Gwangjin-gu has launched a field outreach initiative, with District Mayor Kim Kyung-ho visiting senior centers across the district to check on residents' well-being and hear their concerns directly.
The district began making rounds at senior centers on Aug. 11, meeting with elderly residents to ask about their health, check whether they have any difficulties using the facilities, and listen to their everyday concerns.
The visits started Aug. 11 at the No. 1 Senior Center and Jangsu Senior Center in Junggok 1-dong, continued Aug. 12 at Yongma and Yonggok senior centers, and proceeded Aug. 14 at Gunja Senior Center and the Ilseong Park apartment senior center.
At each stop, Kim sat down with residents to discuss everyday inconveniences and what support they needed. He also inspected the condition of facilities — including air conditioning — and noted areas requiring improvement.
The outreach will extend to "Senior Dining Out Day" events as well. The district mayor plans to join residents for a meal at Daewon Senior Center in Junggok 4-dong on Wednesday and at Guui 2-dong Senior Center on Friday, using the occasion to ask after their well-being and gather feedback on how the program is running.
Gwangjin-gu runs a range of tailored programs aimed at transforming senior centers from simple rest spaces into vibrant community hubs for health, leisure and social connection. Offerings include digital literacy classes covering kiosk use and smartphone skills, health walks, dementia screenings, singing classes, exercise sessions, lifestyle yoga and art education — all designed to reflect what seniors actually want and need.
The district's "Senior Dining Out Day" program, which helps ease the burden of meal preparation while encouraging social interaction, has also been expanded. What began as twice-monthly outings has run four times a month since last year, allowing seniors to enjoy a weekly meal together at nearby restaurants.
Beyond relieving the chore of cooking and cleaning up, the shared meals have become a catalyst for natural socializing and everyday vitality. Across all 99 senior centers in the district — 42 public and 57 private — about 1,900 seniors dine out at neighborhood restaurants each week, helping prevent social isolation and supporting local businesses at the same time.
The district said it will act promptly on feedback gathered during the visits and plans to continue calling on senior centers regularly, incorporating residents' voices into district policy.
"Visiting in person and talking with residents is the best way to understand what is making their lives difficult," Kim said. "I will keep coming back often, checking in on them, and making sure they can enjoy a healthy and happy retirement."
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