies and health management for seniors in preparation for a super-aged society.

The center is scheduled for completion in December 2022 and will be built on a site of 420.9㎡ with one basement floor and four above-ground floors, totaling a gross floor area of 980.7㎡.

The facility will include a physical therapy room, fitness room, program rooms, counseling rooms, an auditorium, and a dining hall for seniors’ health and leisure activities.

Lee Gwi-seon (70), a resident of Jayang 2-dong, said, “There was no senior welfare center in the Jayang-dong area, so I had to go far to other neighborhoods to use one. I’m very happy that a senior welfare center will be built nearby.”

Currently, Gwangjin-gu operates a total of 104 senior leisure welfare facilities, including the Gwangjin Senior Comprehensive Welfare Center (Gunja-dong), 95 senior centers, and 8 senior classes.

Mayor Kim Seon-gap of Gwangjin-gu said, “We are building the Small-scale Senior Welfare Center in Jayang-dong to resolve the shortage of senior welfare facilities in Gwangjin-gu and to enhance convenience for seniors in Jayang-dong through balanced regional adjustment within the district. We hope this center will improve conditions in various aspects such as safety, leisure, and jobs for the seniors who built today’s Republic of Korea, and promote their health and happiness.”

Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yoo Seong-hoon) conducted COVID-19 testing for all employees on the 20th.

The purpose was to protect district employees and prevent transmission to the local community by early detection of asymptomatic and latent infections through proactive testing.

The testing targeted all employees of Geumcheon-gu Office and Health Center, including fixed-term workers and social service agents.

Geumcheon-gu follows social distancing guidelines such as eliminating visits to other departments by employees except when essential for work, and prohibiting after-work dinners and private gatherings, in accordance with the government’s special quarantine measures.

Mayor Yoo Seong-hoon of Geumcheon-gu said, “The serious situation of rapidly increasing COVID-19 confirmed and critically ill patients continues. Although everyone is working hard on the front lines of administration for COVID-19 prevention, considering that public officials serve close to the residents, we decided to proactively conduct testing for all employees.”

On the 3rd, Geumcheon-gu held an emergency COVID-19 response inspection meeting to establish and review current issues and future response systems to prevent re-spread.

Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) announced that the International Lions Club District 354-C delivered 150 boxes of ramen and 100 winter blankets for neighbors in need at 3 p.m. on the 20th.

The delivery ceremony of 150 boxes of ramen worth 5 million won and 100 winter blankets was held at the mayor’s office at 3 p.m., attended by Dongdaemun-gu Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol, International Lions Club District 354-C Governor Shin Hyun-jong, District 1 Chairman Min Kyung-ik, and five related officials.

Since 2014, International Lions Club District 354-C has continuously donated various items to Dongdaemun-gu, including rice, kimchi, dentures, blood sugar monitors, and funds for helping neighbors. This year, they have donated a total of 143 million won worth of support items.

Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol of Dongdaemun-gu said, “Despite the difficult situation due to COVID-19, I thank the International Lions Club District 354-C for their warm hearts in sharing kindness with neighbors in need. We will ensure that the delivered items are properly distributed to those who need help.”

Yeongdeungpo-gu Mayor Chae Hyun-il presented a certificate of appreciation to citizen Lee Dong-baek (left), who was recognized as a person of merit by the Ministry of Health and Welfare last November, at the district office communication room on the morning of the 20th.

Lee Dong-baek (43) was injured by stabbing during a knife rampage incident at Songpa Jamsil Tax Office on February 3 but demonstrated self-sacrifice and courage to save the victim. He was recognized as a person of merit at the 4th Medical Merit Review Committee held by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Mayor Chae Hyun-il said, “I was moved by Lee Dong-baek’s righteous act of risking his own safety to help others in a critical situation. We will make greater efforts to honor and support persons of merit with noble spirits who serve as role models.”

Mapo-gu Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun participated in the ‘SNS Challenge for the Protection of Women’s Human Rights in Afghanistan’ on the 20th.

This Afghan Women’s Human Rights SNS Challenge began in August with the participation of 49 female lawmakers including National Assembly Vice Speaker Kim Sang-hee to raise international awareness of women’s human rights issues in Afghanistan.

Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun of Mapo-gu, who was nominated by Kang Dong-gu Mayor Lee Jung-hoon, nominated Busan Geumjeong-gu Mayor Jung Mi-young and Gyeongsangnam-do Namhae County Governor Jang Chung-nam as the next participants.

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