Uijeongbu City Fully Opens First Floors of Community Centers as Shared Hubs... Transformed into Spaces for Communication and Relaxation

Mayor Kim Donggeun Promises to Expand Operations: "Open Spaces Lead to Open Communication"
Uijeongbu City Implements Open Administration by Engaging with Residents in Community Centers and Public Complex Buildings
Expanding the Role of Community Hubs with Exhibition Areas, Cafes, Meeting Rooms, and Play Spaces
Songsan 3-dong Public Complex Enhances Utilization by Connecting Shared Spaces with Senior Job Opportunities

Uijeongbu City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Kim Donggeun) is fully opening unused spaces in local community centers and public complex buildings, transforming them into spaces for everyday culture and communication for residents, thereby realizing 'open administration.' Community centers, which previously served only as administrative service windows, are now evolving into shared hubs within daily life, where anyone can freely enter, stay, and interact.

Kim Donggeun, Mayor, is touring the resident shared space set up on the first floor of Uijeongbu 1-dong Community Center on the 11th. Provided by Uijeongbu City

On December 11, Uijeongbu City visited the Uijeongbu 1-dong Community Center to check the operation status of its small library, assess the conditions for resident use, and exchange opinions with residents regarding space utilization. The city has gradually expanded shared spaces within residential areas, operating under the belief that 'open communication comes from open spaces,' allowing residents to freely enter and stay. This on-site inspection was also organized to directly observe the operation of spaces closely connected to residents' daily lives.

An Open Community Space for All: Uijeongbu 1-dong Community Center

The Uijeongbu 1-dong Community Center, which relocated to a new building in December 2023, has reconfigured its entire first floor as a resident-centered space.

Equipped with a small library, a cafe, and reading seats, this area serves as a daily hub for residents who frequently visit to read and spend time.

In particular, during the daytime, it has become a natural part of daily life for residents to read books, have tea, and chat in sunlit spots by the large windows.

The small library is used by more than 1,900 people annually and holds a collection of 6,894 materials, maintaining a steady flow of users.

During the visit, the current status of space usage was reviewed with local residents, and their feedback was heard to discuss future operational directions.

Mayor Kim Donggeun is communicating with residents in the shared space set up on the first floor of Uijeongbu 1-dong Community Center on the 11th. Provided by Uijeongbu City

Exhibition, Cafe, and Play Area All in One: Singok 1-dong Community Center

The Singok 1-dong Community Center, which began operations in its new building in July 2024, has also opened its entire first floor as a resident shared space called 'Majushelter.' The space includes a cafe, exhibition area, children's play area, and a meeting room for residents, allowing for natural use by all generations.

The exhibition area is used as a stage for everyday culture, where residents can directly showcase their works, while the cafe operates as a senior job space in collaboration with the Senior Club, supporting social participation for local seniors.

The children's play area is open at all times, serving as a daily rest area for guardians and children, and the meeting room for residents is widely used as a venue for small groups and community communication through advance reservations.

In this way, community centers are going beyond their administrative roles, becoming neighborhood hubs where anyone can stop by to relax, converse, and participate in activities.

Uijeongbu 1-dong Community Center Cafe. Provided by Uijeongbu City

Connecting Shared Spaces and Senior Jobs in Public Buildings: Songsan 3-dong Administrative Welfare Center

The Songsan 3-dong Administrative Welfare Center has reconfigured vacant space on the first floor of its public complex building into a resident shared space and a senior job cafe, increasing its use within the community.

The shared space and senior job cafe serve as daily hubs that support both everyday use by residents and social participation by seniors.

Pilot operations began in December, and improvements are being reviewed to enhance user convenience based on feedback gathered during the operation process.

The city plans to establish a more stable operational system so that full-scale operations can begin in 2026.

Mayor Kim Donggeun stated, "Shared spaces within residential areas are an important foundation for residents to naturally gather, interact, and gain vitality in their daily lives. Based on the feedback heard on site, we will carefully review the conditions for use and operate these spaces as open areas that anyone can comfortably visit."

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