Jung Won-oh, Seongdong-gu Mayor, Announces "Essential Workers Support Season 2" Policy Expansion

Essential Worker Support and Gentrification Prevention Policy Expansion as a Key Focus in the Second Season of the 8th Elected Term... Nationwide First Full Survey on Essential Workers' Wages Conducted in April to Provide Universal Guidelines

"It has been three years since the law related to essential worker support and gentrification prevention, which started from the Seongdong-gu ordinance, was enacted. In the 8th term of the elected district mayor, we will launch Season 2 of related policies."

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, "From April to May, we conducted the first-ever full survey on essential workers' wages among local governments nationwide." Prior to this, in March, as part of a study on essential workers' wage systems and support measures, Seongdong-gu investigated the wage systems of essential workers in the area.

The survey targeted 402 workplaces including care facilities, welfare centers, daycare centers, and village bus transportation, which are workplaces for essential workers in the region. The main focus was on wage management, wage systems, payment types, and payment methods, considering individual attributes such as length of service and employment type for each occupation. The survey also examined the overall wage system, including base salary, fixed allowances, and variable allowances.

Mayor Jung stated, "Based on the survey results, we will gather opinions and hold discussions to modernize the wage system for essential workers and provide universal guidelines, thereby preparing Season 2 of essential worker policies."

Seongdong-gu has focused on essential workers since the COVID-19 pandemic, enacting the nation's first "Essential Worker Protection and Support Ordinance" in September 2020. It also launched awareness campaigns such as the "Thank You, Essential Workers" campaign, which helped build broad social consensus and led to the enactment of the "Act on Designation of Essential Work and Protection and Support for Workers" in May 2021. This became the first law originating from a Seongdong-gu ordinance.

Since then, over 6,400 essential workers including care workers, social workers, apartment managers, and village bus drivers have received COVID-19 masks, diagnostic kits, and other quarantine supplies, free influenza vaccinations, and psychological counseling.

Mayor Jung emphasized, "Improving the treatment of essential workers not only expands quality jobs but also leads to the provision of high-quality public services, thereby enhancing the quality of life for residents."

He added, "Ensuring that essential workers live dignified lives and resolving income inequality is the minimum role local governments can play to improve workers' rights even slightly. We will continue to voice our opinions to the central government and the National Assembly to ensure essential workers can secure a basic standard of living."

Seongdong-gu was the first in the nation to introduce gentrification prevention policies centered around Seongsu-dong in 2015, achieving significant results. The district enacted related ordinances and established a dedicated organization. Seoul Forest Road, Bangsongdae Road, and Sangwon Road areas were designated as sustainable development zones, restricting the entry of large corporations and franchises, and agreements were made with building owners to stabilize rents.

Additionally, the "Gentrification Local Government Council" was formed, leading to the enactment of the "Act on Mutual Growth and Revitalization of Local Commercial Districts" in July 2021. The district also succeeded in amending the "Commercial Building Lease Protection Act," extending the lease protection period from 5 to 10 years and lowering the rent increase cap from 9% to 5%.

Seongdong-gu is now promoting Season 2 of gentrification prevention policies in the areas around the popular Seongsu Station and Yeonmujang-gil.

Mayor Jung said, "We plan to expand policies to the areas around Seongsu Station and Yeonmujang-gil. We intend to establish an urban management system that significantly relaxes floor area ratio restrictions on the condition of signing rent stabilization agreements when constructing or expanding buildings, and restricts new franchise entries to preserve the unique local character and prevent alleyways from becoming uniform."

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