‘Metaverse Seodaemun, The Shout of That Day in 1919!’ Program in Progress

[Seoul District News] Seodaemun Prison History Hall Plans Various Programs for the 103rd Anniversary of March 1st Movement... Online Events Including 'Reenactment of the March 1st Independence Movement' and 'Reading of the Declaration of Independence'... Virtual Space Recreates Seodaemun Prison, Allowing Visitors to Tour the Prison Cells as if in Person... On-site at the March 1st History Hall, Calligraphy Photo Printing Service of Independence Activists' Quotes Available... Jongno-gu Provides Hospital Escort and Meal Support for Elderly, Disabled, and Middle-aged Over 50 Needing Emergency or Temporary Care Without Family Caregivers...

Seodaemun Prison History Hall Exterior View

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Moon Seok-jin) announced on the 21st that to commemorate the 103rd anniversary of the March 1st Movement, the Seodaemun Prison History Hall will host the program "Metaverse Seodaemun, 1919 The Shout of That Day!"

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, in-person events are avoided, and the program will mainly be conducted using digital platforms such as metaverse and ZOOM.

On March 1st, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., a 30-minute "March 1st Independence Movement Reenactment Event" will be held on the metaverse platform called "MOIM."

For this, 200 participants will be recruited for each time slot, totaling 400 people, and attendees will receive commemorative gifts.

As a pre-performance for this event, "Meeting 1919 The Shout of That Day through Classical Music" will be held, followed by the "March 1st Independence Movement Reenactment" and the "Reading of the Declaration of Independence."

Additionally, a mini-drama based on the poem "When That Day Comes" by poet Sim Hun will be screened. Visitors can also enjoy the "Song of Cell No. 8," which Yu Gwan-sun and her fellow inmates sang to express their will for independence while imprisoned. For citizens unable to participate via the metaverse, the event will be live-streamed on the "Seodaemun Prison History Hall YouTube channel."

Starting from the 23rd of this month, the "Seodaemun Prison Map," recreated in virtual space using the metaverse platform "Zepeto," will be unveiled. Citizens can visit and tour the Seodaemun Prison History Hall through their own characters. They can enter inside the prison cells as if touring the actual site and view the "Exhibition of This Month's Independence Activists."

Until March 2nd, participants can join the "Jump Map Game" and "Independence Movement History OX Quiz" events, take certification photos, and upload them. One hundred participants will be selected by lottery to receive commemorative gifts. The virtual space "Seodaemun Prison Zepeto Map" will continue to operate thereafter.

On the 26th and 27th of this month, and the 5th and 6th of next month, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. respectively, the "History Made by My Own Hands" program will be held, including activities such as ▲Making Books about Patriotic Activists ▲Making Taegukgi (Korean Flag) Frames ▲Making Mood Lamps with Quotes from Independence Activists.

A total of 400 people can participate, with 50 people per session. Professional instructors will teach the making methods in real-time via ZOOM and introduce the historical significance.

On March 1st, photo printing services will be available on-site at the Seodaemun Prison History Hall. Visitors can print photos taken on-site along with calligraphy-expressed quotes from independence activists.

Additionally, visitors can take photos with professional actors dressed as independence activists. Admission to the Seodaemun Prison History Hall on March 1st is free, with up to 400 people allowed per hour through reservations.

Moon Seok-jin, Mayor of Seodaemun-gu, said, "We hope that the various March 1st commemorative events utilizing digital technology will serve as an opportunity to reflect on the patriotic spirit of our ancestors and the meaning contained in 'The Shout of That Day.'"

Detailed information about the program can be found on the Seodaemun Prison History Hall website.

Jongno-gu operates the "Care SOS Center," which provides customized services by directly visiting residents to address blind spots in community care.

This project began in August 2020, considering the weakening of family care functions due to population aging and the increase in single-person households, as well as the significant rise in related demand due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

The service targets seniors and disabled persons who need urgent or temporary care but have no family caregivers, as well as middle-aged people aged 50 and above. Especially since July last year, the Care SOS Center has been expanded to 17 community service centers within the district, working closely with residents to solve related concerns.

The center, open to all who need care, provides a total of 12 services including Jongno's specialized services such as ▲Nutritional Support ▲Fresh Meal Plans ▲Hygiene Support ▲Laundry Support, along with ▲Temporary Home Care ▲Short-term Facility Care ▲Accompaniment Support ▲Well-being Checks ▲Health Support ▲Care Systems ▲Case Management ▲Emergency Support.

Recipients of basic living benefits, legally designated low-income groups, and residents with median income below 85% can receive services free of charge up to an annual limit of 1.6 million KRW per person, while other residents can use the services with personal payment. Applications are accepted through the resident's local community service center.

"Temporary Home Care" involves care workers or activity assistants visiting homes to help with household chores, while "Short-term Facility Care" provides protection by admitting individuals to facilities for a certain period.

"Accompaniment Support" assists with essential outings such as hospital or government office visits, and "Hygiene Support" helps improve the environment through disinfection, pest control, and thorough cleaning. "Laundry Support" collaborates with the Jongno Regional Self-Support Center to collect heavy bedding and handle washing and delivery.

Among the specialized meal support projects, "Nutritional Support" offers customized healthy meals such as nutritious porridge or low-sodium diets, and "Fresh Meal Plans," newly launched this year, deliver fresh seasonal fruits like tangerines and apples to minimize care gaps during holidays for vulnerable residents.

Additionally, various linked services such as "Well-being Checks," "Health Support," "Care Systems," "Case Management," and "Emergency Support" are also operated.

"Well-being Checks" provide companionship and emotional support, "Health Support" offers health consultations and management, "Care Systems" connect public services like long-term care insurance and senior customized care, "Case Management" involves long-term case management through district, community, and private social welfare institutions, and "Emergency Support" links to national and Seoul emergency welfare projects. Each service is provided after consultation with care staff.

A district official stated, "While family care functions are weakening, care demand is increasing daily. We aim to actively resolve residents' related concerns in sudden and urgent care crisis situations by mobilizing the community. We will strive to enhance residents' welfare and convenience through customized service provision."

Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Jung-hoon) operates the "Crisis Household Reporting Reward" system, which provides rewards to residents who report households in crisis needing help.

The "Crisis Household Reporting Reward" system pays a reward equivalent to 30,000 KRW (Gangdong-gu local currency "Bitsal Money") per case to the reporting resident if the reported household is selected as a recipient of basic living security benefits. Gangdong-gu was the first in the nation to implement this system last year.

Last year, five households were selected as basic living security recipients through this system and are receiving support from the government and the district.

This year, the district is actively promoting the "Crisis Household Reporting Reward" system to discover households in crisis waiting for help throughout the region.

Eligible reports include households struggling financially due to unemployment or business closure, households needing help due to health issues such as illness or disability, and other non-beneficiary households in crisis situations requiring assistance.

Reports can be made at the local community service center of the crisis household's address or via the KakaoTalk channel "Find Crisis Households, Get Bitsal Money!" For more details, contact the Gangdong-gu Office Life Security Division.

Anyone who discovers a crisis household can report and receive a reward regardless of their own address. However, if the report is made about a basic living security recipient, or if the report is made by the crisis household themselves, or by officials such as public servants, police officers, or neighborhood leaders who have a duty to report, the reward will not be paid.

Lee Jung-hoon, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, said, "The 'Crisis Household Reporting Reward' system is a representative case of expanding welfare from public to private sectors. We will promptly connect welfare services to the discovered recipients to resolve crisis situations."

Gangbuk-gu (Mayor Park Kyum-soo) will recruit 60 members for the 5th Gangbuk-gu Children and Youth Council from March 2 to 31.

The district has been operating the Children and Youth Council since 2018 to establish a system where children and youth participate in policy decision-making processes so that their opinions are reflected in projects and policies. This year marks the 5th term.

This recruitment will select approximately 60 youths aged 10 to 18. Children and youth residing in Gangbuk-gu, attending schools in Gangbuk-gu, or receiving support from related institutions can participate with a recommendation from the head of their institution.

In May, an online inauguration ceremony will be held to form the chairperson group and standing committees, and full activities will begin. Standing committees, composed directly by children and youth, will discuss topics such as education, culture, and children's rights to discover policies and submit and process them in the general assembly. Proposed policies and projects by the Children and Youth Council will be reviewed by relevant departments, and the results will be communicated back to the council.

Especially this year, the channels for expressing opinions will be diversified to include metaverse or video conferencing platforms. Activities will be conducted non-face-to-face again this year due to COVID-19, as last year, but this may change depending on future circumstances.

Park Kyum-soo, Mayor of Gangbuk-gu, said, "This activity will be an opportunity to increase children and youth's interest and participation in the local community. We will do our best to reflect their opinions in district administration and create a child-friendly city where children's participation rights and autonomy are guaranteed."

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