Pyeongtaek City's 'Happiness = Sharing, Sister City Relationships' Program Yields Results

Pyeongtaek City (Mayor Kim Seon-ki) has been consistently promoting the 'Happiness = Sharing, Sister City Relationships' program since 2011.

The sister city relationship partnership program identifies families in crisis within welfare blind spots and connects them with Pyeongtaek City, welfare committee members, and sponsoring organizations to provide not only goods or financial support, but also monthly regular counseling visits, companionship, and home cleaning services.

The sister city relationships program began in 2011 with 35 households in seven eup·dong areas in the southern region of Pyeongtaek City, expanded to 45 households in 2012, and last year supported 50 low-income households by serving as actual sponsors.

Last year, partnerships were established with 50 households through 24 sponsoring organizations, providing a total of 37 million won in pure private resource support services, including 24 million won in product linkages and 13 million won in cash assistance.

Additionally, monthly sponsorship contributions of 500,000 to 2 million won are provided, and local businesses such as Hoyeon-jigi have been supplying 30 bags of grain monthly, with continuous support continuing since 2011, serving as actual sponsors through sustained rather than temporary assistance.

Notably, last year after Pyeongtaek City and KB Kookmin Bank's Gyeonggi South Regional Headquarters held a 'Happiness Hope Sharing Sister City Relationship Signing Ceremony' in April last year, they visited households together with the Southern Welfare Committee through practical activities such as delivering donations of 1 million won and preparing side dishes and making kimchi, sharing moments of comfort.

Kim Dong-sook, Director of the Living Support Division, stated "The sister city relationship partnership program is instrumental in creating a Pyeongtaek where all citizens are happy through supporting low-income families in welfare blind spots, and expressed gratitude to all who have sponsored."

Meanwhile, Pyeongtaek City plans to expand the number of supported households to 60 this year and will continue to pursue the sister city relationship partnership program by identifying sponsors and conducting monthly counseling visits to listen to individual household needs.

The sister city relationship partnership program was selected as an exemplary case in the 2011-2012 city and county consulting comprehensive audit.