Gangnam-gu Lawmakers Yom Hee-ok and Hwang Tae-hyeon Visit Gangnam Self-Sufficiency Center

Gangnam-gu Assembly members Yom Hee-ok (Samsung 1 and 2-dong, Daechi 2-dong) and Hwang Tae-hyeon (Gaepo 1, 2 and 4-dong) visited the Gangnam Regional Self-Sufficiency Center in Gaepo-dong on Aug. 10 to review the center's operations and discuss ways to strengthen self-sufficiency programs in support of residents' genuine economic independence.

The visit was organized at Yom's initiative to explore ways to bolster self-sufficiency support in Gangnam-gu, with Hwang joining as the local district lawmaker. Gangnam Regional Self-Sufficiency Center director Park Ik-hyeon and officials from Gangnam-gu's self-sufficiency and residential welfare team were also in attendance.

During the visit, the two lawmakers received a briefing from the center covering participation and support processes, project performance and overall operations, and examined the difficulties staff face on the ground along with areas in need of improvement. They then toured facilities including the Youth Independence Challenge project unit, exchanging views on ways to enhance the long-term sustainability of self-sufficiency programs and build participants' capacity for independent living.

"Self-sufficiency goes beyond simply providing jobs — it is about creating the opportunities and environment for people to rediscover their sense of worth and confidence and to choose their own tomorrow," Yom said. "I will work to ensure that the voices from the field translate into real policy, so that participants can discover their own potential and stand as proud members of the community."

Hwang said self-sufficiency "is not welfare that stops at one-sided support, but a system that helps participants with the capacity to work stand on their own by putting their abilities to use." He added that the Assembly would examine the necessary support and institutional foundations to ensure the goals and diverse programs of the self-sufficiency initiative become better known in the community and translate into genuine opportunities for independence for participating residents.