Incheon City Holds Donation Ceremony for ‘Maeum Jigudae Branch No. 2’

Recognizing this as a task to be addressed, a public-private cooperative communication hub to support communication among citizens and the restoration of everyday relationships is being expanded. The City of Incheon (Mayor Park Chan-dae) announced that on the 29th it held a ceremony at the City Hall’s large reception room to present a subsidy of 80 million won for the establishment of ‘Maeum Jigudae (Mind Patrol Center) Branch No. 2,’ a communal space aimed at preventing loneliness and social isolation and promoting communication and exchange among citizens.

[The Korean Today] Incheon City Holds Donation Ceremony for ‘Maeum Jigudae Branch No. 2’ (사진 제공: 인천광역시)

The ceremony was attended by Deputy Mayor for Balanced Development Nam Young-hee, along with officials from supporting organizations including the Korea Asset Management Corporation’s Incheon Regional Headquarters, the Incheon Community Chest of Korea, Shinhan Bank, and NongHyup Bank, as well as officials from the Incheon Christian General Social Welfare Center, which will operate Maeum Jigudae Branch No. 2. The subsidy will be given to the Incheon Christian General Social Welfare Center and used for the establishment and future operation of Maeum Jigudae Branch No. 2. ‘Maeum Jigudae’ is an Incheon-style loneliness-prevention hub that transforms decommissioned, unused police substations into communal spaces for citizens.

Any citizen can visit without burden, share a cup of tea, and interact with neighbors, and after a loneliness assessment and counseling, can be guided to or connected with the welfare services they need. Earlier, in March, Incheon City opened Maeum Jigudae Branch No. 1, operated by Namdong-gu’s Manwol General Social Welfare Center. Branch No. 1 offers a communal café, the Mind Connection Library, psychological counseling, and cultural programs, and as of the end of September this year, it has established itself as a leading communication space in the local community, with a total of 1,421 users.

Based on the achievements of Branch No. 1’s operation, Incheon City plans to open Maeum Jigudae Branch No. 2 in December by remodeling an existing police substation building located on Seunghak-ro in Seohae-gu. Deputy Mayor for Balanced Development Nam Young-hee said, “I deeply thank all the organizations that joined in this warm act of sharing to establish Maeum Jigudae Branch No. 2,” adding, “We will work together, public and private sectors alike, to look after citizens’ hearts and connect their daily lives, building a warm Incheon where no one has to endure loneliness alone.”

※ Related photos are scheduled to be posted on the Incheon City website’s ‘Press Releases’ section after 2 p.m.

[ 김현수 기자 ]  incheoneast@thekoreantoday.com