Jungnang-gu is weaving a tighter community care network through its flagship welfare brand and integrated platform, Jungnang Donghang Sarangnet, through which residents directly look after and support their neighbors.
Particularly central to this effort is the "Jungnang Donghang Neighbor Matching" program, which uses the Sarangnet network as its foundation to strengthen everyday care.
The program pairs local residents with socially isolated households in one-on-one relationships, providing emotional support through a resident-led model. Participants — including Jungnang Donghang community leaders, members of neighborhood civic organizations, volunteers and childcare center staff — are matched with households in need and check in at least twice a month. Interactions are tailored to each person's daily life and needs, ranging from conversation and walks to grocery runs and marking special occasions, with the aim of building genuine bonds between neighbors.
Those connections have taken on added importance during the ongoing heat wave, translating into more attentive care. Volunteers regularly call their matched households to check on health and whether air conditioning is running, offering warm words that help prevent emotional isolation among neighbors who struggle to go outside in the sweltering heat.
"I was feeling cooped up because I couldn't go out in the heat, but getting friendly calls to chat has been a great comfort," one matched resident said.
As this everyday network of mutual care expands, participation in Jungnang Donghang Sarangnet has grown sharply. As of late July, the platform had 27,636 participants, up 77.8% from 15,537 last year. The neighbor-matching program has also completed pairings with 473 households — 59.1% of its annual target of 800.
The district plans to broaden these care relationships further on the strength of resident participation. It intends to partner with local middle schools, welfare centers and the 1365 volunteer portal to expand the program's reach, reinforcing a community care network where residents can spot a neighbor's difficulties and connect them with the help they need.
"I am deeply grateful to the more than 27,000 participants who, even in the scorching heat, check on their neighbors with a phone call or a kind word," district Mayor Ryu Gyeong-gi said. "We will continue to do our utmost to make Jungnang a safe and warm place where no one is left behind."
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
