Dongjak District to Launch "Well-Aging·Well-Dying Department" at Citizen University through Agreement with Konyang University

16-Week Theory Program Begins This August
Additional Agreement with Seoul National University Planned

On July 4, Dongjak District in Seoul announced that it had signed a business agreement with Konyang University to establish the "Well-Aging·Well-Dying Department" as part of its lifelong learning brand, "Dongjak Citizen University."

Park Ilha, Mayor of Dongjak District (right), and Kim Kwanghwan, Director of the Well-Dying Convergence Research Institute at Konyang University (left), are posing for a commemorative photo after signing a business agreement. Provided by Dongjak District.

The district created these departments in response to the local reality of approaching a super-aged society. The aim is to support residents in preparing physically, mentally, socially, and economically, so that they can independently plan for a healthy and dignified later life.

Under the agreement, the district will run a 16-week theoretical education program for the "Well-Aging·Well-Dying Department" starting this August. The curriculum covers a wide range of topics relevant to the later stages of life, including chronic disease management, mental health, financial planning, and the Act on Decisions on Life-Sustaining Treatment. Professors from Konyang University will deliver the lectures directly. The program is open to 100 Dongjak residents aged 40 and above. Participants will receive a certificate of completion and the opportunity to obtain a qualification as a "Life Design Coaching Instructor."

The signing ceremony was held on the morning of July 3 in the mayor's office, attended by Park Ilha, Mayor of Dongjak District, and Kim Kwanghwan, Director of the Well-Dying Convergence Research Institute at Konyang University. Both parties pledged mutual cooperation for the effective operation of the new department.

The district is also pursuing an additional agreement with Seoul National University to run practice-oriented programs alongside theoretical education. In the future, it plans to collaborate with both universities to establish a "Dongjak-Style Well-Aging Education Model" that combines theory and practice.

Mayor Park stated, "This agreement is an important milestone in not only improving the quality of life for our residents but also providing a foundation for them to design their own lives. We will continue to offer a diverse range of beneficial departments at Dongjak Citizen University that provide practical help to our residents."

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