Ahead of chobok — the first of the three hottest days of the Korean lunar calendar — Seoul's Songpa-gu district prepared 720 chickens for samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) to help elderly residents living alone and other heat-vulnerable groups stay healthy through the summer.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), summer heat waves are particularly deadly for older adults, with people aged 65 and over facing roughly twice the risk of severe heat-related illness compared to those under 30.
In response, Songpa-gu held its "Samgyetang of Love" sharing event Monday at the Geoyeo-dong saemaul movement Songpa-gu chapter office, in partnership with the Songpa-gu Saemaul Women's Association. District Mayor Seo Gang-seok and some 40 association members assembled and packaged the meal kits by hand.
This year, the district prepared 360 meal-kit sets to improve food safety and ease of cooking during the summer months. Each set contains two whole chickens stuffed with glutinous rice, ginseng, jujube and garlic — designed for easy refrigeration and simple home preparation so recipients can enjoy a warm, nourishing meal with minimal effort.
The finished kits were distributed through neighborhood community centers to 300 single-elderly households, as well as residential facilities for people with disabilities and child-care centers across the district.
The event is a signature annual initiative organized by the Songpa-gu Saemaul Women's Association to spread a culture of neighborly love and sharing throughout the community.
Founded in 1988, the Songpa-gu Saemaul Women's Association is a leading local women's volunteer organization that consistently carries out seasonal sharing activities — including rice-cake soup for the Lunar New Year, samgyetang for chobok, songpyeon rice cakes for chuseok and a kimchi-making drive — supporting hundreds of households in need every year.
Songpa-gu is working to build an "inclusive city" grounded in a culture of sharing through public-private cooperation, caring for neighbors and putting community values into practice. The district plans to continue expanding support so that residents and organizations quietly serving their communities can sustain their activities.
"In the sweltering heat, a warm meal is more than just nourishment — it is a way of checking in on a neighbor," District Mayor Seo said. "I hope the samgyetang we prepared with care gives elderly residents and those in need a small boost as they get through the summer."
He added that "volunteers who give their precious time and effort for the community without hesitation are Songpa's greatest asset," and pledged to "expand support so that those who serve quietly can take pride in what they do."
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