New and better for the year of the black rabbit:

Look inside Gangdong-gu's welfare system in 2023

- Tighter social safety nets to protect the socially vulnerable by expanding the welfare system

- Expected changes such as a welfare center with smart infrastructure and a comprehensive welfare center for disabilities

 Gangdong-gu is the only autonomous district in Seoul whose population increased last year. Cases of large-scale redevelopment and reconstruction are seen everywhere, and the district is expected to bring more dazzling changes than ever before. Yoon Hee-eun, Director of the Transportation Administration Division, said in an interview, "Gangdong-gu is a district where the future is more expected than the present, but there are still a lot of problems to be solved due to its rapid change.”

 Gangdong-gu has made a bold adjustment in the budget for more efficiency in order to prevent alienating any residents during such growth and development, with plans to run the welfare system in 2023 with a new and more expanded operation than before.

Tightening social safety nets for everyone to feel safe

 First, Gangdong-gu started promoting various projects along with the establishment of facilities to build tighter social safety nets for the socially vulnerable, such as children, the elderly, and women. Gangdong-gu has already opened a short-term youth shelter for girls in September to protect at-risk youth. It also opened the Chunho Youth Center in April as a cultural space for youth; and is aiming to open the Dunchon Youth Center by June 2023. In addition, a shelter for protecting and treating abused children is scheduled to open in the second half of next year.

 The care service for the elderly in vulnerable environments will be strengthened as well. The "emergency bell for seniors living alone", a project that has been piloted since last October and has been favorably received, as it provides emergency bells combined with IoT to reclusive seniors, who are at higher risk of dying alone, so that they can quickly request help in case of an emergency. Currently being provided to 50 households, the service is going to expand to 200 households by 2026.

 A various policies for the safety of women will be also carried out. In order to make tighter safety nets against ever-increasing crimes against women and to create a residential environment where women can live safely, Gangdong-gu prepared several measures to prevent crimes, such as the safe return home scout, in which female scouts accompany female citizens for safe return home, the "safe delivery box", where you can pick up delivered items from the unmanned delivery box, the "safety guard house", in which you can evacuate to a nearby convenience store, the "safe return home for women", in which dark alleys are lightened up.

Field-based, life-centered welfare services

 The comprehensive welfare centers in Gil-dong and Seongnae-dong are far from Gangil and Godeok, causing inconvenience to residents living in those areas. However, by 2023, a welfare center with smart infrastructure is going to be established in Gangil-dong so that the residents can conveniently receive welfare counseling.

 The treatment of as many as 4,600 social welfare facility workers in Gangdong-gu will be significantly improved. Gangdong-gu is going to increase welfare points as part of compensation, and also support replacement workers.

 Customized support for the disabled will be also improved. The shelter for the physically disabled, which was established for ease of use regardless of disabilities, opened near the prehistoric site in December this year. Gangdong-gu comprehensive welfare center for the disabled is going to be open in the first half of 2024. Meanwhile, the Gandong-gu will expand its measures to support the independence of disabled by strengthening projects to support them and providing jobs that take into account the characteristics of each disability type.

Brilliant childcare nurture policies to create an excellent environment for raising children

 Ranked the highest total fertility rate in Seoul's autonomous districts last year, Gangdong-gu will introduce more expanded customized childcare nurture policies to ease the burden on families caring for infants and toddlers.

 In order to create a trustworthy childcare environment, Gangdong-gu will expand short-time care centers for infants and toddlers with Seoul-styled indoor playgrounds to provide safe care services. For promoting healthy family life, Gangdong-gu is going to help balance work and family life by providing housework care services to pregnant women, dual-income households, and multi-child families.

 The parental benefit, which provided KRW 300,000 per month to families raising children under 23 months, has expanded the amount up to KRW 700,000, and parental leave grant will be newly established to support parental leave, with up to KRW 600,000 won per month.

 Since meals provided by childcare facilities play a significant role in helping children grow healthy in terms of nutritious and balanced food, personal expenses for cooks at childcare facilities will be expanded to ensure the stable provision of the meals.

 Lee Soo-hee, Head of Gangdong-gu, said, “We plan to promote welfare policies with extra care so that there are no residents left behind and are unable to receive benefits while providing welfare benefits where necessary. We will do our best so that the residents can feel the changes in their lives."

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