Guro-gu, Organizational Restructuring Including Establishment of Smart Innovation Bureau and Disease Control Division

[Seoul Autonomous District News] Guro-gu January 1st: Establishment of 1 Bureau and 1 Team at Health Center on January 17th with 1 Division and 3 Teams; Name, Affiliation Changes, and Abolishment... Transferred to Public Relations and IT Division; Formation of ‘Smart Innovation Bureau’ with Smart City, Urban Regeneration, and Green City Divisions... Newly Established ‘Disease Control Division’ and Renaming of Existing Community Health Division to ‘Health Promotion Division’... Yangcheon-gu Confirms 2022 Budget of 853.7 Billion KRW... Gangbuk-gu Announces 2022 Village Enterprise Contest with Up to 50 Million KRW Support... Gangseo-gu Recognized as ‘Excellent Local Government’ in 2021 Basic Livelihood Security System Evaluation

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Guro-gu (Mayor Lee Sung) will implement an organizational restructuring, including the establishment of the 'Smart Innovation Bureau' effective January 1 and 17, 2022.

On the 31st, Guro-gu announced, “We are reorganizing the district office and public health center to efficiently carry out the top priorities of district administration, such as advancing to Smart Guro and supporting residents' daily recovery.”

According to this reorganization, the district office will be adjusted to 6 bureaus (an increase of 1), 1 office, 1 director-general, 1 team, 34 divisions, and 150 teams (an increase of 1) as of the 1st, and the public health center will be reorganized to 5 divisions (an increase of 1) and 21 teams (an increase of 3) as of the 17th.

To grow into a future-oriented city equipped with smart technology and rest/green spaces, Guro-gu established three divisions?Smart City Division, Urban Regeneration Division, and Green City Division?under the Future Development Planning Group through the 2019 organizational restructuring.

This year, Guro-gu is taking a step further by abolishing the Future Development Planning Group and establishing the Smart Innovation Bureau to implement a cutting-edge smart city.

Additionally, the Public Relations and IT Division, which belonged to the Administrative Management Bureau, will be moved to the Smart Innovation Bureau. The Public Relations and IT Division manages various information and communication networks and strives to build a richer infrastructure as a smart city.

To prevent major disasters and strengthen the safety management system, Guro-gu will also create a Major Disaster Management Team within the Urban Safety Division.

In this organizational restructuring, Guro-gu will also reorganize the public health center system to respond swiftly to COVID-19 and stabilize daily recovery.

A Disease Control Division will be newly established, with a Daily Recovery Support Team under it. The Infectious Disease Response Team and Quarantine Management Team have been renamed the Infectious Disease Prevention Team and moved, along with the Animal Welfare Team, from the Community Health Division to the Disease Control Division.

The existing Community Health Division will be renamed the Health Promotion Division, with the Infant and Maternal Team renamed the Maternal and Child Health Team, and new Health Promotion and Vaccination Teams established under it.

Additionally, the Healthy City Team will be renamed the Lifestyle Health Team (under the Health Administration Division), and the Screening Team will be renamed the Preventive Screening Team (under the Medical Affairs Division).

A Guro-gu official stated, “This organizational restructuring focuses on efficiently and professionally carrying out tasks that meet the demands of the times,” adding, “We will continue to do our best to make Guro a happy and livable district for residents.”

Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) announced that the 2022 main budget has been finalized at a total of 853.7 billion KRW following the resolution of the Yangcheon-gu Council.

This represents an increase of 85.1 billion KRW (11.08%) compared to this year's main budget of 768.6 billion KRW, consisting of 811.6 billion KRW in the general account and 42.1 billion KRW in the special account.

The budget focuses on projects aimed at revitalizing the local economy, which has been depressed due to COVID-19, accelerating residents' full recovery of daily life, and creating a sustainable city where people and nature coexist.

In the major sectors, the 'Health' sector has been allocated 28.6 billion KRW, an increase of 10.7 billion KRW (59.89%) compared to the previous year. In particular, 7.7 billion KRW is allocated for COVID-19 vaccination implementation costs, and 1.6 billion KRW for infectious disease management projects such as operating screening clinics and quarantine activities, aiming to thoroughly prevent the spread of infectious diseases in the community.

The 'Social Welfare' sector accounts for the largest share at 448.8 billion KRW, up 10.79% from last year, followed by 'Land and Regional Development' at 46.5 billion KRW, 'Transportation and Logistics' at 39.8 billion KRW, 'General Public Administration' at 37.9 billion KRW, 'Environment' at 34.7 billion KRW, 'Education' at 26.4 billion KRW, 'Culture and Tourism' at 22.7 billion KRW, 'Industry, SMEs, and Energy' at 8.5 billion KRW, and 'Public Order and Safety' at 6 billion KRW.

To create a vibrant city where working is enjoyable, the budget includes ▲support for youth policies such as youth job support, youth internship programs, and youth store development (1.4 billion KRW), ▲Yangcheon 50 Plus Center project expenses (700 million KRW), and ▲small business joint infrastructure construction in the Sinwol-dong area (200 million KRW). Additionally, ▲a 20 billion KRW scale issuance of Yangcheon Love Gift Certificates with a 400 million KRW discount sales compensation, and ▲a youth digital supporters project (200 million KRW) to help small businesses open new markets are planned to lay the foundation for local economic recovery from COVID-19.

For creating a green and clean ecological city, the budget includes ▲customized remodeling of Omok, Mokma, and Sintree Parks along the Mokdong central axis (7.2 billion KRW), ▲remodeling of aging children's parks (1.6 billion KRW), ▲sewage pipe maintenance for restrooms in Gyenam Neighborhood Park (500 million KRW), and ▲creation of Sumyeongsan Pocket Park (100 million KRW). Also, related to the Anyangcheon landmark project, ▲creation of Anyangcheon Haemaru Family Garden (1 billion KRW), ▲construction of Anyangcheon tennis courts (200 million KRW), and ▲basic planning for the pedestrian overpass connecting Galsan to Anyangcheon (100 million KRW) are included to transform Anyangcheon into a popular local healing spot.

To prepare for a new level of future city, the budget includes ▲support for green building creation projects (1.1 billion KRW) that provide renewable energy facility support for energy performance improvement in aging houses, and ▲urban regeneration new deal projects in Mok 3-dong and Sinwol 3-dong (800 million KRW).

Furthermore, starting next year, the target of the multi-family housing support project (1.4 billion KRW) will be expanded to include multi-unit housing. Additionally, ▲construction of parking lots including the Cherry Blossom Road public parking lot (16.7 billion KRW) and ▲installation of an unmanned integrated control system for public parking lots (800 million KRW) will be invested to alleviate parking shortages and traffic congestion.

To create an inclusive city where families are happy, 103.8 billion KRW is allocated for childcare policy projects such as ▲construction of Yangcheon Childcare Town, a specialized complex facility for childcare including infant experience centers, open childcare rooms, and care centers (1 billion KRW), ▲function enhancement of public childcare facilities (1.9 billion KRW), and ▲operation of toy libraries and joint childcare rooms (900 million KRW).

Also newly included this year are ▲First Meeting Voucher (3.8 billion KRW), which provides a lump sum of 2 million KRW to all newborns, and ▲Infant Allowance (3.9 billion KRW), which provides 300,000 KRW monthly to children under two years old.

Additionally, 160 billion KRW is allocated for senior welfare, including ▲expansion of senior jobs and social activity support (10.5 billion KRW) and ▲establishment and operation of the (tentative name) Smart Senior Culture Center (400 million KRW). Starting next year, veterans' honor allowances will increase from 20,000 KRW to 50,000 KRW per month. For disability welfare, 41.7 billion KRW is allocated for projects such as disability activity support, operation of lifelong education centers for people with developmental disabilities, and creation of shelters for the visually impaired.

For Yangcheon, the leading education city, 5.8 billion KRW is allocated for school support projects including school environment improvement and program support. Next year, a new 200,000 KRW entrance preparation fund will be provided to elementary school freshmen following middle and high school students. Also, free school meals will be expanded to kindergartens, with 10.2 billion KRW allocated. Furthermore, efforts will be made to create a cultural city where all residents can enjoy cultural life in daily life through ▲operation of public libraries and youth reading rooms (7.6 billion KRW), ▲operation and project expenses of Galsan Culture and Arts Center (1 billion KRW), and ▲remodeling of the annex of Yangcheon Cultural Center (1.7 billion KRW).

To establish a sustainable safety city foundation, the budget includes ▲expansion and relocation of the U-Yangcheon Integrated Control Center (1.5 billion KRW), ▲installation of security CCTV (600 million KRW), ▲fire safety performance enhancement support projects (500 million KRW), ▲creation of safe school routes through maintenance of aging security light poles around schools (300 million KRW), and ▲installation of safety facilities separating bicycle and pedestrian roads along Anyangcheon (100 million KRW). Additionally, a disaster management fund of 3.4 billion KRW will be separately operated to protect residents from various social and natural disasters including COVID-19.

Mayor Kim Soo-young said, “We carefully considered urgent projects for residents through multiple discussions and reviews to prepare the 2022 budget,” adding, “We will do our best to ensure that 2022 is a year in which Yangcheon-gu can take a step forward and develop, as well as achieve complete recovery from COVID-19.”

Gangbuk-gu (Mayor Park Kyum-soo) is recruiting '2022 project-supported village enterprises.'

A 'village enterprise' refers to a neighborhood-level company established to solve work and problems needed by local residents. It creates income and jobs through profit-making projects utilizing local resources and realizes the interests of the village community.

Interested companies can submit applications, business plans, and village enterprise member lists in person to the Village Cooperation Division of Gangbuk-gu Office from January 10 to 14 next year. Applicants must be companies invested by at least five residents with either residence or workplace addresses in Gangbuk-gu, with a local resident ratio of 70% or more. The organizational form of the company must be a corporation under the Civil Act, a company under the Commercial Act, a cooperative under the Framework Act on Cooperatives, or an agricultural cooperative under the Act on Agricultural and Fishery Management Entities, and only organizations that have completed corporate establishment can apply as village enterprises.

Applicants for the first and second years must have completed introductory education (7 hours) and specialized education (4 hours) to be eligible for support. Village enterprises will be finally selected through a first-stage Seoul City review and a second-stage Ministry of the Interior and Safety review after on-site inspections and eligibility checks by Gangbuk-gu.

Village enterprises designated as first-year (new) can receive up to 50 million KRW in project funds, while those designated as second-year (re-designated) and third-year (advanced) can receive up to 30 million KRW and 20 million KRW respectively. However, at least 20% of the subsidy must be jointly invested and self-funded by the village enterprise.

For more details, contact the Village Cooperation Division of Gangbuk-gu Office.

Mayor Park Kyum-soo said, “We will support village enterprises that effectively realize the interests of local communities to help them become self-reliant and grow,” adding, “We encourage active participation from interested corporations.”

Gangseo-gu, Seoul (Mayor Noh Hyun-song) announced that it was selected as an 'Excellent Local Government' in the 2021 Basic Livelihood Security System evaluation hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and received the Minister of Health and Welfare Award.

This evaluation was conducted comprehensively considering the joint evaluation results in the basic livelihood security field and efforts in system operation and work cooperation, targeting metropolitan and basic local governments nationwide.

The district was recognized for actively operating the local livelihood security committee, discovering new beneficiaries, and implementing temporary livelihood support in response to COVID-19, earning the Minister of Health and Welfare Award.

The number of basic livelihood security beneficiaries in Gangseo-gu is 30,346, accounting for 5.2% of the total population, which is the second-highest among the 25 districts in Seoul.

Despite this, the district has worked hard to ensure that households in financial difficulty receive protection within the legal safety net by intensively investigating actual living conditions even if some legal requirements are not fully met, through active meetings of the local livelihood security committee.

Additionally, the district actively promoted temporary livelihood support projects during the COVID-19 situation to help vulnerable residents overcome crisis situations.

Moreover, the operation of the social welfare system improvement task force provided a foundation for frontline social welfare officials to actively participate in system improvements, and efforts were made to reflect the voices from welfare sites in the system, which was also highly evaluated.

The district plans to further solidify the operation of the basic livelihood security system and build a dense welfare safety net based on public-private cooperation to strengthen the basic living security of vulnerable residents.

Mayor Noh Hyun-song said, “This award is the result of the entire district working as one to implement warm welfare without blind spots,” adding, “We will continue to enhance the basic livelihood security project so that all residents can enjoy a healthy and happy life.”

Achasan Sunrise

Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Sun-gap) recently decided to cancel the 'Achasan Sunrise' event to ensure residents' safety and prevent the spread of COVID-19 amid the rapid spread of the virus.

Achasan in Gwangjin-gu is the place where the sun rises first in Seoul, a famous sunrise spot where the rising sun dyes the mountain ridges red and fills the heart with excitement. The district has held the event at Achasan Sunrise Square every year for 21 years, welcoming the hopeful New Year with many citizens.

However, due to the recent nationwide surge in COVID-19 cases and the increasing possibility of the spread of the Omicron variant, the event has been completely canceled this year as well, following last year.

Fearing crowds gathering at Achasan for the sunrise, banners announcing the event cancellation will be posted in various places, and announcement broadcasts will be made. Staff will be stationed at the entrance of Achasan, the sunrise square, Goguryeo Pavilion, and other popular spots to guide compliance with quarantine measures and promote additional vaccinations.

Even after the sunrise period, to provide New Year attractions, light sculptures and lanterns will be installed at Achasan Harmony Square and the entrance to the hiking trail so that residents can visit Achasan, maintain social distancing healthily, soothe their tired minds, and make wishes.

Mayor Kim Sun-gap of Gwangjin-gu said, “This year's sunrise festival was completely canceled with the priority on residents' safety and the judgment that a pause is necessary to overcome the crisis,” adding, “Gwangjin-gu's New Year will be a year of leap forward where daily recovery progresses with the brave energy of the tiger, the local economy revitalizes, balanced urban development occurs, and residents' quality of life improves.” He also expressed his hope that 2022, the Year of the Black Tiger (Im In Year), will be a year of hope and happiness for all residents.

◆Gwangjin-gu Personnel ▲Director of Education Support Division Hwang Yoon-hee ▲Director of Urban Regeneration Division Yoo Young-bo ▲Specialist of District Council Secretariat Lee Kyung-soo ▲Head of District 3 Dong Yoo Jong-heon ▲Acting Director of Smart Information Division Baek Kyung-hee ▲Acting Head of Neung-dong Choi Eun-ha ▲Acting Head of Jayang 1-dong Lee Seung-min ▲Acting Head of Gunja-dong Lee Ki-bung

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