Part of the annual Seocho Welfare Happiness Festival, the event drew about 500 social welfare workers and residents on Monday; 25 meritorious workers were commended, followed by a talk-concert open forum.
Seocho-gu in Seoul held "Seocho's Golden Age 2: Tell Us Anything About Welfare!" at the Seocho Culture and Arts Center on Monday to mark the 27th Social Welfare Day.
The event was part of the Seocho Welfare Happiness Festival, held annually to deepen residents' understanding of social welfare and boost the morale of welfare workers. About 500 people attended, including Seocho-gu District Mayor Jeon Seong-su, Seocho District Council Speaker Yoo Ji-ung, Seoul Metropolitan Assembly members Lee Suk-ja and Kim Ji-hoon, as well as public and private welfare workers, volunteers, donors and local residents. The gathering served as a forum to reflect on the meaning of social welfare and share a vision for the district's future welfare direction.
The first half opened with a classical music performance before attendees recited a social welfare pledge, reaffirming their commitment to building a warm, inclusive welfare community. Twenty-five meritorious individuals — including welfare agency workers and donors — were then presented with commendations in recognition of their dedication to advancing community welfare.
The second half featured a dazzling LED dance performance that energized the crowd, followed by a talk-concert called "Malja Show" hosted by comedians Kim Yeong-hui and Jeong Beom-gyun. Welfare agency workers and community residents shared the concerns and challenges they had encountered in their roles, exchanging views in an open and candid atmosphere.
The session was particularly meaningful as it gave officials a chance to hear directly from those on the front lines and explore the direction of Seocho-style welfare under the ninth elected administration.
In the lobby, promotional videos introduced individual welfare agencies and highlighted outstanding programs and case studies. A district official said the event also strengthened ties among public and private welfare stakeholders and helped solidify the local welfare cooperation network.
"I am deeply grateful for the dedication of the social welfare workers, volunteers and donors who serve throughout our community," District Mayor Jeon said. "We will continue to listen to voices from the field and deliver Seocho-style welfare built on empathy and open communication with our residents."
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