Mapo-gu's flagship senior welfare program, "Resident-Participatory Hyodo Bapsang," has won an encouragement prize at the 2026 Outstanding Administrative and Policy Case Competition, organized by the Korea Public Policy Evaluation Association.
One-stop welfare service for residents 75 and older earns encouragement prize at national competition; Mapo-gu expands 'hyo'-centered policy lineup with elder school and co-living senior center
The competition selects exemplary policy cases from central government agencies, local governments and public institutions to promote competitiveness and innovation in the public sector.
Hyodo Bapsang — "filial piety meal table" — is a one-stop welfare service open to all residents aged 75 and older regardless of income. It provides quality lunches alongside health management support and legal and tax consultations.
Amid growing demand for elder care driven by an aging population and a rise in single-person households, most existing meal support policies had been limited to low-income recipients. Mapo-gu launched Hyodo Bapsang to close that welfare gap and make the service universally accessible.
The program began with a pilot in April 2023. Mapo-gu then completed its first banchan — side dish — factory in 2024 and a second in 2025, steadily expanding its capacity to supply freshly prepared food. The factories now deliver same-day soups and side dishes to meal service sites that lack their own cooking facilities.
Judges particularly praised the program's community-driven funding model, in which most ingredients are sourced through donations from residents, organizations, civic groups and businesses — embodying the "resident participation" in its name. A neighborhood care network also checks on seniors who miss meals, reaching out by phone or in person. As of late April, cumulative cash donations had reached approximately 2.69 billion won ($1,830,000) and in-kind contributions about 510 million won ($347,000).
The program also drew recognition for its hub-based mobile meal delivery system, which uses the two banchan factories as central kitchens to supply food to meal service sites across the district.
Hyodo Bapsang had previously gained international recognition when it was featured as a model Korean case for promoting the rights of older persons in a 2025 special issue of the ASEM Global Ageing Center issue focus publication.
Building on the "hyo," or filial piety, philosophy, Mapo-gu is pursuing a broader suite of elder-friendly policies — including Hyodo Hakgyo, an intergenerational education program; Hyodo Suksik Gyeongrodang, the country's first co-living senior center; and Hyochang-gu and Hyodo Bell, services designed to make it easier for seniors to access administrative assistance.
"It is deeply meaningful that Hyodo Bapsang, which runs on the participation and generosity of our residents, has received such recognition," a Mapo-gu official said. "We will continue to build a tight-knit care network so that our seniors can enjoy a healthy and dignified old age."
Mapo-gu's flagship senior welfare program, "Resident-Participatory Hyodo Bapsang," has won an encouragement prize at the 2026 Outstanding Administrative and Policy Case Competition, organized by the Korea Public Policy Evaluation Association.
The competition selects exemplary policy cases from central government agencies, local governments and public institutions to promote competitiveness and innovation in the public sector.
Hyodo Bapsang — "filial piety meal table" — is a one-stop welfare service open to all residents aged 75 and older regardless of income. It provides quality lunches alongside health management support and legal and tax consultations.
Amid growing demand for elder care driven by an aging population and a rise in single-person households, most existing meal support policies had been limited to low-income recipients. Mapo-gu launched Hyodo Bapsang to close that welfare gap and make the service universally accessible.
The program began with a pilot in April 2023. Mapo-gu then completed its first banchan — side dish — factory in 2024 and a second in 2025, steadily expanding its capacity to supply freshly prepared food. The factories now deliver same-day soups and side dishes to meal service sites that lack their own cooking facilities.
Judges particularly praised the program's community-driven funding model, in which most ingredients are sourced through donations from residents, organizations, civic groups and businesses — embodying the "resident participation" in its name. A neighborhood care network also checks on seniors who miss meals, reaching out by phone or in person. As of late April, cumulative cash donations had reached approximately 2.69 billion won ($1,830,000) and in-kind contributions about 510 million won ($347,000).
The program also drew recognition for its hub-based mobile meal delivery system, which uses the two banchan factories as central kitchens to supply food to meal service sites across the district.
Hyodo Bapsang had previously gained international recognition when it was featured as a model Korean case for promoting the rights of older persons in a 2025 special issue of the ASEM Global Ageing Center issue focus publication.
Building on the "hyo," or filial piety, philosophy, Mapo-gu is pursuing a broader suite of elder-friendly policies — including Hyodo Hakgyo, an intergenerational education program; Hyodo Suksik Gyeongrodang, the country's first co-living senior center; and Hyochang-gu and Hyodo Bell, services designed to make it easier for seniors to access administrative assistance.
"It is deeply meaningful that Hyodo Bapsang, which runs on the participation and generosity of our residents, has received such recognition," a Mapo-gu official said. "We will continue to build a tight-knit care network so that our seniors can enjoy a healthy and dignified old age."
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
