Hwaseong Special City Opens Nation's First 'Just Dream On Lounge' in March

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jeong Jun-sung] As Hwaseong Special City strengthens its role as a social safety net by uncovering blind spots in welfare through 'Just Dream,' the nation's first such initiative, the 'Just Dream On Lounge' will open next month.

The 'Just Dream On Lounge' is an open space created separately at the entrance of Just Dream, designed to lower the psychological burden on users and foster a culture where citizens support and encourage one another.

While existing welfare facilities had a structure where entering could brand visitors as 'people receiving help,' the 'Just Dream On Lounge' seeks to transform perceptions of welfare by positioning an open space where anyone can naturally spend time at the entrance of the 'Just Dream' facility.

It is designed to serve as a 'psychological buffer zone' that not only allows citizens in need to approach and stay comfortably without stigma, but also enables natural connections to counseling and support services.

The 'Just Dream On Lounge' will be filled with works from citizen talent donations conveying hope and handwritten letters. Through these works and letters, it will provide emotional comfort and warmth, offering a space that conveys the message "you are not alone" to those who visit Just Dream.

The 'Just Dream On Lounge' is drawing great expectations as a symbolic space of the local community that supports and connects residents in daily life. It is set to make its debut at the opening ceremony in March, with plans to expand to regional branches starting from Narae-ul Welfare Center.

Meanwhile, as of February, the city operates 'Just Dream' at five regional hub locations and will introduce the 'Hwaseong-style Just Dream (sharing refrigerator)' centered on eup, myeon, and dong administrative welfare centers and welfare facilities from next month. In addition to Ujeong-eup and Namyang-eup where sharing refrigerators are already installed, eight welfare facilities will be added in March, 10 eup and myeon locations in June, and 14 eup and myeon locations in December.

■ Proceeding with 'Just Dream' Space Remodeling Together with Citizens

Since early February, the city has been promoting the remodeling of 'Just Dream' together with citizens wishing to contribute their talents through the Hwaseong Volunteer Center.

The remodeling has focused on environmental improvements along with enhanced accessibility and counseling functions for users. First, new signage and guide boards for 'Just Dream' were installed outside the welfare center so that visitors can easily recognize the location from a distance.

The interior space structure was also completely reorganized. It was transformed into a wider and more open structure, and a 'hope tree' where visitors can leave their messages was installed to create an emotional communication space between visitors and citizens.

Additionally, a separate independent counseling space was created so that 'Just Dream' users can focus on counseling without being conscious of onlookers. The counseling space features a Hwaseong city character 'Koriyeo' model created through a 3D Thinking Room citizen participation project by the Hwaseong City Human Resources Development Foundation's Seoyeon Connection Center, and solid wood chairs produced through the 'carpentry citizen project.' Furthermore, murals completed through talent donations from volunteers at the Hwaseong Volunteer Center were installed to create a brighter and warmer atmosphere.

A visitor named A, visiting 'Just Dream' for the first time, said, "The signage for 'Just Dream' caught my eye, so I naturally came inside," adding, "The space is cleaner and more pleasant than expected, and I want to introduce it to neighbors in need of support."

■ Mayor Jeong Myeong-geun Inspects 'Just Dream On Lounge' Remodeling Status

Mayor Jeong Myeong-geun visited 'Just Dream' and 'Just Dream On Lounge' at Narae-ul Welfare Center on the 13th to inspect operational preparations.

During the visit, Mayor Jeong carefully examined details from the entrance of 'Just Dream' to guide signage, user flow, and waiting and rest area arrangements, emphasizing convenience and psychological stability from a user's perspective.

In particular, during the on-site inspection, Mayor Jeong instructed staff to "carefully address any small inconveniences or hesitations visitors might experience when approaching 'Just Dream,'" by understanding their feelings. He also emphasized that the 'Just Dream On Lounge' should not be a simple waiting area but rather a connection space that naturally leads to support and counseling through time spent there.

Mayor Jeong Myeong-geun stated, "'Just Dream' is not a one-sided provision by the administration but rather a food safety net created with citizens, which is why we pursued remodeling and the creation of the 'Just Dream On Lounge,'" and added, "I am grateful to citizens who filled in the warmth that administration alone could not provide, such as donating 3D works."

He continued, "The increase in visitors to 'Just Dream' since its opening means we are actively uncovering welfare blind spots," concluding, "I will continue site-focused inspections and improvements so that 'Just Dream' and 'Just Dream On Lounge' can become warm connecting spaces that ease hunger and loneliness."