The Gwangju Metropolitan City is set to provide concentrated support to over 15,000 vulnerable households at risk from winter cold and fire hazards by February next year.
On November 10, Gwangju officials, along with local welfare teams, initiated housing improvement activities for vulnerable households in Jangdong Village, located in Gangjin County, as part of efforts to address welfare gaps during the winter season.
This initiative focuses on identifying and mitigating risks for single-person households, particularly elderly individuals and people with disabilities, who are more susceptible to cold and fire hazards.
During the visit, Yoon Nan-sil, the Deputy Mayor for Citizen Sovereignty of Gwangju, encouraged the welfare team members and participated directly in the housing improvement efforts.
The targeted households were struggling to maintain indoor temperatures due to severe drafts and had not been able to repair gates damaged by a typhoon two years ago.
In response, the welfare team installed walls to block cold air and repaired the damaged gates, while also assisting with cleaning and organizing both inside and outside the homes to improve living conditions.
Gwangju plans to expand its support through 297 local welfare teams, focusing on housing improvements, heating facility repairs, and fire prevention inspections.
The city will prioritize checking the heating conditions and housing facilities of vulnerable households before temperatures drop significantly, concentrating administrative efforts on early risk mitigation.
The welfare department, led by Section Chief Yang Wan-gil, is working to ensure smooth support for vulnerable households based on a cooperative framework with local welfare teams and relevant agencies.
Safety management for fire-prone households will also be strengthened.
Gwangju is collaborating with the 119 Safety Patrol to distribute fire prevention supplies, including fire extinguishers and smoke detectors, with plans to complete distribution by the end of this year.
Starting next year, the city will enhance preemptive safety inspections and fire prevention education to reduce fire risks and create safer living environments for vulnerable groups.
Yoon Nan-sil stated, "The welfare team plays a significant role in understanding local circumstances and addressing neighbors' difficulties directly. We will expand community-centered welfare services and strengthen cooperation with relevant agencies to ensure that citizens in need are not left behind in our welfare safety net."
Meanwhile, the local welfare teams are public-private partnerships organized at the city and town levels, aimed at alleviating the living inconveniences of vulnerable groups and supporting those in crisis while connecting them with private resources.
Gwangju plans to continuously strengthen the on-site response system of the welfare teams, working together with local residents and administrative agencies to protect vulnerable groups during the winter and address welfare gaps.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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