Seoul honors 67 welfare workers at 2026 Seoul Social Welfare Convention

Social welfare workers who have looked after the daily lives of Seoul residents across the city gathered in one place. The contributions of 67 people who have driven the advancement of welfare in Seoul were recognized. They range from field workers who tend to welfare blind spots to volunteers who shared their time and talent, and donors who practiced giving.

The Seoul Metropolitan Social Welfare Council held the "2026 Seoul Social Welfare Convention" marking the 27th Social Welfare Day on Thursday afternoon at the Seoul Women's Plaza International Conference Hall in Dongjak-gu, Seoul.

This year's event was held under the slogan "Welfare citizens can feel, Seoul — a special city for quality of life." The aim was to move beyond simply expanding welfare policy in scale and instead build a field-centered welfare system that lets citizens feel real change in their daily lives.

About 200 people attended, including Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Kang Seok-ju, chairman of the 11th Seoul Metropolitan Council's Health and Welfare Committee, along with social welfare workers, volunteers and donors. Attendees reflected on the meaning of social welfare and encouraged those who have practiced sharing and care in their communities.

Social Welfare Day was established in 2000 to encourage the work of social welfare professionals and raise public understanding of social welfare. The day reflects the idea that guaranteeing citizens' basic livelihoods is a duty of the state and society, not an individual's responsibility. It calls for a responsible welfare system spanning from minimum living support to self-reliance and rehabilitation support.

The Seoul Metropolitan Social Welfare Council has held the Seoul Social Welfare Convention every year since 2001, the year after Social Welfare Day was established. Including this year's honorees, the council has discovered and recognized a total of 1,852 social welfare contributors to date. The recognitions have boosted the pride of field workers and helped spread a culture of citizen-driven sharing.

At the ceremony, a total of 67 people received awards: 10 for the Seoul Metropolitan Government Welfare Award, 32 for the Mayor's Award, 10 for the Seoul Metropolitan Council Speaker's Award, and 15 for the Seoul Metropolitan Social Welfare Council Chairman's Award.

The winners helped build a welfare community by caring for neighbors in need in their communities and sharing their time, talent, goods and donations. Workers who have provided welfare services with expertise and a sense of responsibility on the front lines closest to citizens were also recognized for their contributions.

This year's grand prize in the Seoul Metropolitan Government Welfare Award category went to the Hanlim Burn Foundation, a social welfare corporation. Since 2008, the foundation has spent 18 years running financial support, self-reliance support and social reintegration projects for burn patients.

Particularly notable was the foundation's fundraising of 5.71 billion won ($4.27 million) over the past five years. The funds supported the treatment and recovery of burn patients and helped expand private donation resources. The foundation was also praised for establishing a continuous support system to help patients overcome not only physical injuries but also psychological difficulties, enabling their return to their communities.

Jo Nam-beom, chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Social Welfare Council, said Seoul's welfare system has grown through the quiet dedication of social welfare workers who serve closest to citizens. He expressed gratitude and respect to the award winners and all social welfare workers.

He added that the council would work to ensure that welfare leads to real change in citizens' daily lives through cooperation between the public and private sectors. He said the council would continue to serve as a solid bridge connecting the field, administration and citizens.

The Seoul Metropolitan Social Welfare Council is a statutory body established in 1985 under the Social Welfare Services Act. It supports the advancement of welfare for Seoul citizens through research and investigation related to social welfare, development of welfare projects and coordination among institutions. It also connects private resources and promotes citizen participation.