Sokcho City Volunteer Center Establishes Itself as the Core of Community Volunteering

Among 140,000 Hours of Service, One in Three Sokcho Citizens Participated
From Sharing to Training Professional Volunteers
Leading the Way in Building a Better Sokcho Through Broad, Customized Volunteering

Spearheading community volunteer efforts, the Sokcho City Volunteer Center (headed by Ha Jongsoo) has continued its active volunteer activities in the first half of 2025, further solidifying its status as a "volunteer city together with citizens," following last year's achievements.

Sokcho City Volunteer Relay Closing Ceremony. Photo by Sokcho City

In particular, the center is taking the lead in realizing customized welfare based on the spirit of participation and sharing, through new community-oriented projects, disaster recovery support, expanded incentives, and the training of professional volunteer personnel.

As of the end of 2024, Sokcho City had 25,694 registered volunteers, accounting for 31.7% of the total population.

Volunteers recorded a total of 215,850 hours of service, and through the center's 32 projects and citizens' voluntary participation, the values of sharing and solidarity were realized.

The passion for volunteering in Sokcho City has grown even stronger in 2025.

As of the end of August this year, the number of registered volunteers reached 26,201, continuing the steady increase from last year.

With the participation of 549 new volunteers and 198 volunteer organizations, a total of 144,414 volunteer hours have been achieved.

Currently, the center is actively pursuing 30 projects, contributing to making Sokcho a better city.

Among the various volunteer programs, projects with high public engagement are receiving favorable reviews.

Yeonggeumjeong Senior Center 3rd Volunteer Center Heatwave Shelter Elderly Samgyetang Day. Provided by Sokcho City

The "Sharing Bread of Love" project involved 52 volunteers who delivered warm bread to 6,070 vulnerable individuals.

Particularly noteworthy among new projects this year is "Sisittemae Jeongseong Gadeuk Hansang," conducted in collaboration with the Sokcho City Women's Association Council.

On special occasions such as Parents' Day and holidays, seasonal side dishes and food packages were prepared and delivered to elderly individuals living alone, with the number of beneficiaries increasing by 400 compared to last year, receiving a strong positive response.

The center's efforts do not stop at simple sharing; volunteers continue to respond directly to sites in need of help.

In June, to strengthen Sokcho's status as a pleasant summer tourist city, volunteers conducted seaweed collection activities in the rocky section of the Bada Hyanggi-ro coastal trail, contributing to coastal environmental cleanup and reinforcing community spirit.

This activity involved 109 public officials and volunteers.

Disaster sites were no exception.

In July, about 50 volunteers were dispatched to the flood recovery site in Gapyeong County, assisting flood victims by removing mud and organizing household items to help them return to daily life.

Going beyond traditional volunteering, the center has also operated a "Volunteer University" to steadily nurture professional volunteers.

In 2024, volunteers were trained through an organizing and storage course, which was linked to practical on-site activities such as organizing and storage volunteering. In 2025, the center strengthened care volunteer capabilities suitable for an aging society by providing cognitive training courses for seniors.

The process of connecting learning to field practice has become an important foundation for the qualitative growth of volunteering.

Yeongrangho Cherry Blossom Festival 'My Perfect Spring Sokcho'. Provided by Sokcho City

The "Volunteer Relay Activity," which has encouraged continuous participation from volunteers, also stands out.

From April to June in the first half of the year, more than 70 organizations and 1,004 volunteers participated in relay-style activities. In June, a closing ceremony for the relay volunteer program was held, where participants watched a movie together, encouraging and communicating with one another.

This event has become a venue for strengthening solidarity and community spirit among volunteers, going beyond simple awards or compensation.

The Sokcho City Volunteer Center plans to further expand and strengthen the local volunteer base in the second half of this year by organizing events such as the "Volunteer Day Commemoration" and "Family Volunteer Group Program," in which citizens can actively participate and enjoy together.

Lee Byungseon, Mayor of Sokcho, stated, "Small actions for the community are coming together to create a better Sokcho," and added, "To foster a sustainable volunteering culture, we will strengthen support systems so that any citizen can easily participate in volunteer work, expand incentives for volunteers, and promote volunteering as a part of everyday life for all citizens."