Junggu Reaches Out to 291 Households in Welfare Blind Spots to Lend a Helping Hand

Jung-gu Provides 355 Welfare Services to 291 Households in Crisis through Strengthened Public-Private Cooperation... Agreement with Jung-gu Pharmacists Association, Realtors Association, KEPCO in First Half, Police Station Agreement Planned for Second Half

Kim Gil-seong, Mayor of Jung-gu

Mr. A, who was unable to go to work after suffering a stroke, suddenly found himself in a desperate financial situation. Upon learning of Mr. A's plight, community leader Cha 00 reported it to the community center, and Mr. A was promptly provided with essential supplies.

Mr. Jang 00, a licensed real estate agent working in Jangchung-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, heard that his neighbor Mr. B, whom he knew well, was unable to pay his monthly rent after losing his job and failing to find new employment. He informed Mr. B about the Jung-gu welfare hotline. The local community center immediately provided Mr. B with emergency welfare and housing benefits.

Mr. C, a cancer patient, received emergency medical expense support. Due to hospital treatment, he was unable to work and was still struggling financially. During a periodic focused monitoring process of residents whose support had ended, Jung-gu identified Mr. C’s situation and assisted with his overdue rent.

Seoul Jung-gu (District Mayor Kim Gil-seong) has actively worked to identify residents in welfare blind spots since early this year, resulting in actual cases of helping neighbors in need. In the first half of this year, Jung-gu discovered 1,269 households in crisis and connected 355 services, including emergency welfare support, to 291 of these households.

The district recognized the limitations of the existing system, which relied solely on big data from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, in identifying welfare blind spots such as reclusive individuals. As a result, the district strengthened public-private cooperation and promotional activities.

In the first half of the year, the district signed business agreements with pharmacies, real estate agencies, and Korea Electric Power Corporation, and plans to expand agreements with the police station, city gas, and waterworks office by the end of the year to increase the 'eyes' that detect households suspected of being in crisis.

Residents also participated in finding households in crisis. The number of honorary social welfare officers volunteering to find neighbors in need increased by 30% to 585 compared to last year. Community leaders and block chiefs also joined the effort.

To raise awareness among neighbors, a manual and video on ‘How to Find Households in Crisis’ were produced and related notices were distributed to social welfare organizations, community centers, goshiwons (137 locations), apartment management offices (138 locations), hospitals, and pharmacies (169 locations). Using all means including the back of local tax bills, newsletters, and blogs, active communication with residents led to an increase in inquiries to the welfare hotline from apartment management offices and goshiwons expressing a desire to help neighbors.

Additionally, the district enacted and promulgated the ‘Ordinance on the Discovery and Support of Households in Crisis’ in July. This ordinance stipulates a reward system for reporting households in crisis and strengthens public-private cooperation. If the budget is secured through the supplementary budget in the second half of the year, the district plans to implement the reward payment system.

Kim Gil-seong, Mayor of Jung-gu, stated, “There are still places in our society where people suffer alone without asking for help,” and added, “Jung-gu will continue to find neighbors in need by overcoming the limitations of welfare systems through comprehensive cooperation with the private sector.”

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