Gwanak-gu and Samsung Electronics Operate 'Youth Employment Mentoring'... Seongdong-gu Selected as Excellent Institution in Government Innovation Evaluation for 4 Consecutive Years

[Seoul District News] Gwanak-gu Creates Communication Platform for University Students and Unemployed Youth Seeking Jobs, Providing Corporate and Job Information and Counseling through Online Meetings with Professionals... Seongdong-gu Highly Rated for Essential Worker Support Ordinance, Gentrification Prevention Policy, ‘Seongdong Residents’ Hall’, and Gyeongdong Elementary School Commute Route Construction; Selected as Excellent Institution for 4 Consecutive Years in the 2021 Local Government Innovation Evaluation by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety... Seocho-gu Implements Comprehensive Livelihood Protection Measures to Restore Vulnerable Areas... Dobong-gu Green Remodeling of Yaksu Senior Center...

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) will conduct the 'Gwanak-gu-Samsung Electronics Youth Employment Mentoring' program from March to November, providing employment consulting and career counseling through talent donation by current employees of Samsung Electronics Suwon Plant (DX Division).

The district explained that this program was planned to inspire young job seekers' motivation for employment and actively support their success by offering corporate and job information and career counseling through meetings with current Samsung Electronics employees.

The mentoring sessions will be held on the first Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., conducted via video call platforms (FaceTalk, Skype, Zoom, etc.), allowing mentors and mentees to communicate comfortably without spatial constraints and in an informal format on various topics.

Each mentor will be assigned two mentees, with about one hour of mentoring per mentee, enabling more honest and in-depth one-on-one communication.

Any university student or unemployed young job seeker can apply. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, recruiting about 10 young people per session on a first-come, first-served basis.

Youth wishing to participate can download the application form from the Gwanak-gu Office website, fill it out, and send it to the person in charge via email.

Mayor Park Jun-hee said, "We thank the current Samsung Electronics employees who serve as excellent mentors for young people struggling with employment concerns," adding, "We hope this will open a communication channel to resolve young people's questions about employment and career worries and ultimately lead to successful employment."

The first mentoring session will be held on March 5. For more details, visit the Gwanak-gu Office website (News → Gwanak News) or contact the Youth Policy Division, Youth Employment Team at Gwanak-gu Office.

Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) was selected as an excellent institution for four consecutive years in the '2021 Local Government Government Innovation Evaluation' hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on the 8th.

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The Local Government Government Innovation Evaluation assesses five categories and 14 indicators, including autonomous innovation, participation and cooperation, inclusive administration, trusted government, innovation diffusion, and public perception.

To ensure fair evaluation, a 'Local Government Innovation Evaluation Team' of 22 private experts and a 'Public Evaluation Team' of 204 members participated.

Seongdong-gu adopted innovation, coexistence, communication, and safety as core values of the 7th elected term, with the key policy of a 'Smart Inclusive City' where all residents benefit from smart technology in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution. Particularly, the expansion of resident participation in policymaking and collaborative innovation achievements among various stakeholders received high praise.

Key examples include the nation's first 'Essential Workers Support Ordinance,' the 'Essential Workers Support Policy' which led to legislation in May 2021, and the 'Gentrification Prevention Policy' protecting workplaces of self-employed individuals.

Seongdong-type living labs such as 'Seongdong Residents' Hall,' public-private-academic governance projects like 'Safe School Routes at Gyeongdong Elementary School,' collaborative resource recycling projects like the 'Coffee Grounds Recycling Project,' and the 'Seongdong-type Smart Shelter' and 'Smart Security Light' projects selected as 2021 resident life innovation cases also received high evaluations.

The project to build a 'Real-time Waiting Number Information System for Screening Clinics,' the first in the nation to allow mobile checking of waiting status, was also recognized as a differentiated policy from other local governments.

Local governments selected as excellent institutions in this evaluation will receive commendations from the President, Prime Minister, and Minister of the Interior and Safety, along with financial incentives. Excellent cases will be disseminated as 'resident life-oriented' examples to other local governments.

Previously, among 243 local governments nationwide (17 metropolitan, 226 basic), Seongdong-gu was the only basic local government to win the highest award, the 'Presidential Award,' for two consecutive years and received government commendations for three consecutive years since 2018.

A Seongdong-gu official said, "Our innovation projects spreading nationwide started by listening to residents' voices," adding, "We will continue to discover various life-oriented policies that residents can feel, creating a Seongdong where people want to live longer through smart technology and innovations desired by residents."

Seocho-gu announced that it will provide a total of 2.3 billion KRW in financial support to residents and businesses suffering economic difficulties due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

It is expected that about 1,600 businesses and facilities and 2,800 COVID-19 affected groups will receive support.

The district plans to focus support on groups excluded from government and Seoul city disaster relief funds. Targeted support for blind spots is significant as it provides practical assistance to groups severely affected by COVID-19 and industries providing uninterrupted services despite infection risks.

The district has prepared nine support measures to alleviate difficulties in people's livelihoods. Specifically, ▲ 500,000 KRW per small business owner in industries subject to closure or restrictions ▲ 500,000 KRW for unemployed youth within two years after graduation ▲ 400,000 KRW per individual for corporate and private taxi drivers ▲ 1 million KRW per daycare center ▲ 1 million KRW per local children's center ▲ 1 million KRW per elderly care facility (500,000 KRW for group homes) ▲ 1 million KRW per kindergarten ▲ 500,000 KRW worth of quarantine supplies per religious facility ▲ 10 million KRW per village bus company will be provided. Payments will be made sequentially by project starting mid-February.

Acting Mayor Cheon Jeong-wook of Seocho-gu said, "Through the 'Seocho-type Comprehensive Livelihood Protection Measures,' we plan to provide swift support to those exhausted by the prolonged COVID-19," adding, "We will strive to restore daily life as soon as possible through thorough COVID-19 damage support."

Dobong-gu (Mayor Lee Dong-jin) completed the green remodeling project for the public Yaksu Senior Center in January this year, receiving a 1++ grade certification for building energy efficiency.

This is the fourth such project following the completion of Witdeul, Cheonghak, and Choheon Yaksu Senior Centers in October 2021.

Through this green remodeling project, Yaksu Senior Center (completed in 2004) underwent ▲ exterior wall insulation reinforcement ▲ installation of heat recovery ventilation systems ▲ replacement of regular windows with insulated windows ▲ installation of rooftop solar panels. These improvements enhanced energy use efficiency and convenience facilities, increasing satisfaction among the elderly.

The primary energy consumption (kWh/㎡·year) of Yaksu Senior Center was initially 514, corresponding to energy efficiency grade 5, but after remodeling, it dropped to 132, raising the energy efficiency to grade 1++, an improvement of six grades. Energy consumption decreased to 53,490 kWh/year, CO2 emissions to 9.5 tons/year, and the energy self-sufficiency rate improved to 37%, comparable to Zero Energy Building (ZEB) standards.

Building energy efficiency grades are classified into 10 levels from the most efficient 1+++ to the least efficient 7, based on annual primary energy consumption per unit area (kWh/㎡·year).

The green remodeling project is a core initiative in Dobong-gu's greenhouse gas reduction strategy (September 2020), aiming for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 in the green building sector. The district is currently designing green remodeling for two additional senior centers, Changil Senior Center and Ssangmun 1-dong Senior Center, targeting completion by November 2022.

Mayor Lee Dong-jin of Dobong-gu said, "Improving building energy efficiency is essential to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. We hope the successful green remodeling of public senior centers will serve as a stepping stone to expand green remodeling to private and new buildings."

Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) operates the 'Legal Home Doctor' project for residents who have difficulty accessing legal services.

Since 2014, the district has been running the 'Legal Home Doctor' program for nine years by assigning lawyers affiliated with the Ministry of Justice.

The 'Legal Home Doctor' system provides free legal services to vulnerable residents lacking legal knowledge or facing economic hardship. It offers primary legal services to vulnerable groups such as basic livelihood security recipients, persons with disabilities, marriage immigrant women, and crime victims who need legal assistance.

Lawyers affiliated with the Ministry of Justice reside at the district office, providing legal counseling and information, customized legal education, guidance on litigation methods and procedures, and connections to legal aid organizations.

Assistance covers a wide range of everyday legal issues including claims, debts, leases, divorce, parental rights, custody, inheritance, wills, compensation, labor relations, wages, personal rehabilitation, and bankruptcy. If litigation is necessary after consultation, clients are referred to legal aid organizations such as the Korea Legal Aid Corporation.

Consultations operate by appointment via phone. Operating hours are weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the consultation room is located on the 3rd floor of the district office annex.

The district also provides outreach legal support, visiting social welfare facilities, schools, and public institutions for counseling and legal education. It aims to continuously diagnose and resolve legal issues closely with the community.

Last year, the district provided a total of 834 legal services, including 608 free legal consultations, 45 legal document preparations, 154 referrals to legal aid organizations, and community outreach activities.

Mayor Kim Mi-kyung said, "'Legal Home Doctor' is a reliable helper that enhances legal accessibility by providing broad legal services to vulnerable residents who find it difficult to access legal help," adding, "Residents in need of legal assistance are encouraged to apply anytime for support."

Guro-gu (Mayor Lee Sung) will conduct free regular inspections of vehicle emissions.

On the 9th, Guro-gu announced, "Due to the suspension of visiting inspection services caused by COVID-19, we will conduct free regular inspections performed by professional maintenance businesses."

To this end, in December last year, the district signed agreements with four local professional maintenance shops: Gongdan Service Center, Solomon Auto Workshop, Ssangyong Motor Seoul Service Center, and Hyundai Car Workshop.

According to the agreements, until December, each maintenance shop will inspect whether vehicles exceed emission standards free of charge. Inspection items include carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and air excess ratio for gasoline and LPG vehicles, and particulate matter for diesel vehicles.

Residents visiting the maintenance shops will also receive guidance on vehicle safety inspection methods and idling prevention tips.

Guro-gu residents wishing to receive free inspections should make a phone reservation 2-3 days before visiting. ▲ Gongdan Service Center inspects all vehicle types except those over 5.5 tons gross weight ▲ Solomon Auto Workshop inspects vehicles under 1 ton and under 15 seats ▲ Ssangyong Motor Seoul Service Center inspects Ssangyong vehicle models ▲ Hyundai Car Workshop inspects diesel vehicles under 1.5 tons.

A Guro-gu official said, "We hope this inspection service, replacing the visiting service, will help create a pleasant air quality environment and support residents' safe driving," adding, "We ask for the interest and participation of many residents."

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