Yangcheon-gu will mark Gender Equality Week with a commemorative event on Sept. 2 at 2 p.m. at Haenuri Hall on the second floor of Haenuri Town, bringing together about 200 local residents and others.
Gender Equality Week, observed annually from Sept. 1 through 7, is a statutory observance designated under the Framework Act on Gender Equality to promote the realization of gender equality. Through ceremonies, lectures and exhibitions, the week aims to reaffirm the value of mutual respect in daily life and spread a culture of putting that value into practice.
The first part of the program will be a ceremony in which the district mayor presents commendations to 10 individuals who have contributed across four categories: strengthening the foundations of gender equality, spreading a culture of gender equality, community activities, and expanding women's participation in society. Among the honorees, Choi Jin-young, director of a daycare center receiving a commendation in the community activities category, has drawn particular attention.
Choi has worked on the front lines of childcare for 18 years since 2008, operating part-time childcare services and other programs to ease the burden on dual-income and single-parent families while working to improve the childcare environment. She has also been recognized for spreading the value of mutual support in the community through cumulative donations of about 10 million won ($7,600) to organizations including World Vision and ChildFund Korea since 2015.
The second part of the program will feature a special lecture by attorney Yang So-young, vice president of the Korean Women Lawyers Association, on the theme "Gender Equality for Everyone's Happiness — Respect and Change Starting at Home." She will address practical approaches to gender equality in household role-sharing and child-rearing, drawing on key court rulings and real-life cases in an accessible and relatable way.
A variety of side events will also run in the second-floor lobby of Haenuri Town to bring the meaning of gender equality closer to visitors. These include campaigns to prevent sexual violence and domestic violence, an exhibition of original artwork on gender equality themes, and hands-on programs open to all — AI caricature portraits, personal color consultations and DIY craft activities.
An on-site job support program will also be held to help women participate more fully in the economy. A mobile employment support booth, operated jointly by the Seobu Women's Development Center and the Jobs Plus Center, will offer one-on-one job counseling for career-interrupted women and other job seekers, along with referrals to employment and education programs tailored to individual circumstances.
The district has been pursuing a range of policies to support work-family balance and address gaps in care coverage, including tailored reemployment education for career-interrupted women and a round-the-clock emergency childcare service. Those efforts earned a ministerial commendation from the Ministry of Interior and Safety at last year's Gender Equality Policy Awards.
"Gender equality is not a grand slogan — it begins with the everyday practice of respecting each other's roles and choices at home, at work and in the community," Yangcheon-gu District Mayor Lee Gi-jae said. "I hope this event will serve as an opportunity to respect our differences and build a community where everyone can be happy, and we will continue working to make Yangcheon a place where anyone can develop their potential on equal footing."
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