Uijeongbu City Holds Opening Ceremony for Heungseon-dong Administrative Welfare Center

Uijeongbu City (Mayor Ahn Byeong-yong) held an opening ceremony for the Heungseon-dong Administrative Welfare Center on the afternoon of April 14, symbolizing the full implementation of the regional welfare hub initiative and the realization of resident-focused welfare administration.

Mayor Ahn Byeong-yong of Uijeongbu City expressed his gratitude to Administrative Self-Government Ministry Vice Minister Kim Sung-ryul, who attended the opening ceremony and visited frontline workers: "Vice Minister Kim helped us install a Berlin Wall—a symbol of aspiration for peace and reunification—at the Yok-jeon Neighborhood Park being developed on the site of Camp Humphreys, which was previously used as a U.S. military base. Thanks to your generous support, the site of the U.S. military base, which symbolizes both Korea's sorrowful modern history and national division, has been transformed into a symbol of peace aspiring for peaceful reunification. I express my sincere gratitude."

Vice Minister Kim Sung-ryul of the Administrative Self-Government Ministry said, "With the opening of the administrative welfare center, resident-focused services such as welfare, employment, and licensing from the city government will be transferred to the dong administrative welfare center, enabling residents to access high-quality services more quickly and conveniently. The administrative welfare center represents a step forward in resident-centered administration for residents' happy community autonomy and self-governance."

Mayor Ahn stated, "We should not be satisfied with the full implementation of the regional welfare hub initiative, but rather take a leap to make Uijeongbu City's welfare hub initiative, which has only begun, into a model for resident-friendly administration throughout Korea. For the successful establishment and development of the regional welfare hub initiative, it is essential to have the attention and participation of not only all staff members at the Heungseon Administrative Welfare Center but also residents."

The Heungseon-dong office was established in accordance with the Administrative Self-Government Ministry's policy on small-scale dong consolidation. On March 5, 2015, the existing Ganeung 2-dong and Ganeung 3-dong were integrated, and the combined dong was named Heungseon-dong. A new building was constructed and opened.

The Heungseon-dong office, with a total floor area of 2,614 square meters, consists of one basement level and three above-ground floors, with a construction cost of 5.9 billion won. The building was completed using state-of-the-art techniques incorporating renewable energy solar power generation systems and barrier-free certification. It is equipped with facilities including the Heungseon Hall (main auditorium), conference rooms, digital literacy education center, multipurpose room, cultural space, and a small library.

Meanwhile, the regional welfare hub initiative consolidates 3 to 5 dong community service centers into one region, expanding personnel and functions at the central dong to handle 190 types of resident-focused tasks including welfare, sanitation, employment, safety management, and licensing. It is expected to implement exemplary and preemptive welfare administration.