[Photo] Yongsan-gu Transplants Sapling of Natural Monument No. 6 Baeksong Pine

[Seoul District Photo News] Yongsan-gu's Efforts to Preserve the Only Successor Tree of Baeksong, Natural Monument No. 6, for 30 Minutes at Yongsan Cultural Center Pavilion on the 28th at 3 PM... Opening of Seoul Nowon Area Self-Support Center... Dongdaemun-gu Presents Appreciation Plaques to Outstanding Warm Winter Donors... Launch of Gangseo-gu Industrial Safety and Health Committee... Yeongdeungpo-gu Mayor Chae Hyun-il Visits Menakgol Park Resident Council and Military Manpower Administration Site... Jinyoung Global Donates 300,000 Dental Masks to Dongdaemun-gu

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yongsan-gu (Mayor Seong Jang-hyun) held a transplantation event for the successor tree of Baeksong (an evergreen coniferous tree of the pine family), Natural Monument No. 6, on the 28th at the Jeongja Madang of Yongsan Cultural Center.

The transplanted Baeksong is the only successor tree naturally germinated from the seed of the ‘Wonhyo-ro Baeksong,’ which was designated as Natural Monument No. 6 in 1962, growing from a crack in a rock.

The Wonhyo-ro Baeksong, said to have been planted to commemorate the peace treaty between Japan and the Ming Dynasty during the Imjin War in 1593, became old and had poor root growth, was declared dead in 2003, and its designation as a natural monument was revoked.

Generally, the germination rate of pine seeds is 40%, but Baeksong’s is very low at 20-30%. Considering that this figure is for seeds sown and managed by experts, it shows how rare and valuable the naturally germinated successor tree of Wonhyo-ro Baeksong is.

The district highly values Baeksong’s biological significance and its status as a descendant of Natural Monument No. 6, which stood as a witness to sad historical memories for many years before dying. Therefore, it promoted transplantation to an environment conducive to healthy growth, intending to preserve it as a historical and educational resource.

The transplantation process took four years. After discovering a small Baeksong growing in a narrow space next to a 200-year-old protected zelkova tree in 2018, preliminary preparations such as root pruning and nutrient supply were carried out based on expert diagnosis before moving it to its current location.

Seong Jang-hyun, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, said, “I am proud that the only offspring tree left by the estimated 500-year-old Wonhyo-ro Baeksong before its death can now grow in a better environment,” adding, “Since the transplantation was done carefully over a long period, I hope it will remain with us for a long time, reminding us of painful history and passing on the lessons learned to future generations.”

Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it held the opening ceremony of the Seoul Nowon Regional Self-Support Center (Sanggye 2-dong) at 2 p.m. on the 29th.

The Nowon Regional Self-Support Center was selected as a pilot project institution for the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s self-support support center and has been operating since 1996. It provides jobs and supports self-reliance for low-income residents below the near-poverty class who have working ability but are marginalized in the labor market.

The district remodeled the center, which was struggling due to aging and limited space, and held the opening ceremony on this day.

The center is a building with a total floor area of 659.85㎡, consisting of basement level 1 to the 3rd floor above ground. It includes ▲a multipurpose room on the basement 1st floor ▲Bulam Senior Citizens’ Center on the 1st floor ▲office space and counseling rooms on the 2nd floor ▲and an education hall on the 3rd floor.

The opening ceremony was attended by Mayor Oh Seung-rok, self-support center officials, and local residents, proceeding with a progress report, presentation of plaques of appreciation, congratulatory speeches, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “I am always grateful to the center for its efforts to help vulnerable residents become self-reliant,” adding, “I sincerely congratulate the completion of the remodeling and will continue to do my best to discover social projects tailored to the characteristics of the region together with the center.”

Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) invited outstanding donors who participated in the ‘2022 Hope Ondol Warm Winter Campaign’ and awarded plaques of appreciation at the mayor’s office at 3 p.m. on the 29th.

The district selected 10 outstanding donors among those who have donated more than 5 million won annually on average over the past three years and who have not received a mayor’s plaque of appreciation in the last five years, related to the Warm Winter Campaign. The plaques were presented on the 29th at the mayor’s office on the 5th floor of Dongdaemun-gu Office.

The recipients included Jeong Jae-seok, Chairman of Yongdu Saemaeul Credit Union; Hong Tae-cheol, Chairman of Dapsimni 1-dong Hope Welfare Committee; Jang Sung-soo, Administrative Elder of Full Gospel Gangbuk Church; Kwon Jeong-mi, Chairwoman of Imun 1-dong Saemaeul Women’s Association; Kim Sang-gyu, Chairman of Hoegi Hwikyung Saemaeul Credit Union; Kim Eun-joo, Chairwoman of Jegi-dong Saemaeul Women’s Association; Lee Ok-boon, Treasurer of Dapsimni 2-dong Hope Welfare Committee; Ma Gi-cheol, Chairman of Imun 1-dong Residents’ Autonomy Committee; Pastor Kwak Ho-kyung of Nazareth Holiness Church; and Jang Ho-sang, Associate Pastor of Dongmyeong Church, representing their respective organizations.

The ‘2022 Hope Ondol Warm Winter Campaign’ was conducted over three months from November 15 last year to February 14 this year, raising 327 million won in donations and goods worth 880 million won, totaling 1.207 billion won. The funds will be used to support living expenses, medical costs, and housing for neighbors in need as necessary.

Yoo Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, said, “Despite the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and difficult times for everyone, I sincerely thank all donors who willingly sent donations and goods for their neighbors,” adding, “We will continue to do our best to expand a mature culture of sharing in our community.”

Gangseo-gu, Seoul (Mayor Noh Hyun-song) launched the ‘Gangseo-gu Industrial Safety and Health Committee (hereinafter the Committee)’ on the 29th to prevent and manage industrial accidents.

The committee, composed of eight worker and eight employer members respectively, held its first meeting in the district office’s large conference room in the afternoon, reviewing and approving the establishment of Gangseo-gu’s safety and health management regulations and other agenda items.

This is to lay the foundation for industrial accident prevention and safety and health before full-scale activities begin. The safety and health management regulations include important matters covering all aspects of Gangseo-gu’s industrial safety and health, such as ▲safety and health education ▲creating a safe working environment ▲and measures to prevent recurrence in case of accidents.

Mayor Noh Hyun-song said, “We must protect the safety of residents from accidents and disasters and create an environment where workers can work more safely,” adding, “We will continue to do our best to build a more thorough, field-centered industrial accident prevention system by having labor and management work closely together.”

On the morning of the 29th, Cha Hyeon-il, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, took a commemorative photo with participants of the ‘Menakgol Park Residents’ Council’ meeting at the site of the Seoul Regional Military Manpower Administration.

The council meeting held at the Singil 7-dong Community Center was attended by National Assembly member Kim Min-seok, city council members, district council members, resident representatives, and related department heads. The attendees discussed the progress and future plans of the Menakgol Park development project and then visited the Military Manpower Administration site for an on-site inspection.

Mayor Cha Hyeon-il of Yeongdeungpo-gu said, “We will work closely with related organizations and residents to create a park that everyone welcomes,” adding, “We will do our best at the district level to improve the quality of life for residents in a pleasant and livable environment.”

Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) announced that Jinyoung Global (Chairman Choi Jin-woo, photo left), through its mask division (Dreamtop), donated 300,000 dental masks to help neighbors in need.

The donation ceremony was held at 2:30 p.m. on the 29th at the mayor’s office on the 5th floor of Dongdaemun-gu Office, attended by Yoo Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, Jinyoung Global Chairman Choi Jin-woo, and CEO Jo Bong-gyun.

The donated dental masks will be distributed to 14 neighborhoods within the district according to the proportion of low-income residents.

Yoo Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, said, “I deeply thank Jinyoung Global for donating masks, which have become essential daily items, to help neighbors in need,” adding, “We will ensure that the masks you sent are delivered to the places where they are most needed.”

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