The center has raised community awareness through health lectures and partner-agency campaigns, and operates 'Gieok Dabang,' a café run by patients with mild dementia, to promote inclusive recognition of those living with the condition.
The Gwangjin-gu Dementia Care Center received its fourth commendation from the Minister of Health and Welfare, winning the ministry's award for outstanding dementia programs on the occasion of Dementia Awareness Day 2026.
Gwangjin-gu first received the honor in 2013, followed by additional citations in 2018 and 2022, and again this year — recognition of the district's consistent efforts in dementia prevention and awareness-raising carried out alongside local residents.
Over the years, the center has run dementia prevention education, awareness campaigns, community surveys on dementia literacy, and online and offline outreach, working to foster accurate understanding and a more positive public perception of the condition.
On Sept. 11, ahead of the 19th Dementia Awareness Day on Sept. 21, the center held a health lecture attended by 320 local residents. The speaker, Han Seol-hee, a neurology advisory professor at Konkuk University who served as the center's inaugural director, drew an enthusiastic response by presenting practical dementia prevention tips and the latest treatment information in an accessible format.
On Oct. 1, to mark Senior Citizens' Day, the center joined the "9988 Happy Together" event at the Seoul Metropolitan Gwangjin Senior Welfare Center and ran a dementia awareness campaign for about 400 residents.
A highlight of the event was "Gieok Dabang" (Memory Café), a pop-up beverage stand staffed by patients with mild dementia who served drinks directly to visitors — conveying the message that people living with dementia can play an active role in the community and are neighbors who belong.
In addition, a dementia awareness pledge drive and a community survey helped deepen residents' understanding of the condition.
"This award reflects the combined efforts of local residents, partner organizations and the Dementia Care Center," District Mayor Kim Kyung-ho said. "We will continue building a comprehensive dementia management system — spanning prevention, early screening, care and awareness — so that Gwangjin-gu becomes a place where anyone living with dementia can feel safe and supported."
The district plans to continue developing its dementia management programs in ways that reflect local characteristics and the needs of its residents.
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