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

Uijeongbu City (Mayor An Byeong-yong) held the opening ceremony for the Heungseon-dong Administrative Welfare Center on April 14 at 3 p.m., marking the full implementation of a regional welfare hub model and symbolizing the realization of resident-focused welfare administration.

Mayor An Byeong-yong of Uijeongbu City expressed his gratitude to Vice Minister Kim Sung-ryeol of the Ministry of Interior and Safety, who attended the opening ceremony and visited front-line staff, stating: "Vice Minister Kim has provided invaluable support in enabling us to install a Berlin Wall from the German government at the Yeokjeon Neighborhood Park being developed on the site of Camp Humphreys, which was previously used as a U.S. military base. This support has allowed the U.S. military base site—a symbol of Korea's tragic modern history and national division—to be transformed into a symbol of peace aspiring toward peaceful reunification. I offer my sincere gratitude."

Vice Minister Kim Sung-ryeol of the Ministry of Interior and Safety stated: "With the opening of the administrative welfare center, resident-focused services such as welfare, employment, and permits that were previously handled by city hall will be transferred to the dong administrative welfare centers, enabling residents to access higher-quality services more quickly and conveniently. The administrative welfare center represents an innovation in bringing resident-centered administration one step closer to achieving happy community-based governance for residents."

Mayor An stated: "We should not be satisfied with the full implementation of the regional welfare hub model, but rather take a leap forward to make Uijeongbu City's welfare hub system, which has only just begun, a model for resident-friendly administration throughout the Republic of Korea. For the regional welfare hub model to be successfully established and developed, it is essential to have the full attention and participation not only of all staff at the Heungseon Administrative Welfare Center but also of residents."

The Heungseon-dong office was established following the Ministry of Interior and Safety's policy on small-scale merger and consolidation of dongs. On March 5, 2015, the existing Gaenung 2-dong and Gaenung 3-dong were consolidated, and the dong was renamed Heungseon-dong. A new office building was constructed and opened.

The Heungseon-dong office, spanning a total floor area of 2,614 square meters, with one basement level and three above-ground levels, was completed with 5.9 billion won in construction costs using state-of-the-art techniques that incorporate renewable energy solar power generation systems and universal design barrier-free certification (BF certification). The facility is equipped with the Heungseon Hall large conference room, meeting rooms, IT education centers, cultural activity rooms, and a small library.

Meanwhile, the regional welfare hub model consolidates 3 to 5 dong community centers into one region, expanding personnel and functions at the central dong to handle 190 types of resident life services including welfare, sanitation, employment, safety management, and permits. This is expected to enable exemplary and proactive welfare administration to be carried out.