Gangnam-gu Anticipates Medical Tourism, K-POP Performances, and MICE Industry Exchange with Binh Duong Province, Vietnam

[Seoul District News] Eunpyeong-gu Launches Urban Oasis Stream Restoration... Yangcheon-gu Opens Children's Health Experience Center with 7 Themed Zones, Receiving Strong Community Support... Provides Growth Stage Health Screening, Customized Health Counseling, and Follow-up Services... Gangseo-gu Snow Removal Volunteer Team Deployed

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gangnam-gu (District Mayor Jeong Soon-gyun) signed an 'online video business agreement' with Binh Duong Province, Vietnam, through the online platform Zoom on the 6th.

Gangnam District Mayor Jeong Soon-gyun and Vo Van Minh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Binh Duong Province, signed the agreement during a video conference to join forces in revitalizing economic exchanges and mutual growth between the two cities in the fields of 'medical tourism, K-POP performances, and the MICE industry.'

Mayor Jeong said, "Gangnam, a global city attracting worldwide attention, is undoubtedly Korea's number one city and the most dynamic place in Northeast Asia," adding, "I hope that through this agreement ceremony, active exchanges with Binh Duong will take place in various fields such as medical tourism, K-POP performances, tourism fairs, and trade consultations."

The Governor of Binh Duong responded, "Binh Duong is one of the three major economic cities representing Vietnam and is actively promoting foreign investment and corporate attraction," and expressed hope that "Binh Duong, where 800 Korean companies have entered, and Gangnam-gu will have an opportunity for mutual growth."

A district focusing on the maintenance of urban streams, which serve as an oasis in the city, is drawing attention.

Eunpyeong-gu (District Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) established the nation's first 'Stream Protection Charter' on December 15 last year, which contains principles and directions for sustainable conservation and use of streams, and installed 'Stream Protection Charter' signboards at Gupabalcheon and Bulgwangcheon.

Eunpyeong has various streams including Bulgwangcheon, where cherry blossoms bloom every spring coming down from the large forest of Bukhansan, the ecological stream Gupabalcheon, as well as Jingwancheon, Motjarigolcheon, Baekhwasacheon, and Changneungcheon.

Streams are habitats for living creatures and healing spaces for rest and exercise, thus having a significant impact on residents. In fact, since the continuous conservation and utilization of streams were adopted as residents' demands at the 2019 participatory budget and cooperative residents' general meeting, Eunpyeong-gu has formed the Eunpyeong Stream Public-Private Joint Implementation Group to focus on stream management.

Last November, the district published a book titled 'Stories of Eunpyeong's Streams Embracing Life,' covering the flora and fauna of six streams in Eunpyeong-gu, and plans to conduct educational programs for residents to help understand streams starting late January. The district also revised the 'Stream Ordinance' based on stream research projects.

Interest in stream conservation and utilization continues unabated. The district organizes regular meetings with the public-private joint implementation group to plan projects, conducts surveys on the current status of Eunpyeong streams, and operates field trip programs. In October last year, it held a total of four stream public forums, including a discussion titled 'How to Restore Nokbeoncheon.'

Mayor Kim Mi-kyung of Eunpyeong-gu said, "The importance of streams is very high as they integrate urban functions and prevent disasters," and added, "We will continue to develop effective policies for sustainable stream conservation and use by residents."

Yangcheon-gu (District Mayor Kim Soo-young) operates the 'I-Won Center' at the Health Healing Culture Center, Korea's first complex facility for health, healing, and welfare, to systematically manage children's health in the region.

Among them, the newly established 'Children's Health Experience Hall,' tailored to children's perspectives, is gaining great popularity among children and local residents, becoming a hot topic.

The 'Children's Health Experience Hall' at the I-Won Center consists of seven themed zones: ▲Infectious Disease Prevention ▲Oral Health Zone ▲No Smoking Zone ▲Moderation Zone ▲Nutrition Zone ▲Exercise Zone ▲Safety Zone.

It provides experiential education through play for groups such as kindergartens and daycare centers or individual children under 12 years old. Breaking away from the traditional rigid health education, the program incorporates play based on health themes to help form proper health habits.

What stands out most is the experience zones designed with various activities and unique stories to keep children interested. For example, in the 'Infectious Disease Prevention' section, children apply fluorescent lotion on their hands and compare before and after washing to cultivate thorough handwashing habits.

Other zones include the 'Oral Health Zone,' where children practice brushing on a tooth model; the 'Exercise Zone,' where they think about the importance of exercise through rock climbing and high jumping; and the 'Safety Zone,' which maximizes visual effects through a touch display, providing vivid experiential health education.

Additionally, the 'Moderation Zone' allows children to wear goggles that induce dizziness and experience virtual drinking to learn about the dangers of alcohol, while the 'Nutrition Zone' features a game where children throw balls to defeat junk food, helping prevent picky eating?both popular courses among children.

Yangcheon-gu I-Won Center also operates a 'Health Screening' project that provides one-stop health check services according to growth stages. For children aged 7 to 6th grade in elementary school, it offers ▲body measurements ▲body composition analysis ▲vision tests ▲free ADHD screening, aiming to secure the golden time for preventing adult diseases and managing mental health through early detection.

The I-Won Center has established itself as a hub for child health management supporting healthy growth by providing experiential health education, health checks, customized counseling, and continuous management services.

The center operates from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, and those wishing to participate can use the facility by making a prior phone reservation (I-Won Center).

Yangcheon-gu Mayor Kim Soo-young said, "Childhood is a crucial period when lifelong healthy habits are formed during growth, so special attention must be given to providing children with various educational and experiential opportunities," adding, "I expect the I-Won Center, a health experience playground combining education and play, to play a pivotal role as a health guardian for Yangcheon-gu children, and I ask for many visits from interested residents."

This winter, a volunteer group with passionate hearts is emerging to melt the frozen roads of neighbors.

Gangseo-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Noh Hyun-song) announced that it is recruiting residents to participate in snow removal volunteer activities in neighborhood alleys and around living facilities until the 18th of next month.

Since snow removal work is concentrated mainly on major roads with heavy traffic and hills with high accident risks during snowfall, there is a relative shortage of snow removal personnel on side streets such as alleys.

Accordingly, the district planned this volunteer activity to spread a culture of residents participating in neighborhood snow removal themselves, prevent safety accidents, and minimize inconvenience caused by heavy snowfall.

The snow removal target areas include side streets and alleys around residences, as well as areas around social welfare facilities such as welfare centers and senior citizen centers. Volunteers can go to the designated areas on the day of snowfall or the following day to clear accumulated snow.

Participants can receive up to 2 hours of volunteer credit per day by submitting activity photos and a result report to the Gangseo-gu Volunteer Center via email within 10 days after the activity. However, 'clearing snow in front of one's own house or store' is excluded from snow removal volunteer activities as it is a mandatory regulation under the Natural Disaster Countermeasures Act.

To participate, residents must sign up on the 1365 Volunteer Portal, search for 'Gangseo-gu Snow Removal Volunteer Group,' and apply for the activity. After completing basic education (watching a video) and submitting a worksheet, the application is complete.

Participation is open to all residents of Gangseo-gu, from students to adults.

For more details, visit the Gangseo-gu Volunteer Center website or the 1365 Volunteer Portal. A district official said, "We took this measure to prevent safety accidents and enhance snow removal effectiveness through resident participation," adding, "As this is a meaningful activity to protect the safety of our families and neighbors, we ask for the active interest and participation of residents."

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