Creating a Happy Culture for Residents and Pets... Dongdaemun-gu Announces Comprehensive Plan for 'Animal Protection and Welfare Projects'

[Seoul District News] Dongdaemun-gu Promotes Various Projects Including Essential Medical Expense Support for Pets of Vulnerable Groups and Adoption Fee Support for Abandoned Animals... Seongdong-gu Provides Essential Medical Support for Pets of Vulnerable Groups... 2nd Eunpyeong Culture and Tourism Platform Photo Contest... [Photo] Seonghyeon Seong, Yongsan-gu Mayor, Attends Yongsan History Museum Opening Ceremony... [Photo] ‘Mapo Stream Cleanup Activity Promotion Team’ Holds Agreement and Launch Ceremony

Yoo Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun District, is handing out snacks to stray dogs.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) is comprehensively promoting the ‘2022 Dongdaemun-gu Animal Protection and Welfare Project’ to foster a desirable coexistence culture between humans and animals as the population of companion animals increases day by day.

Through this comprehensive plan, various projects related to companion animals will be implemented, including ▲spring rabies vaccination project ▲our neighborhood animal hospital project for vulnerable groups ▲support project for adoption fees of abandoned animals ▲operation of temporary shelter and return facilities for lost animals ▲companion dog playground operation project ▲stray cat neutering project.

The ‘Our Neighborhood Animal Hospital Project for Vulnerable Groups’ is a project that supports essential medical expenses for companion animals of vulnerable groups in the region. Medical expenses such as basic health checkups and vaccinations are supported (up to 190,000 KRW, with a 10,000 KRW co-payment by the guardian) at designated animal hospitals, and additional selective medical expenses for related diseases are supported up to 200,000 KRW, aiming to contribute to animal welfare and reduce medical costs for companion animals, thereby improving the quality of life for vulnerable groups.

To improve the protection conditions of abandoned animals and activate adoption, the ‘Temporary Shelter and Return Facility Operation Project for Lost Animals’ and the ‘Support Project for Adoption Fees of Abandoned Animals’ will also be promoted.

The ‘Temporary Shelter and Return Facility Operation Project for Lost Animals’ is prepared to support the quick return of lost companion animals to their owners by transferring lost animals protected by the Korea Animal Rescue Management Association to designated consignment facilities within the region and handing them over to their owners.

The ‘Support Project for Adoption Fees of Abandoned Animals’ is promoted to reduce the burden of adopting abandoned animals and activate adoption. It plans to support up to 300,000 KRW per animal for costs incurred for treatment, vaccination, neutering, grooming, etc., for residents who adopt abandoned animals from the Dongdaemun-gu Animal Protection Center, the Korea Animal Rescue Management Association (Yangju, Gyeonggi-do).

Also, from April 15 to 30, the ‘Spring Rabies Vaccination Project’ will be conducted at 26 animal hospitals in the region. The cost of rabies vaccination medicine is free, and the procedure fee of 5,000 KRW is borne by the owner.

In addition, the district plans to resolve residents’ inconveniences and foster a desirable and mature companion animal culture through projects such as the ‘Companion Dog Playground Operation Project’ and the ‘Stray Cat Neutering Project’.

Yoo Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, said, “Through this animal protection and welfare project, we hope to resolve social conflicts caused by companion animals and establish a more mature companion animal culture,” adding, “We will work together with residents to create a society where residents and companion animals coexist harmoniously.”

Pet Medical Care

Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) will support health checkups and vaccinations for companion animals of vulnerable groups starting this month.

The beneficiaries, supported on a first-come, first-served basis until the project budget is exhausted, are basic livelihood security recipients and lower-income groups registered as residents of Seongdong-gu, with support available for up to two animals per household. However, companion dogs must be registered.

The support items are divided into essential medical care worth about 300,000 KRW, including basic checkups, vaccinations, and heartworm prevention medicine, and selective medical care supporting treatment costs or neutering surgery costs for diseases found during essential care up to 200,000 KRW.

Applicants can apply by preparing an ID card and a certificate of livelihood recipient or lower-income group confirmation and visiting designated ‘Our Neighborhood Animal Hospitals.’ The consultation fee for essential care is 5,000 KRW per visit, and for selective care, only the amount exceeding 200,000 KRW is borne by the applicant.

Previously, the district designated three ‘Our Neighborhood Animal Hospitals’ capable of performing medical equipment, neutering surgery, and manpower for project execution. A district official explained that this project, jointly funded by Seoul City and Seongdong-gu from this year, will improve animal welfare and the quality of life of vulnerable groups living with companion animals in the region.

In addition, the district promotes various projects for registered animals, such as supporting rabies vaccination in spring and autumn, when incidence rates are high. Last year, it led efforts to create a mature companion animal culture by operating an ‘Animal Protection Field Dispatch Team’ to prevent abandoned animals by requiring leashes and identification tags when walking companion dogs and to promptly rescue abandoned and lost animals.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “In the reality where households with companion animals are continuously increasing, we have decided to support essential animal medical care for vulnerable companion animals who cannot receive proper treatment due to economic burdens,” adding, “We will strive to enable residents to enjoy happy companion animal lives through various policies in the future.”

Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) will hold the ‘2nd Eunpyeong Cultural Tourism Platform Photo Contest’ following last year as part of revitalizing Eunpyeong cultural tourism.

This contest is held using Instagram until May 20, and anyone who wants to promote tourism in Eunpyeong-gu can participate under the theme ‘Introduction of Eunpyeong-gu’s Tourism Resources.’

Participants can submit photos taken within the last year of cultural assets, tourist attractions, and nature in Eunpyeong-gu. Up to two photos per person can be submitted by following the Eunpyeong Cultural Tourism Instagram account and posting with the hashtag for the Eunpyeong Cultural Tourism Photo Contest according to the format.

If selected as a winning work, the original digital photo (JPG) with a resolution of at least 3000 pixels by 2000 pixels must be submitted. If using Instagram is difficult, applicants can submit the original work along with the application form via email to the person in charge.

After expert judging focusing on the purpose of the contest, format and specifications, artistic value, and potential for promotional use, prizes totaling 5 million KRW will be awarded: 1 grand prize of 1 million KRW, 3 excellence awards of 500,000 KRW each, 5 encouragement awards of 300,000 KRW each, and 10 honorable mentions of 100,000 KRW each. Winning works will be exhibited both online and offline.

For more details, refer to the announcement on the Eunpyeong-gu Office website, the Eunpyeong Cultural Tourism website, or contact the Eunpyeong-gu Culture and Tourism Division.

Meanwhile, the Eunpyeong Cultural Tourism Instagram will hold a voting event for submitted works from May 21 to 30. Participants who ‘like’ the contest entries found by hashtag search and submit a verification photo will be entered into a draw to receive prizes.

Yongsan-gu (Mayor Sung Chang-hyun) officially began operations on the 23rd with the opening ceremony of the Yongsan History Museum (35-29 Hangang-daero 14-gil).

The event lasted 50 minutes with about 50 attendees, including Mayor Sung Chang-hyun and key guests, proceeding in the order of commemorative tree planting, opening, progress report, congratulatory speeches, commendations for contributions to construction, performances, and exhibition viewing.

The Yongsan History Museum is a local history specialized museum reborn by utilizing the old Yongsan Railroad Hospital building built in 1928, embodying Yongsan’s historical significance and cultural diversity.

As the building was designated as a registered cultural asset in 2008, the red exterior bricks and traces of the railroad hospital interior were preserved, and restoration and repair work on windows and stained glass were carried out to transform the existing facility into the current museum with minimal damage.

The museum has two above-ground floors with a total floor area of 2,275㎡, consisting of exhibition, education, landscaping, storage, office, and common spaces inside and outside. It can accommodate 490 people simultaneously, with about 100 people able to view comfortably.

The exhibition includes a permanent exhibition themed ‘Borderless Yongsan’ and a special exhibition showcasing the dynamic history of the railroad hospital. Various digital technologies such as virtual reality and touch panels are incorporated to enhance the viewing experience.

Admission to the Yongsan History Museum is free. It is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. However, it is closed on January 1, Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays, and every Monday (or the following day if Monday is a public holiday).

Mayor Sung Chang-hyun said, “The history and culture of the city were at risk of being lost, but the history museum, planned since the beginning of my term as a legacy for future generations, has finally opened,” adding, “Currently, about 4,000 exhibition items have been collected. Centered on the Yongsan History Museum, we plan to show everything about Yongsan, which has undergone turbulent times, to both domestic and foreign visitors.”

Mapo-gu (Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun) held the ‘Mapo River Cleanup Activity Promotion Team (hereafter Promotion Team)’ agreement and launch ceremony on the 24th at the Hongjecheon Riverside Stage.

The Promotion Team, composed of members of the Veterans Association (Chairman Ha Jong-gyun) and the Korean Freedom Federation (Chairman Kwon Young-ok), will carry out cleanup activities for Hongjecheon and Bulgwangcheon streams.

At the event, Yoo Dong-gyun, Mayor of Mapo-gu, signed an agreement on river cleanup activities and presented certificates of appreciation to 42 individuals who contributed to the cleanup activities.

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