Yangcheon-gu held the 27th Social Welfare Day ceremony Monday afternoon at Haenuri Hall, drawing about 300 social welfare workers and residents.
The event was organized to recognize the dedication of frontline welfare workers who care for residents across the district every day, and to give them a chance to connect and recharge. Yangcheon-gu District Mayor Lee Gi-jae attended alongside welfare facility staff and local residents.
During the ceremony, two social workers read a pledge reaffirming their commitment to welfare practice, and 19 workers who have contributed to community welfare received commendations. Among those honored were child protection officers who helped keep abused children safe by coordinating local welfare resources — including psychological treatment, medical care and education. Attendees then watched a commemorative video featuring stories from the field, reflecting on one another's work.
The second half featured a talk concert titled "Welfare Empathy Talk Concert with Maljahalmae," starring comedians Kim Yeong-hui and Jeong Beom-gyun. The performers drew on the emotional labor and everyday struggles of welfare work, turning them into warm, relatable stories that gave frontline workers a moment of laughter and rest.
To improve working conditions for care workers, the district this year raised the annual welfare allowance for care workers from 100,000 won ($74) to 200,000 won, and introduced a new annual allowance of 200,000 won for disability activity support workers.
Yangcheon-gu is also providing free influenza vaccinations for care workers and disability activity support workers as part of broader efforts to boost morale and create a stable care environment.
"I am deeply grateful for the dedication of social welfare workers who stand close to residents' lives across every corner of our district and serve as a steady pillar of support," District Mayor Lee said. "We will continue to listen to voices from the welfare field and work to create an environment where workers can take pride in what they do."
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