The 30th Seniors' Day ceremony will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Yangcheon Culture Center's main theater, honoring 35 people — including a 96-year-old model senior and a job program participant who discovered an elderly neighbor's unattended death
Yangcheon-gu will hold the "30th Seniors' Day Ceremony — Forever Young! Healthy Centenarian Festival" on Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the main theater of Yangcheon Culture Center.
Each year, the district marks Seniors' Day by identifying and honoring individuals who have contributed to community development and the welfare of older residents, while organizing celebratory events to reaffirm the values of respect and filial piety.
This year, 35 people will receive commendations — ranging from a 96-year-old who has fostered harmony among senior center members despite advanced age, to individuals and organizations that have checked on vulnerable neighbors through employment programs and volunteer work.
Sixteen district residents aged 65 or older were named model seniors in recognition of their dedication and service to the community. The oldest honoree this year, Hong Jeong-gyo, 96, was recognized for promoting unity among senior center members and setting an example for others through an exceptional spirit of volunteerism.
Eighteen contributors to senior welfare will also receive commendations for improving the quality of life of elderly residents through sharing and volunteer activities. Among them, Shin Jae-hwa, 69, has participated in the Yangcheon Senior Club's dosirak delivery service project since August 2022 — nearly four years — helping prevent meal deprivation among emergency support recipients and checking on their well-being. During her rounds, she was also the first to discover the scene of an unattended death of an elderly person living alone, and promptly reported it so the necessary measures could be taken, strengthening the community safety net.
In the organizational category, Gomdallae Senior Center in Sinwol 1-dong was selected. The center was recognized for its efforts in heat-safety management — including operating a cooling shelter during heat waves — and for contributing to the leisure and welfare of older residents through user-centered operations.
The ceremony will run from 1:30 to 4 p.m. that day, with about 1,000 local seniors and guests in attendance. The program will proceed in three parts: a pre-ceremony performance, a formal awards segment and a "Filial Love Concert for Seniors."
The pre-ceremony will feature a nanta percussion performance by seniors from West Seoul Senior Welfare Center and an accordion recital by seniors from Yangcheon Senior Comprehensive Welfare Center. The formal segment will include the commendation presentations, followed by ocarina and saxophone performances by senior club members and a prize raffle. The concert portion will feature trot music singers Haru, Jo Jeong-min, Gwak Hui-seong and Hong Jun-bo.
Yangcheon-gu District Mayor Lee Gi-jae said he wished to express deep gratitude and respect for the dedication and hard work of the seniors who helped build today's Yangcheon. "We will continue to pursue comprehensive welfare policies so that our seniors are never left behind and can enjoy a healthy, vibrant retirement," he said.
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
